Bakasura

For Demon killed by Hindu god Krishna, see Bakasura (crane demon).

Bakāsura (Sanskrit: बकासुर, IAST: Bakasura) is a rakshasa, a supernatural "man-eater" in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He is also known by the names Baka or Vaka or kuaishwa. He was killed by Bhima. The demon lived near the city of Ekacakrā (sometimes called Cakranagarī) and forced the king to send him a large number of provisions every week, which he devoured along with the men who provided them. Bhima was eventually sent out to kill Bakāsura under the direction of his mother Kunti.

Story

The demon lived near the city of Ekacakrā (sometimes called Cakranagarī) and forced the village headman to send him a large number of provisions every week, which he devoured along with the bulls of bullock carts and the men who provided them. Pandavas and Kunti were living in that village after Lakshagrah case in the home of a Brahmin. One day, Kunti heard voices of mourning from another room. She asked a Brahmin as to what happened. The brahmin's sons told her about Bakasura's demand and said that now it's their father's turn to go. Kunti told them that there is no need for them to worry because her son Bhima will go instead of the Brahmin. Next day, Bhima met villagers and his mother and brothers went to Bakasura's Den in the forest. He stopped before his den, freed the bulls so that Bakasura cannot harm them and starting eating food which was sent for Bakasura. Bakasura, who was awaiting for his meal, came out of his den in anger. He asked Bhima about his late arrival and stopped him from eating his food. Bhima did not gave response and threw utensils and pots at him. Bakasura started hitting him with his mace. Bhima started laughing and continued his meal. Bakasura's hits were unable to harm Bhima. After finishing the meal, Bhima punched Bakasura. They started a great duel. Bhima broke his Mace. He plucked large trees and hit Bakasura. Then he plucked out Bakasura's horns and killed him by crushing his chest by his own horns. Then Bhima reached Ekchakra village and told the villagers and his family about the event that unfolded. The villagers and the king thanked Bhima and his family.

Possible Locations of the death of Bakasura

There are multiple traditional locations for Bhima's slaying of Bakasura.
Listed here are several of them:

• The city of Ekacakra is believed by some to be the modern-day location of a small village near the town of Rampurhat in West Bengal. The Paṇḍavas stayed there during their exile. Alternatively, according to some historians and regional folklore, the town of Pandaveswar near Durgapur in the district of Burdwan, is the site where that village existed, with a well-known temple having several ancient Lingams, representations of Shiva, near the banks of the Ajay River. It is said to have been established by the Pāṇḍavās and their mother Kuntī.

• This temple is partly controlled by the Mahants of the Nimbarka Sampradaya. In the locality of Ukhra, near Pandaveswar, there is a mutt (a monastery of that sect) that was established by the erstwhile Zamindar of Ukhra. The site of the slaying of Bakasura is said to be in a place called Bhimgarh situated on the other side of the Ajay River.

• Other sources locate the city of Ekacakra (Ekcakranagari) in the present-day village of Erandol in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. On the outskirts of Erandol, near a pond of water, tourists visiting today can still see some of the fallen rice markings of that era. The Padmalaya Ganesh temple, in the neighboring hills, is also an important tourist and pilgrim destination. In the city of Erandol, there was an ancient place known as "Pandav Wada" (heirlo) which is said to be a place where the Panadavas lived with their mother. It is believed that in Padmalaya, 12 km away from Erandol, Bhima attacked and destroyed Bakasura. Bhima had traveled that 12 km, burdened with food, on an underground road that extended under Erandol. This underground roadway was later blocked entirely.

• Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh is another ancient religious site. According to Bhayaharan Nath Dham's legends, Bakasura was killed in South Pratapgarh which was once called "Dwaitwan". Remains have been found of several Paṇḍava sculptures. After Bhima killed the demon Bakasura, a Lingam was established here. Today, it is known as the location of the Shaivite Bhayaharan Nath Dham Temple, and serves as a reminder of the story of the Paṇḍavas and Bakasura.

• Another story claims that the location of Ekacakra is in modern-day Kaivara in Karnataka. There is a hill where Bakasura resided about 75km from Bengaluru. Its location can be reached by ascending the hill through a series of stairs. It is said that blood occasionally flows from here.

References

• Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology
• Acharya Chandra Shekhar Shastri: Puranon ki Anmol Kahanian, 2006 ISBN 81-902258-6-3