Hidimbi

Hiḍimbī (Sanskrit: हिडिम्बीcode: san promoted to code: sa , IAST: Hiḍimbī), or Hiḍimbā, is the wife of the Pandava Bhima and mother of great warrior Veer Ghatotkacha in the Mahābhārata. She meets Bhima in the 9th sub-parva (Hidimva-vadha Parva) of the Adi Parva. She is also referred to as Bhuṭanadevī or Pallavī.

Hiḍimbī
Bheema and Hidimbi, painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Affiliation	Rakshasa, Devi
Abode	Kamyaka Forest
Texts	Mahabharata
Personal information
Siblings	Hidimba
Consort	Bhima
Children	Ghatotkacha

Hiḍimb and Bhīma

The story begins in the Lākṣāgṛha of the Mahābhārata after the Pāṇḍavās reached a dense forest. Exhausted from their travels, they all fell asleep at night, except for Bhīma who kept watch.

In the same forest lived Hiḍimba and her brother Hiḍimbā, a very powerful rakshasa. He smelled the Pāṇḍavās at a distance and as usual asked the Hiḍimbī to lure the well-built Bhīma into a trap so he could eat him. Hiḍimbī confronted Bhīma and instead fell in love with him. She assumed the form of a very beautiful lady and approached Bhīma, expressing her desire to marry him by revealing her true identity, as well as her brother's intentions. Bhīma confronted Hiḍimbā and soon overpowered the Rakshasa and slew him. Kuntī and other Pāṇḍavās all watched the duel from a distance.

File:Yudhistira telling to Hidimbi about rules of Marriage.jpg

Yudhishthira explaining the rules of marriage to Hiḍimbī

Marriage

After killing Hiḍimba, Bhīma married Hiḍimbī. Bhīma decided to live with her till a child was born. Hiḍimbī agreed and they married. Within a year, Hiḍimbī gave birth to a son. They named him Ghaṭotkaca as his head resembled a pot. Ghaṭotkaca went on to become a great warrior and an important figure in the Mahābhārata war.

Temple

India

There is a temple in Manali in Himachal Pradesh dedicated to the worship of Hidimbi. According to the legend, Hidimbi stayed back in the forest to perform penance and attain the status of a Goddess.

Nepal

Bhutandevi Mandir (Nepali: भुटनदेवी मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Bhutandevi in Hetauda city. The name of the city—Hetauda is believed to be derived from the name of the goddess.

See also

• Hidimba Devi Temple
• Hidimba
• Kaleshwari Group of Monuments