Pandavas & Krishna Families Admiration Thread # 1/DT's Nt pg 147 - Page 100

HIDIMBAA - A PREDATOR OR PREY?
The Hidimbaa episode of the Mahabharat - already written in detail by Mr Vijay Bhide - is a critic's delight. It is often quoted for showing Hidimbaa and her race in a poor light, for how she was exploited, then dumped and forgotten by Kunti and her sons.
Ved Vyaas related the story with neutrality - and then future interpreters make heroes, villains, predators and victims out of everyone.
Vyaas did not say that Hidimbaa was inferior. She was different and beautiful in her own raw, pure and untamed way.
She was a cannibal who belonged to the mountains and lived by the natural laws of the jungle. Civilization and its complexities had not caught up with her. In her world, "morality" did not exist as we understand it, not because she was "immoral", but because it was as meaningless to her as is - embarrassment to a baby.
Hence, her people were perhaps considered as "barbarians" or "rakshasas".
Her life changed when she met Bhim, who stirred both a carnal desire and a whole host of overwhelming emotions within her lioness heart.
Her brother was incapable of understanding what she felt. The bond between him and her was of mutual dependency to survive, not finer feelings of love, understanding and respect. So, when he came close to killing her for her feelings, she naturally chose Bhim over him.
It may seem that she expressed her feelings for Bhim in a crude way - after all women were supposed to downplay their desires to men in a civilized set up.
However, she was a woman of the natural world, and she expressed her feelings for Bhim in the most innocent, honest and transparent way. There was no mask, no indirect language, and no shame, much like a child. I think Vyaas intended for us to see this aspect of her as beautiful, not crude and objectionable. He brought out how psychologically uncomplicated and refreshing she was.
HIdimbaa's nature was spontaneous and her mind simple. She did what her heart dictated, loved totally and unconditionally, and did not think beyond that.
Kunti on the other hand, was a complex woman. Her decisions were never immediate expressions of raw emotions, but always taken after careful consideration of several angles.
This is why, even though she loved Hidimbaa and adored Gatotkacha while they were together, one tends to suspect that Kunti's acceptance of Hidimbaa was based on a far sighted consciousness of the need for allies in her fugitive condition.
It is easy to conclude that when Kunti and her sons eventually left the forsest, they were completely insensitive to Hidimbaa's feelings. Maybe Kunti would never have wanted to introduce a Rakshasi as her first daughter in law, to a highly discriminating society.
But look at another possibility. Perhaps Kunti understood that the love between Hidimbaa and Bhim could remain beautiful only in the wild, away from the rules of a structured society. After all, Bhim and Hidimbaa came from very different worlds. To leave Bhim behind would have been an injustice to his potentials, and to take Hidimbaa along would have been like putting a lioness in a cage. She could be authentically herself only in the forests. Putting her in a politically corrupt and complicated world would mean stripping her of her environment, her innocence and most of all her dignity. It is almost as if Hidimbaa was too pure for the world outside.
Hidimbaa's beautiful simplicity comes out the most when one sees that she has no inclination to tag along. Of course, there was sadness, but there were no blackmails, pleadings, begging, or bitterness. She was simply grateful for the best time of her life that she had with Bhim. She had a taste of love and of something that gave meaning to her life beyond basic survival.
No wonder she has a temple to her name, a temple of love, courage and innocence, tucked away in the mountains of Himachal.
Champa

Originally posted by: shruthi2010

what a beautiful article. after reading it my respect for hidimba has increased. all i want to do is just pray that those numbskull Cvs dont distort her characterization and make her look like some damsel in distress.

Hidimba Hidimbi Arimbi

Mahabharata Hidimba

In mahabharata, Hidimba is famous as sister of Hidimb the rakshasa. In our modern patriarchal society, we have not preserved the names of women characters of history, Dharini being an exception and of myth, Pritha and Krishnaa being exceptions. Unfortunately, we have not been that fair to Hidimbaa, known by names Salkantaki (daughter of Salakantakaa), sister to Hidimb (Hidimbaa). Another name is Pallavi.

In Uttar Ramayana, Praheti and Heti were the sons of Brahma who eventually created rakshasas and yakshas.

Two such creatures descended from them were Vaa and Hika who created the Vaahika eventually ruled by Kuru Bahlikas including Salya.

Both of them became mighty and powerful like Madhu and Kaitabha. Of these Praheti knew that only by virtuous life could one attain happiness in the next world and so remaining unmarried went to the valley in Himalayas and doing penance there attained moksa. Heti when he came of age married Bhaya, sister of Kala, and got a son named Vidyutkesa who gave pitra tarpan to Praheti.

Vidyutkesa married Salakantaka, daughter of Sandhya. The raksasa race was born of them.

Main Ramayana has similar tale, Vishrwa born of Pulastya, gave birth to Vaisharvana (we will enjoy earth) and Ravana (we will protect earth).

This is the example of how the society treated religious unorthodoxy, Ravana's deeds pushed the religious unorthodoxy of rakshasas to the fringe of society while similar religious/social unorthodoxy of Yakshas kept them in the mainstream of the society.

Salkantaki is a poetic allusion to mother of the race Salkantaka. Of three kings named Alambush, fighting on Kaurava side, one of them also bore the name Salakantaka and son of Rakshasa Sringa. It is some Rishyasringa or some sringa, i do not remember it exactly. But, his mention as salakantaka means he was a Rakshasa like Hidimb, not really necessary means they were related.

Bhim and Hidimbaa is mentioned in context of Chaturupayam in Agni Purana, Ch 241. The four means used by Kings in olden times to achieve their objects are called Chaturupayam. Sama, dana, bheda and danda are the Chaturupayas (four tactics). There are three other upayas also, almost equally important as the first four, and the seven upayas are collectively called Saptopayas. There are also yet other upayas, but they are not important enough to merit special mention. One of them, the upaya maya consists in practising deception by magic or other yogic powers. The powers can be acquired by the worship of the idols of
certain Devatas. People who employ go' about at night in various disguises. They disguise themselves as beautiful women or even as animals. They also deceive people by creating illusions of clouds, fire or lightning. For instance, Bhima killed Kicaka by going to him in the guise of a woman.

Not to dissuade people who indulge in unjustifiable grief, war etc. is the principal aim of the upaya called upeksa. Hidimbi gave up his brother Hidimba by practising Upeksa.

Baka is friend to Hidimba and Kirmira is his brother. Bhishan, son of Baka also makes his appearance in epic.

FOLKLORE Hirma Hudka Hidimba

In Indian folklore, Hidimba or Hudka or Hirma has a great role, there are Hidimba temples in Himachal Pradesh to the Cachar in Assam, basically, this long stretch deals with same sized himalayan ranges stretching from Kashmir to Burma border. Royal family of Cachar claimed descent from Hidimba' son by Bhim. In Himachal legends, Hidimba has one son and in some she has five children, 3 sons and 2 daughters. Younger son and daughter Usha were born after her remarriage to Banasura. Though some Cachar legends make her mother-in-law to Banasura.
Her older daughter has lot of temples in the mountain villages and everyone knows about Ghatotkacha.
Some folklore is about Grandma Hidimbaa. Another one tells that when Hidimba is dying she comes to visit Draupadi and Draupadi touches her feet as older sister and brings up Hidimba's young child. Hidimbaa's ashes is taken by Draupadi in her hands and later she then instructs Ghatotkacha to do the rituals when he grows up. This legend earlier probaly showed Draupadi doing the death rituals and later reformed as modern hinduism does not allow women to do the death rituals.

Hidimbeshwara temple is also located in Chitradurga, Karnataka where supposedly tooth of Hidimb is preserved after his death in duel with Bhima. the temple dates some thousand plus years back though some state that it is from 15th century. There are other such temples in konkana coast as well.

Kumudini wrote a nice short Grandmother's letters published in 1948, these letters are shown as messages passed between Hidimba's grandmother Sammarjanakesi to her sister Srimati Pisachavadani and Hidimba.

She complains about wild nature of her grand daughter and her tom boyish exploits with her brother Hidimba. Grandma Sammarajanakesi wants alliance with Kumbakarna's great grand son Vakranasi, who is a gem of a boy. Thora sanwala hain!! His mother is their daughter-in-law Tataka's own aunt's daughter. The grandmother is busy preparing 5000 parathas for the forthcoming marriage.

She then writes to Hidimbaa, complaining that she has married a human, an out of caste person. She had planned to marry him to an only child so she will dominate her mother in law but Kunti has 5 sons, poor Hidimba would fight with her sisters in law. She had chosen a veritable Manmatha for her grand daughter, thora sanwala hai to kya hua, but stupid girl married out of caste.

Pishachavadini goes to meet Hidimbaa and Kunti and reports back to her sister. The grandmother is happy, the wild girl is actually a dutiful bahu, it seems, just like her grandmother. Dharmadeva is happy with her so grandma is now pleased and is little concerned that the large family of Pandavas is very poor and is in hiding but she is now proud of her grand daughter. Of course, Pishachavadini also tells her that Hidimba has morning sickness. The grandmother is rushing over for no family fight or disagreement stays in front
of new addition to family.

Indonesian Arimbi

In Indonesian Mahabhrata, Hidimbaa is also a major character and may stories are told about her and her extended family. She is called Arimbi in Indonesia. she and Bhima are 8th cousins, descended from brothers Tunggala and Vinayaka or Vinaya. Tungala or Dhunkara Rishi 's descendent is Parashara. There are stories about each of these generations, they are no mere names in some list. For example, Dunkara rishi interacts with his grandson Vishwakasena, also mentioned by Bhishma in harivarsha as a predecessor of Panchalas. Divodasa is a descendent of these brothers. The stories include two sisters of Pandu.

Eventually, we have Arimbaka, father to Arimbi and his cousin who rules in Dandkaranya Srimant kingdom. There are some stories about them also. Arimbaka has seven sons and Hidimbaa as daughter.

Pandavas escape Lakshagraha with help of Anantabhoja, son of anantanaga who helps them by creating a tunnel, Bhima has a matrimonial relationship with Nagagini, daughter of Anantabhoga and his first born Anantanaga and later a daughter Tashi is born. Leaving the princess with her father along with Arjuna and Yudhishthara's wives for protection, Pandavas leave for Arimbaka's kingdom with few servants only, Arimbaka had fought Pandu in past and died at his hands. When they arrive as refugees, they are greeted by the Princess Arimbi who listens to Pandava request for asylum and secrecy but Arimba the oldest brother remembering the defeat rather than the friendship that followed and challenges Bhima to fight, none of six younger brothers back him up, they all side with Arimbi. Bhima kills Hidimb and marries Arimbi. He also calls Nagagini to the kingdom where they hide for few years, Nagagini has a daughter born here, while Hidimbaa eventually has three sons born Kamala, Jamburudra and Ghatotkacha. Long story short, Kamala and Jamburudra later fight over and divide their assigned kingdom, a microcosm of hastinpur conflict, Jamburudra, married a daughter of Chola king, established several kingdoms as did Kamala.

Ghatotkacha inherited the main kingdom called Prankanadhani. His birth story is very long and i will detail it separately. He has three main wives and three main sons and several grandsons and so on. Two of his sons Sasikirana and suryakacha grew up in Hastinapur after war and were among the larger next set of Pandavas.

After Bhima establishes his own palace at Jodipati, Hidimba came and lived there and achieved moksha before the war, leaving her grandchildren in Draupadi and Shikhandini's care. Another version has her killed by arrows of Karna protecting her son in troubles her brothers created. Arimbi has supernatural powers; she is able to switch into a giant image or that of beautiful princess. She has the character and disposition of honesty and loyalty.She is shown as very devoted and very affectionate towards Bhima, her son and Bhima's extended family especially Subhadra, Shikhandini and Draupadi with whom she interacts. Draupadi and she plans a grand marriage for Subhadra. She always exhorts Ghatotkacha to protect Subhadra. She convinces Draupadi to let shikhandani also called Srikandi marry Arjuna.

Hidimbaa's brothers included Brajadenta, Brajamusti, Prabhakeshwa, Brajalamatan, Brajawikalpa and Kalavandana.

Brajadenta had a roving heart, great ambitions and was very brave and impulsive. he had done tapasya with his brothers and acquired powers. He becomes Viceroy and regent to his nephews when Hidimbaa leaves for Jodipati. The uncle and nephew clashed when Ghatotkacha grew and eventually that conflict is seeded by Sakuni and Karna. Brajadenta and Brajamusti managed to escape and take refuge with nephew King Arimbaji, son of Hidimba and lady Rambhini or Rambha. When they again attacked Kurus with Bethari Durga, he eventually fell fighting against Ghatotkacha and on death bed gave his powers including his tooth to Ghatotkacha.

Brajamusti has a bad temper, rather cruel, hard-hearted and selfish. He and three of his brothers Brajadenta, Brajalamatan and Brajawikalpa tried a coup against Ghatotkacha when Arimbi leaves for jodipati. After failure of coup, Brajamusti leaves and takes asylum with his nephew Arimbaji in Dandkaranya Sriman kingdom. There eventually he helps his nephew fight Bhomasura and then allies with Bethari Durga (another Pandava rival, too many stories to detail here) and her two top lieutenants and attacked Ghatotkacha and kururajya again. In his first revolt he was instigated by Karna and Sakuni, seduced by Sakuni offering him Bhanumati. Now, he attacks both Kauravas and Pandavas in anger. He kidnaps Duyodhana's wife Bhanumati, disguised as Ghatotkacha. Eventually, his tricks run out as bethari durga eventually switches side and he is trapped by Ghatotkacha. This time, he dies and eventually Ghatotkacha and Sahadeva put an end to intrigues of Bethari Durga. Bajramushti 's powers enter the fist of Ghatotkacha and as kavacha on his back.

Prabakesa's nature and disposition is described as honest, loyal, devoted and steadfast in his country. He does not take part in later palace coups of his older brothers instigated by Karna and Sakuni.
Prabhakesa fights and dies in Mahabharata at hands of Karna. He was married to Karna's foster niece.

Brajalmatan was opposed to Arimbi giving throne to Ghatotkacha instead of one of the brothers and participated in palace coup and was trapped when sakuni and Karna's help didnt arrive and died at hands of royal forces. Brajalamatan had unyielding character and somewhat tempered, he was irritable but also brave and very powerful. His powers becomes left hand of Ghatotkacha.

Kalabendana was loyal to Ghatotkacha and looked after Ksiti Sundari, wife of Abhimanyu and daughter of Krishna who has had a tumultous relationship with Abhimanyu, divorcing and remarrying abhimanyu. Kalabendana is very honest, loyal and forthright but could not keep a secret. He probably loved Kshiti sundari a little himself. Kshiti sundari was send by Krishna to keep an eye on Ghatotkacha as he absorbed all his uncles's powers, he was becoming little evil himself. Kalabendana helped kshiti sundari in this endevour. When Kalabendana heard of planned Abhimanyu's wedding with Uttara, he could not keep the secret and told some maids. Kshiti Sundari overheard it and left the palace and died. Making amends, Kalabendana also killed himself and then waited patiently for his nephew and when Ghatotkacha also died in battle, both uncle and nephew flew to heaven together. In other version, it is Vajramushti who was responsible for state of events which lead to demise of Kshiti Sundari and Kalabendana. There are enough hints in these stories of little dark or gray inflections in characters of Ghatotkacha and Abhimanyu.

Arimbaji, son of Hidimba, the nephew also died fighting against Bomasura who was eventually killed by Shitija, son of Krishna.

The description is of large rakshasa kingdom populated by general people, relatively happy and of full court and officials and various palace intrigues, of love affairs and of unrequited love amidst great ballads of several generations of kings and priests and warriors of the rakshasas.

Pranshu B Saxena