So we all have been tired with the wrong and misleading information found in Wikipedia. Here we present our very own PandavaPedia, which will have genuine information about our nine heroines.
This is an article book and all the members have permiss...
After her brother's death, Pandavas were about to leave the forest. Hidimbaa too followed them silently. Bhima doubted her intention but Hidimbaa confessed her love for him, weeping to Kunti. Yudhishthira accepted her wish and gave her permission to unite with Bhima. Bhima promised that he would stay with her till one child was born. Hidimbaa agreed and their marriage, though not in Aarya way, happened with elders' permission.
Hidimbaa took Bhima to the beautiful places she liked, and spent time with him in conjugal bliss. She got pregnant and gave birth to a son who grew up instantly (as all Rakshasas do). Due to his bald head, his parents named him Ghatotkacha. He bowed to his elders and gave promise that he would come to their service whenever needed.
Kurukshetra war:
Ghatotkacha joined Pandavas with his Rakshasa army. He fought from day 1 of the war and killed demon Alambusha. He played a major role in destroying Kaurava army on 14th day, due to which Karna had to use his Aindree Shakti on Ghatotkacha. Thus, he saved Arjuna's life by sacrificing himself.
We do not see Hidimbaa in the war Parvas, but one can witness her character in her son.
Other Mahabharatas (regional versions):
In Bengali Mahabharata of Kashiram Das, we see Hidimbaa attending the Rajasuya sacrifice along with Ghatotkacha. She was given the honour of Pandu kulavadhu and was seated between Draupadi and Subhadra.
In literature:
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(Cover of Madhyamavyayogam)
Bhasa's Madhyamavyayogam play is an imaginary narrative of sudden meeting of Bhima and Ghatotkacha during Pandava exile of 13 years. In this story, Ghatotkacha gets his mother's order to bring a human for her lunch. He approaches a Brahmin family having three sons and requested to offer one son for his mother's meal.
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(An art based on the play Madhyamvyayogam; Hidimbaa talking to Ghatotkacha)
The Brahmin parents denied to part with the elder and younger. So the middle son (Madhyama) offered himself to the Rakshasa. At that time, Bhima was out for hunting. He heard Brahmin's cry and jumped in. He offered himself as a replacement for the Brahmin son. Ghatotkacha takes Bhima to his mother, not knowing their relation.
At the end of this play, we see that everything was actually Hidimbaa's plan. She sent her son to get a chance of meeting Bhima, not to eat a human. The beautiful story ends with Bhima telling her: "You are a Rakshasi only by birth, not by behaviour!"
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(Cover of the book written by renowned author Narendra Kohli on the life and hardship faced by Hidimbaa)
Legend and worship:
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(Temple of Goddess Hidimbaa, Manali)
Near Manali, Himachal Pradesh, there is a temple dedicated to Devi Hidimbaa. Many scholars believe that this was the place where she spent her conjugal life with Bhima. Most probably later also she spent the rest of her life here only. Local people believe her to be a Goddess of nature and pray to her for saving them from natural calamities. In this way, Devi Hidimbaa is protecting her subjects even today.
References:
1) The Mahabharata, KMG, sacred texts 2) The Mahabharata, BORI, translated by Bibek Debroy 3) ancientvoice.org 4) Mahabharater Ashtadashi, Nrisingha Prasad Bhadury.
