Hidimba

Hidimba
Hidimba Reveals her identity
Devanagari	हिडिम्ब
Sanskrit transliteration	Hidimba
Affiliation	Rakshasa
Siblings	Hidimbi

In the Mahābhārata, Hidimba (Sanskrit: हिडिम्ब) (sometimes called Hidimbaswar and Hidimba) was a strong powerful person, the brother of Hidimbi and a forest dweller. He and his sister, Hidimbi were tempted at the sight of the Pandavas and wished to fight them. For this purpose Hidimbi changed herself into a beautiful woman and brought him near Hidimba. However, he came into conflict with Bhima and died in the conflict. As the brother of Hidimbi he was also the uncle of Ghatotkacha. He was reputed to be 8 cubits tall (12 feet tall for the 18-inch cubit conversion). Tradition states that Hidimba belonged to the great Bamun family of Nalbari (Assam) Kamrup of which the Dimasa people are descendants.

Madhyamavyayoga or Madhyama Vyāyoga (Hindi: मध्यमव्याbयोग), (English: The Middle One) is a great Sanskrit play attributed to Bhāsa. The story is about the reunion of Bhima and Ghatokach as father and son that takes place under the pretext of Hidimba's desire for human flesh. While the characters in this tale are taken from the Mahabharata, this particular incidence is solely a product of Bhasa.

Currently there are a few temples dedicated to Hidimbi Devi in Himachal Pradesh. The most famous Hidimbi Devi temple is in Manali (see Hidimba temple, Manali). The temple houses chariots, a small statue and footprints. Hidimba is one of the most powerful and spiritualist deities in Kullu valley. The pagoda type wooden temple with intricately carved wooden doors and a wooden shikhara is believed to be over 500 years old. It is said that the carver of the artwork at this temple had his hands cut off after completion of his work so that he can never again produce such beautiful work anywhere else. It is also situated in a deodar forest.