GHATOTKACHA
THE UNSUNG WARRIOR OF MAHABHARAT
Ghatotkacha is an important character in the Mahabharata. His name comes from the fact that his head was hairless and shaped like a ghatam. Ghatotkacha was the son of the Pandava Bhima and the demoness Hidimbi.
His maternal parentage made him half-demon, which granted him several magical abilities such as the ability to fly, to increase or decrease in size and to become invisible. He was an important fighter from the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra war and caused a great deal of destruction to the Kaurava army on the fourteenth night. Ghatotkacha killed many demons like Alambusha and many gigantic Asuras. He was killed by Karna with Indra's Vasavi Shakti which Karna obtained in exchange for his earrings and armour.
Ghatotkacha grew up under the care of Hidimbi. Like his father, Ghatotkacha's weapon of choice was the mace. Lord Krishna gave him a boon that no one in the world would be able to match his sorcery skills, except for Krishna himself. His wife was Ahilawati and his sons were Barbarika, Anjanaparvan, and Meghavarna.
Ghatotkacha was born to the demoness Hidimbi and the Pandava Bhima. When traveling the countryside with his brothers and mother as a brahmin, having escaped the lakshagraha, Bhima saved Hidimbi from her wicked brother Hidimba, the king of demons of Kamyaka Forest. Soon after Ghatotkacha was born, Bhima had to leave his family, as he still had duties to complete at Hastinapura.
Ghatotkacha grew up under the care of Hidimbi. Like his father, Ghatotkacha's weapon of choice was the mace. Lord Krishna gave him a boon that no one in the world would be able to match his sorcery skills, except for Krishna himself . His wife was Ahilawati and his sons were Barbarika, Anjanaparvan, and Meghavarna.
One day Hidimbi asked Ghatotkacha to fetch a human to sacrifice to Kali Mata. On his way to do so, he spotted a Brahmin and his wife traveling with their three children. Ghatotkacha approached them and asked which one of them should come with him to be his mother's sacrifice to Kali.
The Brahmin offered himself but his wife insisted that she would go. Finally, their second son agreed to go with Ghatotkacha and asked his permission to first bathe in the river Ganga. Bhima comes upon the scene and inquired as to what was the matter. Ghatotkacha then relayed the scenario to Bhima, who agreed to go with him on the condition that Ghatotkacha should defeat him in a fight.
Fight with Bhima
The fight began with both father and son fighting barehanded. After days of fighting, both of them exhausted, they were stopped by Hidimba. She informed Ghatotkacha that Bhima is his father. Ghatotkacha fell at the feet of his father Bhima who embraced and praised his son, telling him that seldom has he fought anyone who could match him in terms of strength. Bhima also criticizes his wife and son for following the practice of human sacrifice .
Dailyshop actors played role of Ghatothkacha
- A 2008 animated film Ghatothkacha was based on his life. It was directed by Singeetham Srinivas Rao.
- Ketan Karande played Ghatotkacha in 2013 TV Series Mahabharat.
- Razaq Khan played Ghatotkacha in 1988 TV Series Mahabharat.
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