Lessons from Hadimba

About the power of self determination
Hadimba Temple - Manali

Hadimb and Hadimba are siblings. Perhaps twins? Born into the Rakshasa clan they live deep in the dark forests, are cannibals by right and kill for pleasure. The Pandavas are banished into the forests forsaking royal luxury.

Hadimb, perhaps the elder one, sends Hadimba out to find man-meat for his mid-day-meal. Hadimba sees Bhima. She is mesmerised by his frank face, his courage and his strong muscular build. She transforms herself into a damsel and wins his heart. Meat to Mate in 3 moves...??

Meanwhile Hadimb comes, attacks Bhima and is killed by him. Bhima keeps his promise to Hadimba, marries her and has a son by her named Ghatotkaccha. Bhima leaves to fulfill his duties by the land. Hadimba remains in the dark forest with her son, transforms herself by meditation and generous deeds and brings up a son worthy of his illustrious father.

Today she is venerated by the people of Manali as a goddess, not in any manner denying her rakshasa origin. A small brass idol hardly 4 inches high represents her. Puja is performed daily. In May every year a festival is held and sacrifices made... of small animals, large vegetables and finally an ox. Skulls of ibex and goats adorn the walls of the temple!

This surely is a tale of triumph. Triumph of creative and original thought over environment, over upbringing, over social expectation and over all possible excuses. Strangely, there is also another temple to her in Chitradurga in Karnataka. Now how did she get there?

The Hadimba temple in Manali has massive and passive angora rabbits that you can pose with!



massive passive angora rabbits

 Yaks that you can ride on! (they have curved horns and stinky long hair)



Yak - off duty

 Winding walk ways that you can get lost in. And colourful locals you can chat up with.



Slate tiled roof and locals of Manali

 The temple is made of wood and stone. And has awesome carved wood panels. The metal covered pagodas are all the more interesting because they are asymetrical. You saw here.



carved wood panels in Hadimba

I can almost hear her mom and dad saying
yaakey?
are there no guys in our clan?
he can't even change his form, a mere mortal, not a man-meat eater
not even good looking...such small teeth
what do you see in him? How can we face our neighbours? What will society think!!


----------------------------------
No one is good or bad. They are just different?
----------------------------------