Simhika (Sanskrit: सिंहिका, romanized: Siṃhikā) is a rakshasi in Hinduism. She appears in the Ramayana, as a foe of the vanara, Hanuman, by whom she is slain.[1]
| Simhika | |
|---|---|
 Hanuman encounters Simhika and Surasa. | |
| Affiliation | Rakshasa |
| Texts | Ramayana |
Legend edit
In the Ramayana, after meeting Mainaka and Surasa, when Hanuman was crossing the ocean to Lanka, the kingdom of the rakshasa-king Ravana. Simhika was hiding in the ocean. Even as he flew overhead, she captured Hanuman's shadow with her magic. According to one account, forewarned about this creature by Sugriva, he expanded his size, and observed her vulnerability when she followed suit. He turned himself small and allowed her to swallow him, ripping her apart from within, slaying her before he resumed his journey.[2][3] In other accounts, he merely kicked her to death.[4]
In popular culture edit
- Portrayed by Sudha Chandran in 2016–2018 Indian epic drama Karmaphal Daata Shani[5]
References edit
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2012-06-24). "Simhika, Siṃhikā, Siṅhikā: 18 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
- ^ aravamudan, krishnan (2014-09-22). Pure Gems of Ramayanam. PartridgeIndia. p. 373. ISBN 978-1-4828-3720-9.
- ^ Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24). Narasimha Purana: English Translation only without Slokas. Kausiki Books. p. 251.
- ^ Pattanaik, Devdutt (2017-10-09). Ram's Companion: (Penguin Petit). Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 16. ISBN 978-93-87326-09-5.
- ^ "Sudha Chandran's Ferocious Avatar As Simhika Will Make You Excited For Colors' Karamphal Data Shani | India.com". www.india.com. 1 August 2017.
External links edit
- Bane, Theresa (2016). Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. p. 294. ISBN 9780786495054.