Kirmira ( sa, किर्मीर, ) was a monstrous

Rakshasa Rakshasas ( sa, राक्षस, IAST: : Pali: ''rakkhaso'') lit. 'preservers' are a race of usually malevolent demigods prominently featured in Hindu mythology. According to the Brahmanda Purana, the rakshasas were created by Brahma wh ...

featured in the

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the '' Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the K ...

. He was the younger brother of the demon Bakāsura, the elder brother of the demon Alambhusha, and a good friend of Hiḍimbā. He lived in the Kāmyaka Forest and hunted men at night for his food. He opposed the Pandavas entering the forest and threatened to eat

Bhima In Hindu epic Mahabharata, Bhima ( sa, भीम, ) is the second among the five Pandavas. The '' Mahabharata'' relates many events that portray the might of Bhima. Bhima was born when Vayu, the wind god, granted a son to Kunti and Pandu. ...

, by whom he was slain in a furious combat.

Encounter with the Pandavas

One night during their travels, the exiled

Pandavas The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowl ...

reached the deserted forest where Kirmira lived. The hour had passed midnight, so Kirmira had come out. With his prominent teeth and blazing hair, he took on an appearance akin to thunderclouds. He started "to spread the illusion proper to his species." He obstructed the Pandavas and frightened

Draupadi Draupadi ( sa, द्रौपदी, draupadī, Daughter of Drupada), also referred to as Krishnaa, Panchali, and Yagyaseni, is the main female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata,'' and the common consort of the five Pandava brother ...

, who was escorted and supported by the five Pandavas. After his illusion was destroyed by the priest Dhaumya,

Yudhishthira ''Yudhishthira'' (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira'') is the eldest among the five Pandava brothers. He is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata. He was sired by King Pandu of the Kuru Dynasty and his first ...

, as the eldest Pandava, spoke with Kirmira. Thus Kirmira learned that before him stood the Pandavas, including Bhima. Kirmira swore that he would have revenge against Bhima, who had slain his brother Bakasura and friend Hidimba.

Arjuna Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Pand ...

strung his bow, but Yudhishthira told him to desist, allowing Bhima to fight Kirmira in a duel. The mighty-armed Bhima first tore up a tree and brought it down on the head of the cannibal. The Rakshasa was unmoved by the blow and hurled his firebrand at Bhima. But Bhima deflected it back towards the Rakshasa. They continued to battle, breaking innumerable trees over each others' heads. Then the Rakshasa hurled a crag at Bhima, also without result. Kirmira and Bhima then wrestled fiercely. Bhima, seizing the Rakshasa by the waist, began to whirl him about. At last the fatigued Rakshasa grew faint. Bhima pinned Kirmira's waist under his knee and choked him to death with his hands. Kirmira was thus slain in combat by

, in obedience of the command of his elder brother, Yudhishthira.

References

Rakshasa in the Mahabharata {{Hindu-myth-stub