There are good demonesses too.
Hidambi was one of them.
In the Mahabharata, Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers, was known for his phenomenal strength. Bhima married the beautiful demoness after killer brother Hidimba in a duel, and the couple had a powerful son: Ghatotkacha.
When the Kurukshetra war was on, Krishna reminded Bhima of his powerful demon-son. Ghatotkacha came immediately when his father called him, his mother sending him even though she knew he might be killed in the battlefield.
Legend has it that the war turned in the Pandavas' favour when Ghatotkacha entered the fray. He created havoc for the Kaurava army. Fearing total annihilation at the hands of Ghatotkacha, Duryodhana forced Karna to use the Shakrashakti against Ghatotkacha to kill him.
Karna had got this special weapon from Indra in exchange for his breastplate and ear-rings. He had obtained this weapon specifically to kill Arjuna.
Ghatotkacha was thus instrumental in saving Arjuna's life, though he lost his own. The son of a demoness thus saved the day for the Pandavas in the country’s foremost legend about the clash between good and evil.
Also read:
More Holi specials
The meaning of color
Holi recipes
Illustrations: Uttam Ghosh
Text: Ganesh Nadar
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