Historical Period1c BCE
Ancient (pre-900 CE)
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Deities
Hidimba Devi
Royal Goddess of Manali
Royal Goddess of Manali
No primary scriptures are catalogued for this entry yet. If you know of scriptural references we have missed, please contribute them.
Hidimba Devi (हिडिम्बा देवी) is the patron deity of Kullu-Manali region in Himachal Pradesh. She was a demoness (Rakhsasi) who married the Pandava prince Bhima, becoming an ancestor of the royal family of Kullu. Her temple in Manali is one of the most visited in the valley.
According to the Mahabharata, Hidimba was a demoness who spotted Bhima in the forest and fell in love. She married him and bore him a son named Ghatotkacha. After the war, Bhima left her, and she returned to the forest. The Kullu royal family traces descent from this union.
The Hidimba Devi temple in Manali is unique for its:
The current temple was built in 1553 CE by Raja Bansi.
Source: Local tradition, temple records
