Simhika
Simhika, or Sinhika, was the daughter of Demon king Hiranyakashipu and was the sister of the Vishnu devotee Bhakt Prahlada. She is also considered as the mother of Svarbhānu, who was beheaded into two by Lord Vishnu, resulting in the creation of Rahu from the head portion and Ketu from the remaining body. Apart from this, she had 101 other sons.
Simhika | |
---|---|
Hanuman encounters Surasa, Sinhika and Lankini | |
Affiliation | Asurani |
Gender | female |
Personal information | |
Parents |
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Siblings | Prahlada |
Consort | Viprachitti |
Children | Svarbhanu (Rahu and Ketu) |
Simhika got the boon from Brahma that she can control anyone's shadow. Later, she controlled Devi Chhaya, mother of Lord Shani and wife of Surya, the sun god. And eventually got defeated by Shani and Hanuman. Simhika was forgiven by Hanuman, but he told her that whenever he finds her in later phase of life he'll kill her. Later, when Hanuman was climbing the ocean to Lanka, the kingdom of Demon Ravana, Simhika was hiding in the ocean and captured Hanuman's shadow, Hanuman dived into her mouth and came out tearing up her stomach, ending the life of Simhika.
Sources
- Bane, Theresa (2016). Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. p. 294. ISBN 9780786495054.