Nikumbha

Nikumbha (Sanskrit: निकुम्भ, romanized: Nikumbha) is the name of multiple beings in Hindu mythology, a rakshasa and a danava.

Not to be confused with Nikumbh.

Legend
Nikumbha (left) is slain by Hanuman

Rakshasa Nikumbha

Nikumbha, the rakshasa, is the son of Kumbhakarna and Vajramala.[1] He is instructed by Kubera to watch over the Pisacas[2] (a type of evil spirit).[3] The Nilamata Purana refers to him as "the noble and strong lord of the Pisacas."[2]

Seeing Kumbha, his brother killed in battle, the enraged ran with an iron club towards the battle. Hanuman directly attacks Nikumbha, by striking his fist forcibly on Nikumbha’s chest. Unmoved by that blow, Nikumbha lifts Hanuman off the ground. Hanuman in retaliation frees himself and throws down Nikumbha on the ground. Hanuman descends on Nikumbha, pounds his chest with his fist, catches his head and tears it off. Thus, Nikumbha dies at the hands of Hanuman.[4]

Krishna slays Nikumbha, in the form of a bird

Danava Nikumbha

Nikumbha, the danava, appears in a story of Krishna, where the deity, his brother Balarama, along with the rest of the Yadava clan undertake a pilgrimage to attend a festival. While the Yadavas engage in revelries, Nikumbha abducts a maiden among them named Bhanumati. While Krishna's son, Pradyumna, rescues Bhanumati, the deity himself slays the danava.[5]

References
  1. C. Dutt, Romesh (1899). "Ramayana Book IX". The Ramayana and Mahabharata. Internet Sacred Text Archive. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
  2. "Verses 201-300". Nilamata Purana. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
  3. "Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.6.43-45". Bhaktivedanta VedaBase. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
  4. Chebbi, Deepak M. "Ramayana - Hanuman Kills Nikumbha". www.yousigma.com. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  5. Winternitz, Moriz (1996). A History of Indian Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 432. ISBN 978-81-208-0264-3.
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