Simhika
{{About|the rakshasi of the Ramayana|the sister of Hiranyakashipu|Holika}}{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| name = Simhika
| affiliation = Rakshasa
| texts = Ramayana
| image = Hanuman encounters with surasa and simhika, hanuman being accousted by lank9ini.png
| caption = Hanuman encounters Simhika and Surasa.
}}{{short description|Rakshasi in Hindu mythology}}
Simhika ({{Langx|sa|सिंहिका|translit=Siṃhikā}}) is a rakshasi in Hinduism. She appears in the Ramayana, as a foe of the vanara, Hanuman, by whom she is slain.{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2012-06-24 |title=Simhika, Siṃhikā, Siṅhikā: 18 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/simhika |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}
Legend
In the Ramayana, after meeting Mainaka and Surasa, when Hanuman was crossing the ocean to Lanka, the kingdom of the rakshasa-king Ravana. Simhika was hiding in the ocean. Even as he flew overhead, she captured Hanuman's shadow with her magic. According to one account, forewarned about this creature by Sugriva, he expanded his size, and observed her vulnerability when she followed suit. He turned himself small and allowed her to swallow him, ripping her apart from within, slaying her before he resumed his journey.{{Cite book |last=aravamudan |first=krishnan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJe9BAAAQBAJ&dq=simhika+rakshasi&pg=PA373 |title=Pure Gems of Ramayanam |date=2014-09-22 |publisher=PartridgeIndia |isbn=978-1-4828-3720-9 |pages=373 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Books |first=Kausiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W_ZLEAAAQBAJ&dq=simhika+hanuman&pg=PT251 |title=Narasimha Purana: English Translation only without Slokas |date=2021-10-24 |publisher=Kausiki Books |pages=251 |language=en}} In other accounts, he merely kicked her to death.{{Cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hdE5DwAAQBAJ&dq=simhika+hanuman&pg=PT16 |title=Ram's Companion: (Penguin Petit) |date=2017-10-09 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-87326-09-5 |pages=16 |language=en}}
In popular culture
- Portrayed by Sudha Chandran in 2016–2018 Indian epic drama Karmaphal Daata Shani{{cite news |title=Sudha Chandran’s Ferocious Avatar As Simhika Will Make You Excited For Colors’ Karamphal Data Shani {{!}} India.com |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/sudha-chandrans-ferocious-avatar-as-simhika-will-make-you-excited-for-colors-karamphal-data-shani-2369264/ |work=www.india.com |date=1 August 2017 |language=en}}
References
External links
- {{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DvYWDAAAQBAJ&q=sinhika+hindu&pg=PA293 |year=2016 |page=294 |isbn=9780786495054 |last1=Bane |first1=Theresa}}
Category:Characters in the Ramayana