Week 11: Extra Credit Reading


Ghatotchaka: The Chivalrous Demon



Image: Ghatotchaka, Source: Wikimedia

At the beginning of the story, we are shown the relationship between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Even though they are cousins, the Kauravas despised the Pandavas due to their popularity. The eldest Kaurava, Duryodhana, is the most jealous of the Pandavas and plots to kill them. The Pandavas escape and live in the forest. When they are traveling in the forest, a rakshaka falls in love with Bhima and marries him. They have a son named Ghatotkacha, who is a rakshaka and has magical powers. He promises to meet his father when he is grown.

Later on in the story, the Pandavas build a huge palace which upsets the Kauravas. The Kauravas hatch a plan to make the Pandavas lose their land and honor. They play a game of dice with the eldest Pandava who loses everything. The family is exiled again and Arjuna’s son, Abhimanyu, is engaged to the daughter of Krishna’s brother. However, he decides to marry his daughter of to the son of Duryodhana. Abhimanyu meets with Ghatotkacha and decides to help him. He goes to the palace and carries Vatsala to Abhimanyu. Then, Ghatotkacha transforms himself into a look alike of Vatsala. During the wedding, Duryodhana’s son realizes that there is something wrong with the bride and becomes terrified by her. The Kauravas realize that the bride is a fake, but by the time they realize, Ghatotkacha disappears.

During the war of the Pandavas and Kauravas are at war, Ghatotkacha is summoned. Abhimanyu is killed in the battle, which anger Arjuna and he vows for revenge. The Pandavas ask Ghatotkacha to kill Karna.  Ghatotkacha tries to defeat Karna by throwing obstacles towards him, but Karna fends them off. Finally, Karna has to use the Shakti weapon of Indra to kill Ghatotkacha even though he reserved that weapon for Arjuna. Krishna explains that Ghatotkacha’s death had saved Arjuna’s life.
I thought that this was a very interesting story as even though Ghatotkacha was demon (rakshaka), he was a loyal, noble, and chivalrous character. He willingly puts himself into harm’s way in order to save the people that he loves. He even gives up his life in order to protect the Pandava’s even though he didn’t have to. I really liked this character and enjoyed gaining more information about him. 

Bibliography: Ghatotkacha: The Chivalrous Demon, Volume 592, Amar Chitra Katha. 

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