Hansa and Dimbhaka were two warriors mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. They both served the king Jarasandha and assisted him during his attempts to retake Mathura.[1] During the Sabha Parva, a king named Hansa was slain by Balarama after an eighteen-day battle. Upon hearing the news of Hansa's death, Dimbhaka thought that his Hansa had been killed. He threw himself into the river Yamuna and committed suicide. When the real Hansa heard of Dimbhaka's suicide, he killed himself in the same manner.[1][2]
The ambiguous relationship between the two has generally been viewed as an amorous one between two men and as such has been taken as an example of male same-sex relationships in Hindu mythology and its greater acceptance.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b The Mahabharata. Vol. Sabha Prava. Translated by Protap Chandra Roy. Bharata Press. 1884. p. 47.
- ^ John Dowson (1888). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion. Trubner and Co. p. 116.
- ^ https://devdutt.com/discovering-gay-generals-in-jarasandhas-army/