| Bakasura | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Rakshasa |
| Texts | Mahabharata |
| Region | Ekachakrapura |
| Genealogy | |
| Born | Garhbeta, West Bengal, India |
| Siblings | Kirmira (younger brother) |
Bakasura (Sanskrit: बकासुर, IAST: Bakasura), also rendered Baka, is a rakshasa featured in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The rakshasa lives in a forest which nowadays known as "Gangani" located near Garhbeta town of the Indian state of West Bengal. In exchange for protecting the kingdom from invaders, he terrorises its citizens, eating them at will. The weak king is rendered helpless. The people come to an arrangement with their tormentor: They would send him large provisions of food every week, which he would consume, along with the cart-driver who delivered them.[1] In order to save the life of their Brahmin host when it is his turn to deliver the cartload, Bhima is eventually sent out to kill Bakasura, under the direction of his mother, Kunti.[2]
The slaying of Bakasura by Bhima is commemorated on the occasion of Bhimana Amavasya.