Kimpurusha

Kimpurushas (किंपुरुष) were one among the Exotic Tribes of Ancient India mentioned in Mahabharata. These exotic tribes lived in inaccessible regions like the Himalaya mountains and had limited interaction with the Vedic civilization of ancient India. Thus they were represented as super human beings or as natural spirits.

Variants

• Kimpurusha (किंपुरुष) (AS, p.188)
• Kimpurushavarsha (किंपुरुषवर्ष) (AS, p.188)

In Mahabharata

Kimpurusha (किंपुरुष) Mahabharata (I.60.7), (II.25.1)

Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Book I Chapter 60 gives genealogy of all the principal creatures. Kimpurushas (किंपुरुष) are mentioned in Mahabharata (I.60.7). ....Kimpurushas were mentioned as half-lions and half-men at (1,66). Here they were mentioned as related to other exotic tribes like the Rakshasas, Vanaras, Kinnaras (half-men, half-horses) and Yakshas. Sage Pulaha was linked with the Kimpurushas, whereas the others were linked with the sage Pulastya. Another tribe viz the Valikhilyas (who follow the motion of the sun) where linked with the sage Kratu. Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu were mentioned as the six great sages, who probably originated the six great clans. The kinship of these exotic tribes is also mentioned at (12,206).

Arjuna's conquests: Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 25 mentions the countries Arjuna subjugated in the North, Arjuna arrives to conquer Harivarsha. Kimpurusha (किंपुरुष) (Country) is mentioned in Mahabharata (II.25.1).....Arjuna, during his conquest of northern kingdoms also visited the Kimpurusha Kingdom Arjuna, Crossing the White mountains, subjugated the country of the Kimpurushas ruled by Durmaputra, after a collision involving a great slaughter of Kshatriyas, and brought the region under his complete sway. (2,27)

Kimpurusha King (or preceptor) Druma: Druma is mentioned as the preceptor of the Kimpurushas at (2,43). Here he is said to attend the Rajasuya sacrifice of Pandava king Yudhishthira.

Arjuna, had defeated the Kimpurusha king Durma-putra, during his military campaign in the northern regions (2,27)

Rukmi a king of Vidarbha was a disciple of the famous Kimpurusha who was known by the name of Drona or Druma. (5,159)

Other References: Rakshasa Ravana defeated the Devas, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, and the Kimpurushas. (3,279)

Kimpurushas used to wander alone in forests (12,168)

किंपुरुष

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...किंपुरुष (AS, p.188) - पौराणिक भूगोल के अनुसार किंपुरुष, जंबूद्वीप का एक विभाग है-- 'भारतं प्रथमं वर्षं किंपुरुषं स्मृतम्' विष्णुपुराण 2,2,12. इसका नाम जंबूद्वीप के आग्नधि नामक राजा के पुत्र किंपुरुष के नाम पर पड़ा था. 'नाभि: किंपुरुश्चैव हरिवर्ष इलावृत:' किंपुरुष आदि आठ वर्षों के निवासियों को जरा-मृत्यु के भय से रहित माना गया है--'विपर्ययो न तेष्वस्तिजरामृत्यु भयं न च'. विष्णु 2,1,25. धर्माधर्म, उत्तम, मध्यम, अधम तथा युग व्यवस्था वहां नहीं है-- धर्माधर्माो न तेष्वास्तां नोत्तमामाधमध्यमा:' न तेष्वस्ति युगावस्था क्षेत्रेष्वष्टसु सर्वदा' विष्णु पुराण 2,1,26. उपर्युक्त 2,2,12 के उल्लेख से यह भी इंगित होता है कि किंपुरुषदेश भारत के पार्श्व में ही स्थित माना जाता था. संभवत: यह तिब्बत या नेपाल का प्रदेश होगा जहां किंपुरुष या किन्नरों का निवास था. आज भी हिमाचल प्रदेश में स्थित तिब्बत की सीमा के निकट के इलाके में रहने वाली जातियां किन्नर कहलाती हैं. ये अनार्य जातियां आर्यों के रीति-रिवाजों तथा संस्कृति से अनभिज्ञ अवश्य ही रही होंगी. महाभारत सभा.28,1 में अर्जुन की किंपुरुष पर विजय का वर्णन है--स श्वेतपर्वतं वीरः समतिक्रम्य वीर्यवान, देशं किं पुरुषावासं द्रुमपुत्रेण रक्षितम्' (II.25.1) इसके पश्चात किंपुरुष हेमकूट का संबंध किंपुरुषो से बताया गया है- तथा वध महाभारत गुरु द्वारा रचित बताया गया है चाहट के नाम जैसे हम काली रात में भी यह स्थिति है कि सीमा के अंतर्गत