Kimpurushas

The kimpurushas (Sanskrit: किंपुरुष, romanized: Kimpuruṣa) are a race of beings featured in Hindu literature, described as possessing the bodies of human beings and lion heads. They are associated with, and sometimes considered the same as the kinnaras,^[1] though some Puranas distinguish between them.^[2] They are attendants of the god of wealth, Kubera.^[3]

Literature

Bhagavata Purana

Brahma is described to have created the kimpurushas and the kinnaras from his own reflected image.^[4]

The kimpurushas, along with a number of other beings, praise the glory of the Narasimha avatar of Vishnu after he slays Hiranyakashipu.^[5]

The beings sing the praises of Mahabali for his selfless deed of offering the three worlds to the Vamana avatar of Vishnu.^[6]

Ramayana

Budha transforms a number of women into kimpurushis (female kimpurushas) and instructs them to make a mountain their abode and take kimpurushas for their consorts.^[7]

Tirumurai

The poet-saint Appar references the kimpurushas as one among the eighteen classes in his hymns.^[8]

See also

• Kinnaras
• Yakshas
• Gandharvas