Kichaka

In Mahabharata , Kichaka or Keechaka was the army commander of 'Matsya', the country ruled by King Virata. He is also the brother of Sudeshna, the queen. Malini is the name of Droupadi , the wife of pandavas when she was disguised as 'sairandhri' (female servent) in King Virata's Palace for one year. Keechaka once saw Malini and madly desired to enjoy her beauty, but she refused. Keechaka said to queen Sudeshna about his lust on Malini , and requested to send her to serve wine for him. While serving the wine Keechaka embraced Malini and tried to kiss her. Malini cried and pushed him down. Somehow she escaped but she knew that he will catch her soon. That day she informed her husband Bhima , who was also disguised as 'Valalan' in that palace as a cook. He planned to kill Keechaka in secret and said Malini to anyhow bring him to the dancing hall at midnight. as per the advice of Bhima from next day, acted love to keechaka , and she ready to making love. Malini invite him to dancing hall at that late night. When Keechaka came their for Malini, Bhima who was laid on dancing hall started fight with him. After a great war keechaka died. Thus Malini escaped.

He was later slain by the Pandava Bhima (4,22). Some believe that the village named Ekachakra were the Pandavas finally settled after the escape from the murder-attempt, belonged to the kingdom of Kichaka. At (1,162) is mentioned that the city named Vetrakiya (a city on the banks of river Vetravati, the modern-day river Betwa) was the capital of this kingdom. Vetravati is believed to be same as the river Suktimati on the banks of which lied the Chedi capital Suktimati. It is a tributary of Yamuna to the east of Charmanvati, yet another tributary of Yamuna. Kingdom of Kichaka is identified to be lying between Charmanwati and Vetravati rivers, i.e., to the south of southern-Panchala; to the north of Chedi and to the east of Matsya-proper.

But there is a place in Orissa name "Kaptipada" which comes under Dist "Mayurbhanj" where in history of the plate states that "Pandavas" stay hidden at King "Virat" palace in "Kaptipada" and did the work of cooking.

King "Kichak" was the ruler of "Mayurbhanj" as because " Maa Kichakeswari" the Goddess of King "Kichak" is in "Kiching" ."Maa Kichekeswari" is still worshiped by the "Bhanj" Dynasty of Mayurbhanj. The royal family of "Mayurbhanj" are the descendants of King "Kichak" . The Descendants of King "Virat" were the royal family of "Kaptipada" are still living there. There is a huge rock in "Kaptipada" known as "Sumi-Briska" under which Pandavas had hidden their weapons during their exile in "Kaptipada" and had taken back or is kept under it no one knows.

Village Katrathal, an ancient historical village of Sikar district in Rajasthan, is believed to be associated with Kichaka. ()

Also in the Amravati District situated in the State of Maharashtra, there is a place named Chikhaldara. It is somewhat like a Hill Station to the nearby region because of its exotic scenery and significant altitude. There one finds a waterfall and adjacent to it a board is installed (probably by Mahrashtra Tourism Development Board) which says that Bheema had killed Kichaka at that spot and upon throwing his body in the deep waterfall, had washed his blood filled hands in the water flowing through the creek. And because of this, the place had derived its name as 'Kichakdhara' and with the affluence of time, it became as present days 'Chikhaldara'.