List of characters in Ramayana
Ramayana is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It was composed by sage Valmiki. This is a list of important characters that appear in the epic.
A
Agastya
Agastya was a son of sage Pulastya and brother of sage Vishrava. He was an uncle of Ravana. Agastya and his wife met Rama, Sita and Lakshmana during their exile and gives them a divine bow and arrow.[1]
Akampana
Akampana was a maternal uncle of Ravana. He was one of ten sons of Sumali and Ketumathi. He also had four sisters. Later he was killed in the battle by Hanuman.[2]
Akshayakumara
Akshayakumara was a son of Ravana and Mandodari. He was killed by Hanuman during the encounter in Ashok Vatika.
Angada
Angada was a vanara and the son of Bali (vanar king of Kishkindha before Sugriva) and Tara. Angada helped Rama find his wife Sita and fight her abductor, Ravana.
Añjanā
Añjanā was mother of Hanuman. According to a version of the legend, Añjanā was an apsara named Puñjikastalā, who was born on Earth as a vanara princess and married Kesari, a vanara chief. Vayu, god of the wind, carried the divine power of Lord Shiva to Anjana's womb, and thus Hanuman was born as an incarnation of Lord Shiva.[3][4]In Shiv purana Anjana is stated as the Daughter of Gautama Maharishi and Ahalya.
Atikaya
Atikaya was a son of Ravana and his 2nd wife Dhanyamalini. He was killed by Lakshmana.[5]
B
C
Chandrabhagha
Chandrabhagha was the wife of Janaka's younger brother Kushadhwaja (also known as Kushadbhojan). Chandrabhagha 's two daughters Mandavi and Shrutakirti were married to Rama's younger brothers Bharata and Shatrughna respectively.
D
Dasharatha
Dasharatha was the king of Ayodhya. He had three queens, Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra, and four sons: Rama, Bharata, and twins Lakshmana, Shatrughna. Dasharatha also had a daughter named Shanta. Once, Kaikeyi saved Dasaratha in a war and as a reward, she got the privilege from Dasaratha to fulfil two of her wishes at any time of her lifetime. She made use of the opportunity and forced Dasharatha to make their son Bharata crown prince and send Rama into exile for 14 years. Dasharatha dies heartbroken after Rama goes into exile. He was a good king, who was also very kind.
Devantaka
Devantaka was an son of Ravana. He was killed by Hanuman.
Dhanyamalini
Dhanyamalini was the second wife of Ravana. Her true identity is unknown but some stories refer to her as the daughter of Maya and sister of Mandodari.
Dhumraksha
Dhumraksha was a maternal uncle of Ravana. He was one of ten sons of Sumali. Dhumraksha was killed by Hanuman.[6]
Dushan
Dushana was a man-eating Rakshasa in the Indian Ramayana epic. According to Indian epic Ramayana, Dushana and his twin brother Khara, younger brothers of Ravana, were demons who ruled the Dandaka Forest. After Lakshmana humiliated Shurpanakha by cutting off her nose and ears, Khara and Dushana went to war against Lakshmana and Rama. During this fight, Dushana was killed by Rama.[7]
G
H
Hanuman
Hanuman is a divine vanara companion and devote of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Ramayana. He is a Brahmachari (life long celibate) and one of the chiranjeevis. In some versions of the epic he is describe as an avatar of Lord Shiva.
I
Indrajit
Indrajit or Meghanada was a prince of Lanka and possessor of Indra loka (Heaven). In the epic he is describes as a great warrior and master of illusions. He was elder son of Ravana. He was born to Ravana's elder consort Mandodari. He Was Killed By Lakshamana After 2 War With Him.
J
Jambavan
Jambavan is describe as king of sloth bear in epic Ramayana. He was created by Brahma, to assist Rama in his struggle against Ravana.
Janaka
Janaka was the king of Mithila and father of Sita and Urmila. He was A wise and kind king.
Jambumali
Jambumali was son of Lanka's commander-in-chief Prahasta. He was killed by Hanuman during the encounter in Ashok Vatika.[8]
Jatayu
In the epic is a divine bird and the younger son of Aruṇa. He was an old friend of Dasharatha (Rama's father). Jatayu was killed by Ravana when he tried to save Sita during her abduction.
K
Kabandha
Kabandha is a Rakshasa (demon) who is killed and freed from a curse by the god Rama
Kaikashi
Kaikashi or Kaikeshi was one of the four wives of sage Vishrava, and mother of three sons Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana and a daughter Shurpanakha. She was a daughter of a Rakshasha name Sumali.[9]
Kaikeyi
Kaikeyi was the third and youngest wife of King Dasharatha, and mother of Bharata. She is famed for her beauty. After she saved the life of Dasaratha in battle, he offered to grant anything she would ask of him. She later calls in this favor to have Bharata crowned king and Rama sent into the forest, inspired by the worlds of her maid, Manthara.
Kausalya
In the epic Kausalya was the mother of Lord Rama and first consort of king Dashratha. She was the daughter of the King Sukaushal and Queen Amritaprabha of Kosala kingdom.
Kewat
In the epic Ramayana Kewat was an boatman who had taken Rama, Sita and Lakshman in his boat and crossed the Ganges.
Khara
Khara was a man-eating rakshasa in the Indian Ramayana epic. He was a younger male cousin of Ravana and the son of Kaikesi's sister Raka. He was killed by Rama, along with his brother Lakshmana when he attacked Rama after Shurpanakha's humiliation. After Lakshmana cut off Shurpanakha's nose, Khara fought against Lakshmana and Rama. During this fight, Khara lost and was killed by Rama, who also killed his brothers Dushana and Trishiras.[10] He was the ruler of the Danda Kingdom, roughly equivalent to the Nashik district, with Janasthana (Nashik city) as its capital. He protected the northern kingdom of Lanka in the mainland and his kingdom bordered with the Kosala Kingdom, the kingdom of Rama. He was well known for his superior skills in warfare. In the Ramayana war, between Rama and Ravana, Khara's son, Makaraksha, fought on his uncle, Ravana's side, and was killed by Rama.[11]
Kumbhakarna
Kumbhakarna was 2nd son of Vishrava and Kaikasi. He was younger brother of Ravana and elder brother Vibhisana and Surpanakha. Despite his gigantic size and great appetite, he was described to be of good character and great warrior in those times. When offered a boon by Brahma, he was tricked into asking for eternal sleep. A horrified Ravana, out of brotherly love, persuaded Brahma to amend the boon. Brahma mitigated the power of the boon by making Kumbhakarna sleep for six months and being awake for the rest six months of a year (in some versions, he is awake for one day out of the year).
L
Lakshmana
3rd son of King Dasharatha, and half-brother of Rama. He was twin brother of Shatrughna. They were born to queen Sumitra. He was deeply devoted to his brother, whom he followed through many dangerous adventures and quests. He was married to Sita's younger sister, Urmila.
M
Malyavan
Malyavan was a maternal granduncle of Ravana. He was one of three sons of Sukesha. He had two younger brothers named Sumali and Mali. Malyavan's wife was Sundari. She had seven sons - Vajra Mushti Viroopaaksh, Durmukh, Suptaghn, Yagyakop, Matt and Unmatt; and one daughter named Analaa.[12]
Mandavi
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Mandavi is the daughter of King Kushadhwaja and Queen Chandrabhaga. She was a cousin of Sita and Urmila. She also had a younger sister named Shrutakirti. Mandavi was married to Rama's brother Bharata.
Mandodari
Mandodari was the elder consort of Ravana. The Ramayana describes Mandodari as beautiful, pious, and righteous. Mandodari was the daughter of Mayasura and an apsara named Hema. Mandodari bears two sons: Meghanada (Indrajit) and Akshayakumara.
Manthara
Manthara is said to be hunch-backed, ugly & antagonistic in appearance. Manthara, it appears, is an expert talker and a cunning woman who can manipulate her way to get what she wants. When Rama is going to become the king of Ayodhya, many deities consulted Lord Vishnu. They said "Rama is going to become king. He will enjoy his life. But the reason behind his introduction is to kill evil." Lord Vishnu expressed his helplessness, so they consulted Saraswathi,the Goddess of education. She went in the form of Manthara (Kekaya)and sent Rama to forests. Manthara is said to be incarnation of Alakshmi, the eternal consort of Kali Purusha. In her earlier life, she had done penance unto Lord Rudra and accumulated virtue to become one among many celestial dancers / apsaras in Swarga loka. Knowing well that she was an evil soul, Brahma ordained her to take birth as Manthara and create hurdles in establishing Rama Rajya on earth during Treta Yuga.
Maricha
Maricha is a rakshasa (demon), who is killed by Rama, the hero of the epic and an avatar of God Vishnu. He is mentioned as an ally of Ravana, the antagonist of the epic. His most notable exploit is his role in the kidnapping of Sita, Rama's wife.
N
Nala
In the epic Ramayana, Nala was a Vanara who helped Rama during his war with Ravana. Hs is credited as the engineer of the Rama Setu. He was a son of Vishvakarma.[13]
Narantaka
Narantaka was a son of Ravana. He was killed by Angada.
Nila
In the epic Ramayana, Nila is the commander-in-chief of the vanara army in Rama's battle against Ravana.
P
R
Rama
Rama is the protagonist of epic Ramayana. Rama is an avatara of Lord Vishnu. He was son of king of Kosala Kingdom Dasharath and his elder consort Kaushalya. He is a virtuous, strong, and just man in his own right. He married Sita, whom he loved deeply. He also had a strong bond with his brother Lakshmana as well.
Ravana
Ravana was the Rakshasa king of Lanka. He is the main antagonist of epic Ramayana. He was son of Vishrava and Kaikashi. He performed penance for the God Shiva for many years, and in return received a great blessing from the God himself that he cannot be killed by any God, demon, or other divine being.
Rishyasringa
Rishyasringa was a great Rishi he presided over the sacrifice that King Dasharatha offered in order to get a son. He was married to Dasharath's daughter Shanta. He is sometimes depicted as a combination of a Deer and a Man.
Ruma
Rumā was the wife of Sugrīva. She is mentioned in Book IV (Kishkindha Kanda) of Ramayana. Ruma and Sugriva fell in love with each other and wanted to marry each other. But Ruma's father did not approve. Hence, Sugriva with the help of Hanuman, abducted Ruma and they married each other. Ruma was taken away from Sugriva by Vāli following the strife of two royal Vānara brothers. Later, the fact of Rumā being withheld by Vāli became the primary justification of Rama's slaying Vāli and helping Sugrīva to become the sovereign of Kishkindha. When accused by Vāli of lowly, treacherous and unexpected assassination from the shades by Rama's arrow, Rāma says his assassination was a just punishment for the sin Vāli committed when he robbed Sugrīva of Rumā, his wedded spouse, and used her for his own pleasure.[15][16][17]
S
Shanta
Shanta was the daughter of king Dasharatha and his elder consort Kaushalya. Later she was adopted by king Romapada of Anga Pradesh. She was married to sage Rishyasringa.
Shabari
Shabari was a devote of Rama. As Her Guru sage Matanga said to worship Rama, she waited for Rama for several year. Sabari finally met Rama after abduction of Sita. She helped Rama to find address of Sugriva and Hanumana.
Shatrughna
Shatrughna was the youngest son of king Dasharath. He was born to queen Sumitra and was twin brother of Lakshmana. He was married to Sita's cousin Shrutakirti with whom he had two childrens.
Shiva
Lord Shiva played an important role in the epic. Both Rama and Ravana were great devote of Shiva. Shiva is part of the great trinity in Hindusim, along with Vishnu and Brahma. Some versions of the epic also describes Hanuman as one of avatar of Shiva. Shiva is a great ascetic, and often sits in meditation. It is believed that he is able to tame the power of other gods, devas, and supernatural beings, and he often grants blessings and wishes to those who sit in dedication meditation ('Tapasya'). His wife is Parvati.
Shrutakirti
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Shrutakirti or Shrutakeerti is the daughter of king Kushadhwaja and queen Chandrabhaga. She was a cousin of Sita and Urmila. She also had an elder sister Mandavi.[18] Shrutakirti was married to Rama's brother Shatrughna.
Shurpanakha
Shurpanakha was daughter of Vishrava and Kaikashi; and younger sister of Ravana. According to Ramayana, she met the Rama during one such visit to the Forest of Panchavati, and was instantly smitten by his youthful good looks. Rama meanwhile kindly rejected her advances, telling her that he was faithful to his wife Sita and thus would never take another wife. Rejected, Shurpanakha then approached his younger brother, Lakshmana, who also rejected her, the humiliated and envious Shurpanakha attacked Sita but was thwarted by Lakshmana, who cut off her nose and left ear and sent her back to Lanka.
Sita
Sita is the main female character of epic Ramayana. King of Mithila Janaka, found her lying in a furrow on sanctified ground and decided to raise her as his daughter. She married Rama, and loved him so much that she followed him into exile. She is famed for her virtue and beauty, and is regarded as an Avatara of the goddess Lakshmi.
Subahu
Subahu is a rakshasa character in the Ramayana. He and his mother, Tataka, took immense pleasure in harassing the munis of the jungle, especially Vishvamitra, by disrupting their yajnas with rains of flesh and blood.[19] Vishvamitra approached Dasharatha for help in getting rid of these pestilences. Dasharatha obliged by sending two of his sons, Rama and Lakshmana, to the forest with Vishvamitra, charging them to protect both the sage and his sacrificial fires. When Subahu and Maricha again attempted to rain flesh and blood on the sage's yajna, Subahu was killed by Rama. [20]
Sugriva
Sugriva was a Vanara. He was younger brother of Vali, whom he succeeded as ruler of the vanara kingdom of Kishkindha. Rumā was his wife. He was spiritual son of Surya. Sugriva aided Rama in his quest to liberate his wife Sita from captivity at the hands of the Rakshasa king Ravana.
Sumali
Sumali was son of demon king Sukesa and gandharva princess Manimaya. He had two brothers Malyavana and Mali. Sumali was married to Ketumati with whom he had ten sons (Prahasta, Akampana, Vikata, Kalikamukha, Dhumraksha, Danda, Suprasva, Sanhradi, Praghasa and Bhaskarna) and four daughters (Raka, Puspotkata, Kaikashi, Kumbhnashi). One of his daughters Kaikashi was married to sage Vishrava who later gave birth to Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana and Shurpanakha.[21][22]
Sumantra
Sumantra, also known as Arya Sumantra, was the prime minister in the court of Ayodhya. He was extremely loyal to the rulers of Ayodhya and was King Dasharatha's most trusted minister. He knew many secrets about the royal family, including what he had heard from the conversation between King Dasharatha and Maharishi Durvasa. He helped Lord Rama in his exile.
Sumitra
Sumitra is the third consort of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. She is the mother of twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
T
Tataka
Tataka was a beautiful woman who was transformed into a demon (Rakshasha) once she tried to seduce the Sage Agastya. As a demon, she used to drink the blood of living creatures and used to kill anything she see. In one of Rama's few great acts, he broke her curse by slaying her.
Trijata
Trijata is a demoness who was assigned the duty of guarding Sita who was kidnapped by king of Lanka. In later adaptions of Ramayana she is described as a daughter of Vibhishana.
Trijata appears as a wise rakshasi, who dreams of Ravana's destruction and Rama's victory. She accompanies Sita on a survey of the battlefield of the war between Rama and Ravana, and reassures Sita of Rama's well-being when Sita sees her husband unconscious and presumes him dead.
Trishira
Trishira was a son of Ravana. He was killed by Hanuman.
U
Urmila
She was the younger daughter of Janaka and younger sister of Sita and Mandavi. She married Lakshamana and they had two sons. She lived 14 years without Lakshamana and waited for him.
V
Vali
Vali or Baali was a powerful king of Kishkindha in the epic Ramayana. He was spiritual son of Indra, biological son of Vriksharaja, the elder brother of Sugreev, husband of Tara and father of Angada.
Vasishtha
Vasishtha was a Sage and the Guru of King Dasharatha, he used to offer religious advice to the king and the royal family.
Vibhishana
Vibhishana was a younger brother of Ravana. Though a Rakshasa himself, Vibhishana was of a noble character. When Ravana kidnapped Sita, he advised Ravana to return her to her husband Rama in an orderly fashion and promptly which Ravana refused sternly. When Ravana did not heed his advice, Vibhishana deserted Ravana and joined Rama's army. Later, when Rama defeated Ravana, Rama crowned Vibhishana as the king of Lanka.
Vishrava
According to epic Ramayana, Vishrava was the son of Pulatsya, the brother of celebrated sage Agastya Muni and the grandson of Brahma. Vishrava was married twice. Once with Ilavida with whom he had a son named Kubera and his second consort was a Rakshasa princess Kaikashi with whom he had three sons (Ravana, Kumbhakarna & Vibhishana) and a daughter (Shurpanakha).[23]
Vishvamitra
Vishvamitra was a great Sage and wise man who was once a king. Through long Meditation, he gained a number of Spiritual powers. He took Rama on a quest to defeat a demon and to lift the bow of Shiva, the first step in the future king's great journey.
References
- Alain Daniélou 1991, p. 322–323 with footnotes 5 and 6.
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc,. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- Pollet, Gilbert (January 1995). Indian Epic Values: Ramayana and Its Impact: Proceedings of the 8th International Ramayana Conference, Leuven, 6–8 July 1991 (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta). Peeters. ISBN 978-90-6831-701-5.
- Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 68.
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc,. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc,. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology & Religion by John Dowson
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc,. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- "Know interesting things about Ravana". News Track. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- Khara's Death
- A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology & Religion by John Dowson
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc,. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- "Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature : Mani, Vettam, 1921- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming". Internet Archive. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc,. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, (c) 1899
- Valmiki Ramayana translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1870–1874). Book IV.
- Ramayana. William Buck, B. A. van Nooten, Shirley Triest. University of California Press, 2000. ISBN 0520227034, 9780520227033
- Praśānta Guptā (1998). Vālmīkī Rāmāyaṇa. Dreamland Publications. p. 32. ISBN 9788173012549.
- Gita Jnana Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya (1 July 2018). "Rama Brings Ahalya Back to Her Living Form". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- "Subahu - Asura Slain by Rama". Indian Mythology. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc,. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc,. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
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