https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2402%3A3A80%3A1A28%3A93E4%3A49DF%3AFDEF%3AC322%3A68DDBharatpedia - User contributions [en]2026-08-13T04:08:33ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tataka&diff=165545Tataka2021-08-03T05:51:14Z<p>2402:3A80:1A28:93E4:49DF:FDEF:C322:68DD: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox character<br />
| series =[[Ramayana]]<br />
| image = Taraka Ramayana.jpg<br />
| alt = Tadaka<br />
| caption = Rama Killing Demon Tataka<br />
| family = [[Suketu]] (Father)<br />
| spouse = Sunda<br />
| children = [[Maricha]], [[Subahu]], <br />
}} '''Taraka''' (ताड़का ''Tāṛakā'') or '''Tadaka''' or ''Thataka'' was a demoness in the epic [[Ramayana]]. Along with her children, [[Maricha]] and [[Subahu]], Taraka would harass and attack [[rishis]] performing [[yajna]]s in the forest. They were ultimately slain by [[Rama]] and [[Lakshmana]] on behest of their teacher, maharishi [[Vishwamitra]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/ramayana-vishwamitra-ramas-teacher.html|title=Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook: Ramayana: Vishwamitra, Rama's Teacher|last=Gibbs|first=Laura|website=Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook|access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rama and Lakshmana Slay the mighty tataka|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/2018/apr/28/rama-and-lakshmana-slay-the-mighty-tataka-1806617.html|access-date=2020-09-05|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><br />
<br />
==''Ramayana''==<br />
Taraka was a Yaksha princess and daughter and only child of the Yaksha king [[Suketu]], she was a beautiful princess that was wooed by and married Sunda, a Rakshas. She bore Sunda two sons, [[Subahu]] and [[Maricha]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mittal|first=J. P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7gOBW8oDFgC&q=Tadka+Sunda|title=History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc|date=2006|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|isbn=978-81-269-0615-4|language=en}}</ref> <br />
When Rishi [[Agastya]] cursed both [[Suketu]] and Sunda to death, Tadaka took it upon herself (with her son, Subahu's, aid) to wreak vengeance on the sage. This earned them both the Rishi's anger. Agastya cursed Tadaka with the loss of her beautiful physique, and transformed both mother and son into hideous demonic creatures with a cruel, cannibalistic nature.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mittal|first=J. P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7gOBW8oDFgC&q=Killed+Sunda|title=History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc|date=2006|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|isbn=978-81-269-0615-4|pages=192|language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
As revenge, Tadaka and Subahu attempted to harass as many rishis as they could, by destroying their [[Yajna|Yagnas]] with rains of flesh and blood. Brahmarishi [[Vishwamitra]] was especially at the receiving end of Tadaka's harassment. Unable to cope with her mischief any longer, [[Vishwamitra]] finally approached [[Dasaratha]], the King of [[Ayodhya]], for help. The King obliged by sending two of his four sons, the 16-yr-olds, [[Rama]] and [[Lakshmana]], to the forest, charging them to protect both [[Vishwamitra]] and his [[Yajna|Yagna]].<br />
<br />
When Tadaka and Subahu both attempted to destroy yet another of [[Vishwamitra]]'s yagnas, [[Rama]] warned them not do so. They responded by laughing at [[Rama]], and deriding him as a 'mere boy'. The 'mere boy' retaliated by slaying both mother and son swiftly.<br />
<br />
This act gained the young princes the blessings of not just [[Vishwamitra]] but also the blessings of all of the assembled sages in the yagnashala.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/taraka.htm Taraka (Thataka)]<br />
<br />
{{Ramayana}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Rakshasa in the Ramayana]]<br />
[[Category:Yakshas]]</div>2402:3A80:1A28:93E4:49DF:FDEF:C322:68DD