List of characters in Ramayana

2021-10-21T18:58:02Z

2409:4055:58E:1860:0:0:B82:F8A4: /* Lav */Correct name

{{Short description|Bharatpedia list article}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of characters in ''Ramayana''}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
''[[Ramayana]]'' is one of the two major [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]. It was composed by sage [[Valmiki]]. This is a list of important characters that appear in the epic.

==A==

=== Agastya ===
{{Main|Agastya}}
Agastya was a son of sage [[Pulastya]] and brother of sage [[Vishrava]]. He was an uncle of Ravana. Agastya and his wife [[Lopamudra]] met Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana during their exile and gave them a divine bow and arrow.{{sfn|Alain Daniélou|1991|p=322–323 with footnotes 5 and 6}}

===Ahalya===
{{Main|Ahalya}}
Ahalya is the wife of the sage [[Gautama Maharishi]]. Many [[Hindu scriptures]] say that she was seduced by [[Indra]] (the king of [[Deva (Hinduism)|gods]]), cursed by her husband for infidelity, and liberated from the curse by [[Rama]] (an [[avatar]] of the god [[Vishnu]]).

=== Akampan ===
Akampan was a maternal uncle of Ravana. He was one of ten sons of [[Sumali]] and Ketumathi. He also had four sisters. In the Valmiki Ramayana, he was one of the survivors of the battle between [[Khara (Ramayana)|Khara]] and [[Dushana]] along with [[Shurpanakha]]. After escaping the deadly carnage, he instigated [[Ravana]] to kidnap Sita, thus indirectly making him one of the masterminds behind the war.
Later he was killed in the battle by [[Hanuman]]. Akampan was the mastermind instigated Ravana to kidnap Sita that led ultimately to war.

=== Akshayakumara ===
{{Main|Akshayakumara}}
Akshayakumara was a son of [[Ravana]] and [[Mandodari]]. He was killed by [[Hanuman]] during the encounter in [[Ashok Vatika]].

=== Angada ===
{{Main|Angada}}
Angada was a vanara and the son of Vaali (vanar king of Kishkindha before Sugriva) and [[Tara (Ramayana)|Tara]]. Angada helped Rama find his wife Sita and fight her abductor, [[Ravana]].

===Añjanā===
{{Main|Añjanā}}
Añjanā was the mother of Hanuman. According to a version of the legend, {{IAST|Añjanā}} was an [[apsara]] named ''Puñjikastalā'', who was born on Earth as a [[vanara]] princess and married [[Kesari (Ramayana)|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.<ref>{{cite book | last =Pollet | first =Gilbert | title =Indian Epic Values: Ramayana and Its Impact: Proceedings of the 8th International Ramayana Conference, Leuven, 6–8 July 1991 (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta) | publisher =Peeters | date =January 1995 | isbn =978-90-6831-701-5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/68 68]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>In Shiv Purana Anjana is stated as the Daughter of [[Gautama Maharishi]] and [[Ahalya]]..

=== Atikaya ===
{{Main|Atikaya}}
'''Atikaya''' was a son of [[Ravana]] and his 2nd wife [[Dhanyamalini]]. He was killed by [[Lakshmana]].

==B==
=== Bharata ===
{{Main|Bharata (Ramayana)}}
Bharata was 2nd son of King Dasharath. He was born to queen Kaikayi. Bharata was the younger half brother of [[Rama]]. ''Ramayana'' holds Bharata as a symbol of [[dharma]] and idealism. He was married to Sita's cousin [[Mandavi]] with whom he had two children.

== 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 (Ramayana)|Bharata]] and [[Shatrughna]] respectively.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==D==
=== Dasharatha ===
{{Main|Dasharatha}}
'''[[Dasharatha]]''' was the king of [[Ayodhya]]. He had three queens, [[Kausalya]], [[Kaikeyi]] and [[Sumitra]], and four sons: [[Rama]], [[Bharata (Ramayana)|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 fulfill 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.{{cn|date=May 2020}}

=== Devantaka ===
{{Main|Narantaka-Devantaka}}
Devantaka was the son of Ravana. He was killed by Hanuman.

=== Dhanyamalini ===
{{Main|Dhanyamalini}}
'''Dhanyamalini''' was the second wife of [[Ravana]]. Her true identity is unknown but some stories refer to her as the daughter of [[Mayasura|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.

===Dushan===
Dushan was a man-eating [[Rakshasa]] in the Indian ''Ramayana'' epic. According to Indian epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', Dushana and his twin brother [[Khara (Ramayana)|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.<ref>''A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology & Religion'' by [[John Dowson]]</ref>

==G==
=== Ganga ===
{{Main|Ganga in Hinduism}}
Ganga is a goddess and the daughter of [[Himavat|Himavan]]. Because of her incomparable beauty, she was given to the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]], and she became the Milky Way. Later, [[Shiva]] brought her down to earth and she became the holy river the Ganges in [[Hinduism]].

==H==
=== Hanuman ===
{{Main|Hanuman}}
Hanuman is a divine [[vanara]] companion and devotee of the god [[Rama]]. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the ''Ramayana''. He is a [[Brahmacharya|Brahmachari]] (life long celibate) and one of the [[Chiranjivi|chiranjeevis]]. In some versions of the epic, he is described as an avatar of Lord Shiva.
===Hema===
Hema is an [[apsara]] in [[Indra]]'s court. When [[Mayasura]] visited [[svarga]], he saw and married her. They had 2 sons, Mayavi and Dundubhi, and a daughter [[Mandodari]]. She later left them and returned to heaven.

==I==
=== Indrajit ===
{{Main|Indrajit}}
'''Indrajit''' or '''Meghanada''' was a prince of [[Lanka]] and possessor of Indra Loka (Heaven). In the epic, he is described as a great warrior and master of illusions. He was the elder son of '''Ravana. He was born to Ravana's elder consort Mandodari.''' He is a atimaharathi. He was named '''Indrajit''' by Brahma, the Creator after he defeated Indra and takeover Indra Loka.

==J==
=== Jambavan ===
{{Main|Jambavan}}
Jambavan is described as a king of sloth bear in epic Ramayana. He was created by Brahma, to assist [[Rama]] in his struggle against [[Ravana]].

=== Janaka ===
{{Main| Janaka}}
Janaka was the king of Mithila and the 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]].

=== Jatayu ===
{{Main|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 Rama.

=== Kaikashi ===
Kaikashi or Kaikeshi or keshani or Pushpothkatha was the wife of sage [[Vishrava]], and mother of [[Ravana]], [[Kumbhakarna]], [[Vibhishana]] and [[Shurpanakha]]. She was a daughter of a [[Rakshasa]] king [[Sumali]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-16|title=Know interesting things about Ravana|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/unknown-interesting-hidden-mythological-facts-ramayana-interesting-facts-about-ravan-sc93-nu612-ta612-ta294-1085188-1.html|access-date=2020-07-02|website=News Track|language=en}}</ref>

=== Kaikeyi ===
{{Main|Kaikeyi}}
Kaikeyi was the third and youngest wife of King [[Dasharatha]], and mother of [[Bharata (Ramayana)|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 words of her maid, [[Manthara]].

=== Kaushalya ===
{{Main|Kausalya}}
In the epic [[Kausalya]] was the mother of Lord Rama and the first consort of King Dashratha. She was the best out of the three mothers.

=== Kewat ===
{{Main|Kewat (Ramayana)}}
In the epic ''Ramayana'' Kewat was a 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]].<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/24869/24869-h/24869-h.html#toc455 Khara's Death]</ref> 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 on the mainland and his kingdom bordered the Kosala Kingdom, the kingdom of Rama. He was well known for his superior skills in warfare.{{cn|date=May 2020}} In the [[Ramayana]] war, between [[Rama]] and [[Ravana]], Khara's son, Makaraksha, fought on his uncle, [[Ravana]]'s side, and was killed by [[Rama]].<ref>''A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology & Religion'' by [[John Dowson]]</ref>

=== Kumbhakarna ===
{{Main|Kumbhakarna}}
Kumbhakarna was 2nd son of [[Vishrava]] and [[Kaikasi]]. He was the younger brother of Ravana and the elder brother of Vibhisana and Surpanakha. Despite his gigantic size and great appetite, he was described to be of good character and a 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).

=== Kusha ===
{{Main|Kusha (Ramayana)|}}
Along with [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]], Kusha was the other son of [[Rama]] and [[Sita]].

==L==
=== Lakshmana ===
{{Main|Lakshmana}}
3rd son of King [[Dasharatha]], and half-brother of [[Rama]]. He was the twin brother of [[Shatrughna]]. They were born to queen Sumitra. He was an incarnation of [[Sesha Naga]]. 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]]. He guarded his brother [[Rama]] and [[Sita]] for 14 years day night without sleeping.

=== Lav ===
{{Main|Lav (Ramayana)|}}
Lav, out of two was one of the sons of [[Rama]] and [[Sita]]. He had a twin brother named Kusha, one of the youths to whom [[Valmiki]] taught the ''[[Ramayana]]'' that he received from [[Narada]].

==M==

=== Malyavan ===
{{Main|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.

=== Mandavi ===
{{Main|Mandavi}}
In the [[Hindu epic]] [[Ramayana]], '''Mandavi''' is the daughter of [[Kushadhwaja|King Kushadhwaja]] and [[Chandrabhaga (queen)|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 (Ramayana)|Bharata]]. After the Ramayana, she became Queen of Gandhara and had two sons, Pushkala and Taksha, who founded [[Peshawar]], then called Purushapura, and [[Takshasila]], now called Taxila, respectively.

=== Mandodari ===
{{Main|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 ===
{{Main|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 the 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.{{cn|date=May 2020}}
===Maricha===
{{Main|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 ===
{{Main|Nala (Ramayana)}}
In the epic ''Ramayana'', Nala was a Vanara who helped Rama during his war with Ravana. He is credited as the engineer of the [[Adam's Bridge|Rama Setu]]. He was a son of [[Vishvakarman|Vishvakarma]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature : Mani, Vettam, 1921- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|access-date=2020-07-14|website=Internet Archive|language=en}}</ref>

=== Narantaka ===
{{Main|Narantaka-Devantaka}}
Narantaka was a son of Ravana. He was killed by [[Angada]].

=== Nila ===
{{Main|Nila (Ramayana)}}
In the epic ''Ramayana'', Nila is the commander-in-chief of the vanara army in Rama's battle against [[Ravana]].

=== NishadRaja===
{{Main|NishadRaja (Ramayana)}}
In the epic ''Ramayana'', NishadaRaja is the king of the forest tribes and also childhood friend of Rama.

=== Nirvani ===
In the epic ''Ramayana'', Nirvani is a [[Yakshini]] and niece of [[List_of_Yakshas|Yaksha]] king Suketu.
.

==P==
=== Prahasta ===
{{Main|Prahasta}}
Prahasta was a maternal uncle of [[Ravana]] and chief commander of [[Lanka]]'s army. He was a son of [[Sumali]] and Ketumati. He had 9 brothers and four sisters. One of his sister was Ravana's mother Kaikashi.

==R==
=== Rama ===
{{Main|Rama}}
Rama is the protagonist of the epic ''[[Ramayana]]''. Rama is an avatar of [[Vishnu|Lord Vishnu]]. He was the son of the king of [[Kosala Kingdom]] [[Dasharatha|Dasharath]] and his eldest consort [[Kausalya|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 ===
{{Main|Ravana}}
Ravana was the [[Rakshasa]] king of Lanka. He is the main antagonist of the epic ''Ramayana''. He was the son of [[Vishrava]] and [[Kaikashi]]. He performed penance for the God [[Shiva]] for many years, and in return received a great blessing from God himself that he cannot be killed by any God, demon, or other divine beings.

=== Rishyasringa ===
{{Main|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 [[Sugriva]]. 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 [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vāli]] following the strife of two royal [[Vanara|Vānara]] brothers. Later, the fact of Rumā being withheld by [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vāli]] became the primary justification of [[Rama]]'s slaying [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vāli]] and helping [[Sugriva|Sugrīva]] to become the sovereign of [[Kishkindha]]. When accused by [[Vali (Ramayana)|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 [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vāli]] committed when he robbed [[Sugriva|Sugrīva]] of Rumā, his wedded spouse, and used her for his own pleasure.<ref>Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, (c) 1899</ref><ref>Valmiki Ramayana translated by [[Ralph T. H. Griffith]] (1870–1874). Book IV.</ref><ref>Ramayana. William Buck, B. A. van Nooten, Shirley Triest. University of California Press, 2000. {{ISBN|0520227034}}, 9780520227033</ref>

==S==
===Sampati===
{{Main|Sampati}}
Sampati was a supporter of Lord Rama. He was the brother of [[Jatayu]] and the son of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]].
=== Shanta ===
{{Main|Shanta}}
Shanta was the daughter of a king [[Dasharatha]] and his elder consort [[Kausalya|Kaushalya]]. Later she was adopted by king Romapada of Anga Pradesh. She was married to sage [[Rishyasringa]].
=== Shabari ===
Shabari was devoted to Rama. As Her Guru sage, Matanga said to worship Rama, she waited for Rama for several years. Sabari finally met Rama after the abduction of Sita. She helped Rama to find the address of Sugriva and Hanumana.

=== Shatrughna ===
{{Main|Shatrughna}}
Shatrughna was the youngest son of King Dasharath. He was born to queen Sumitra and was a twin brother of Lakshmana. He was married to [[Sita|Sita's]] cousin [[Shrutakirti]] with whom he had two children''.''

=== Shiva ===
{{Main|Shiva}}
Lord Shiva played an important role in the epic. Both Rama and Ravana were great to devote to Shiva. Shiva is part of the great trinity in Hinduism, along with [[Vishnu]] and [[Brahma]]. Some versions of the epic also describe [[Hanuman]] as one of the avatars 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 (queen)|Chandrabhaga]]. She was a cousin of [[Sita]] and [[Urmila]]. She also had an elder sister [[Mandavi]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RazqpUWg3KYC&pg=PA32 | title=Vālmīkī Rāmāyaṇa | publisher=Dreamland Publications | author=Praśānta Guptā | year=1998 | pages=32 | isbn=9788173012549}}</ref> Shrutakirti was married to [[Rama]]'s brother [[Shatrughna]].

=== Shurpanakha ===
{{Main|Shurpanakha}}
Shurpanakha was the daughter of [[Vishrava]] and [[Kaikashi]]; and the 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 ===
{{Main|Sita}}
Sita is the main female character of epic Ramayana. King of Mithila [[Janaka]], found her lying in a furrow on the sanctified ground and decided to raise her as his daughter (Some people defined her as the missed daughter '''Saheily''' of [[Ravana]]). 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 [[yajna]]s with rains of flesh and blood.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 July 2018|access-date=22 January 2019|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/2018/jul/01/rama-brings-ahalya-back-to-her-living-form-1835161.html|author=Gita Jnana Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya|title=Rama Brings Ahalya Back to Her Living Form|work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> 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 fire#Indo-European religions|sacrificial fire]]s.{{cn|date=January 2019}} When Subahu and [[Maricha]] again attempted to rain flesh and blood on the sage's yajna, Subahu was killed by Rama. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apamnapat.com/entities/Subahu.html|title=Subahu - Asura Slain by Rama|publisher=Indian Mythology|access-date=22 January 2019}}</ref>

=== Sugriva ===
{{Main|Sugriva}}
Sugriva was a Vanara. He was the younger brother of [[Bali (Ramayana)|Vali]], whom he succeeded as ruler of the [[vanara]] the kingdom of [[Kishkindha]]. [[Rumā]] was his wife. He was the 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]].
===Suketu===
Suketu was a yaksha who performed a yajna to get an heir, with the strength equal to thousand elephants. After the ritual, he got a daughter named [[Tataka]].

=== Sumali ===
Sumali was the son of demon king Sukesa and Gandharva princess Devavati. <ref>http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/src-vrm:ram7-5.</ref> 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.

===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 a 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 ===
{{Main|Sumitra}}
Sumitra is the second consort of King [[Dasharatha]] of [[Ayodhya]]. She is the mother of twins [[Lakshmana]] and [[Shatrughna]].

==T==
=== Tara ===
Tara was the wife of Bali, and the mother of Angada. She was the queen of Kishkindha and is regarded as one of the panch Kanyas.

=== Tataka ===
{{Main|Tataka}}
Tataka was a beautiful woman who was transformed into a demon ([[Rakshasha]]) once she tried to seduce the [[Sage (philosophy)|Sage]] [[Agastya]]. As a demon, she used to drink the blood of living creatures and used to kill anything she sees. In one of [[Rama]]'s few great acts, he broke her curse by slaying her.

===Trijata===
{{Main|Trijata}}
Trijata is a demoness who was assigned the duty of guarding Sita who was kidnapped by the king of Lanka. In later adaptions of Ramayana, she is described as the 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 ===
{{Main|Trishira}}
Trishira was a son of Ravana. He was killed by [[Hanuman]].

==U==
=== Urmila ===
{{Main|Urmila}}
She was the younger daughter of Janaka and the 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 ===
{{Main|Vali (Ramayana)}}
Vali or Baali was a powerful king of [[Kishkindha]] in the epic [[Ramayana]]. He was a spiritual son of [[Indra]], the biological son of Vriksharaja, the elder brother of [[Sugreev]], husband of [[Tara (Ramayana)|Tara]] and father of [[Angada]].

=== Vasishtha ===
{{Main|Vasishtha}}
Vasishtha was a [[Sage (philosophy)|Sage]] and the [[Guru]] of King [[Dasharatha]], he used to offer religious advice to the king and the royal family.

=== Vibhishana ===
{{Main|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 ===
{{Main|Vishrava}}
According to epic ''Ramayana'', Vishrava was the son of [[Pulastya|Pulatsya]], the brother of celebrated sage [[Agastya|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]]).

=== Vishvamitra ===
{{Main|Vishvamitra}}
Vishvamitra was a great [[Sage (philosophy)|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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ramayana}}

[[Category: Ramayana]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

List of characters in Ramayana