Created page with "{{Short description|Rakshasa king in Hindu mythology}} {{Infobox deity | name = Sukesha | type = Rakshasa | image = | caption = | affiliation = Rakshasa King | abode = Aerial city | texts = ''Ramayana'' (''Uttara Kanda'') | gender = Male | father = Vidyutkesha | mother = Salakatankata | consort = Devavati | children = Malyavan, Sumali and Mali }} '''Sukesha''' ({..." |
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| caption = | | caption = | ||
| affiliation = Rakshasa King | | affiliation = Rakshasa King | ||
| texts = ''[[Ramayana]]'' (''[[Uttara Kanda]]'') | | texts = ''[[Ramayana]]'' (''[[Uttara Kanda]]'') | ||
| gender = Male | | gender = Male | ||
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| consort = Devavati | | consort = Devavati | ||
| children = [[Malyavan]], [[Sumali]] and [[Mali (demon)|Mali]] | | children = [[Malyavan]], [[Sumali]] and [[Mali (demon)|Mali]] | ||
}} | |devanagari=सुकेश|sanskrit_transliteration=Sukeśa}} | ||
'''Sukesha''' ({{lang-sa|सुकेश}}, {{IAST3|Sukeśa}}) is a [[Rakshasa]] king in [[Hindu mythology]]. He features prominently in the ''[[Uttara Kanda]]'' of the Hindu epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', where he is described as the grandson of [[Heti]] (the first Rakshasa king) and the patriarchal ancestor of the Rakshasa empire in [[Lanka]]. Blessed by the deities [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]], Sukesha became a powerful ruler and fathered the brothers [[Malyavan]], [[Sumali]], and [[Mali (demon)|Mali]].<ref name="Shastri_1959_4">{{cite book |author=Valmiki |title=The Ramayana of Valmiki |volume=3: Uttara Kanda |translator-last=Shastri |translator-first=Hari Prasad |publisher=Shanti Sadan |location=London |year=1959 |chapter=4 and 5|pages=383-386|url=https://archive.org/details/The.Ramayana.of.Valmiki.by.Hari.Prasad.Shastri/page/384/mode/2up |url-status=live |url-access=free}}</ref> | '''Sukesha''' ({{lang-sa|सुकेश}}, {{IAST3|Sukeśa}}) is a [[Rakshasa]] king in [[Hindu mythology]]. He features prominently in the ''[[Uttara Kanda]]'' of the Hindu epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', where he is described as the grandson of [[Heti]] (the first Rakshasa king) and the patriarchal ancestor of the Rakshasa empire in [[Lanka]]. Blessed by the deities [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]], Sukesha became a powerful ruler and fathered the brothers [[Malyavan]], [[Sumali]], and [[Mali (demon)|Mali]].<ref name="Shastri_1959_4">{{cite book |author=Valmiki |title=The Ramayana of Valmiki |volume=3: Uttara Kanda |translator-last=Shastri |translator-first=Hari Prasad |publisher=Shanti Sadan |location=London |year=1959 |chapter=4 and 5|pages=383-386|url=https://archive.org/details/The.Ramayana.of.Valmiki.by.Hari.Prasad.Shastri/page/384/mode/2up |url-status=live |url-access=free}}</ref> | ||
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While the infant was crying, the god [[Shiva]] and his consort [[Parvati]] were flying overhead. Hearing the child's cries, Parvati was overwhelmed with maternal compassion. Out of pity, Shiva and Parvati intervened.<ref name="Mani_1975">{{cite book |last=Mani |first=Vettam |title=Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |year=1975 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-0842608220 |page=764 |url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/764/mode/1up |url-status=live}}</ref> | While the infant was crying, the god [[Shiva]] and his consort [[Parvati]] were flying overhead. Hearing the child's cries, Parvati was overwhelmed with maternal compassion. Out of pity, Shiva and Parvati intervened.<ref name="Mani_1975">{{cite book |last=Mani |first=Vettam |title=Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |year=1975 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-0842608220 |page=764 |url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/764/mode/1up |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
Shiva bestowed several immense boons upon Sukesha. He granted the infant instantaneous maturity, elevating him to the age of his mother | Shiva bestowed several immense boons upon Sukesha. He granted the infant instantaneous maturity, elevating him to the age of his mother.<ref name="Shastri_1959_4"/> | ||
Moved by the abandonment of the child, Parvati decreed a sweeping boon for all Rakshasa women. She ordained that in the future, Rakshasa women would conceive instantly, give birth instantly, and their children would instantly grow to the age of their mothers.<ref name="Mani_1975"/> | Moved by the abandonment of the child, Parvati decreed a sweeping boon for all Rakshasa women. She ordained that in the future, Rakshasa women would conceive instantly, give birth instantly, and their children would instantly grow to the age of their mothers.<ref name="Mani_1975"/> | ||
== Marriage and descendants == | == Marriage and descendants == | ||
Having received divine boons, wealth | Having received divine boons, wealth, Sukesha became an immensely powerful and haughty king. He wandered the world proudly, displaying his might like the king of the gods, [[Indra]]. | ||
Observing Sukesha's righteousness and the divine favor he had acquired, a [[Gandharva]] named Gramani offered his daughter, Devavati, to Sukesha in marriage. Sukesha accepted, and Devavati was delighted to be wedded to such a husband. | Observing Sukesha's righteousness and the divine favor he had acquired, a [[Gandharva]] named Gramani offered his daughter, Devavati, to Sukesha in marriage. Sukesha accepted, and Devavati was delighted to be wedded to such a husband. | ||
Latest revision as of 10:30, 24 October 2026
| Sukesha | |
|---|---|
| Devanagari | सुकेश |
| Sanskrit transliteration | Sukeśa |
| Affiliation | Rakshasa King |
| Texts | Ramayana (Uttara Kanda) |
| Gender | Male |
| Personal information | |
| Parents |
|
| Consort | Devavati |
| Children | Malyavan, Sumali and Mali |
Sukesha (Sanskrit: सुकेश, IAST: Sukeśa) is a Rakshasa king in Hindu mythology. He features prominently in the Uttara Kanda of the Hindu epic Ramayana, where he is described as the grandson of Heti (the first Rakshasa king) and the patriarchal ancestor of the Rakshasa empire in Lanka. Blessed by the deities Shiva and Parvati, Sukesha became a powerful ruler and fathered the brothers Malyavan, Sumali, and Mali.[1]
Birth and abandonment[edit | edit source]
According to the fourth sarga (chapter) of the Uttara Kanda, Sukesha was born to the Rakshasa Vidyutkesha and his wife Salakatankata, who was the daughter of Sandhya.
Immediately after delivering Sukesha on Mount Mandara, Salakatankata, desiring to continue enjoying conjugal pleasures with her husband, abandoned the newborn infant.[1]
Divine intervention[edit | edit source]
While the infant was crying, the god Shiva and his consort Parvati were flying overhead. Hearing the child's cries, Parvati was overwhelmed with maternal compassion. Out of pity, Shiva and Parvati intervened.[2]
Shiva bestowed several immense boons upon Sukesha. He granted the infant instantaneous maturity, elevating him to the age of his mother.[1]
Moved by the abandonment of the child, Parvati decreed a sweeping boon for all Rakshasa women. She ordained that in the future, Rakshasa women would conceive instantly, give birth instantly, and their children would instantly grow to the age of their mothers.[2]
Marriage and descendants[edit | edit source]
Having received divine boons, wealth, Sukesha became an immensely powerful and haughty king. He wandered the world proudly, displaying his might like the king of the gods, Indra.
Observing Sukesha's righteousness and the divine favor he had acquired, a Gandharva named Gramani offered his daughter, Devavati, to Sukesha in marriage. Sukesha accepted, and Devavati was delighted to be wedded to such a husband.
Through Devavati, Sukesha fathered three sons: Malyavan, Sumali, and Mali. These sons would later perform severe austerities to win boons from Brahma, drive out their enemies, and establish the golden city of Lanka under the instructions of the divine architect Vishvakarma. Through Sumali, Sukesha is the great-grandfather of Ravana, the central antagonist of the Ramayana.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Valmiki (1959). "4 and 5". The Ramayana of Valmiki. Vol. 3: Uttara Kanda. Translated by Shastri, Hari Prasad. London: Shanti Sadan. pp. 383–386.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|url-access=free(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mani, Vettam (1975). Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 764. ISBN 978-0842608220.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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