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{{short description|Character in the Hindu epic Ramayana}}
{{short description|Character in the Hindu epic Ramayana}}
{{more citations|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
{{Infobox deity
| image =Ranganatha.jpg  
| image = Vibhishan become King of Lanka.jpg
| caption = Vibishana (rightmost) worshipping Vishnu
| caption = [[Lakshmana]] crowns Vibhishana as King of Lanka
| abode = [[Lanka]]
| abode = [[Lanka]]
| predecessor = [[Ravana]]
| predecessor = [[Ravana]]
| consort = [[Sarama (Ramayana)|Sarama]] and later [[Mandodari]]
| consort = [[Sarama (Ramayana)|Sarama]]<br>[[Mandodari]]
| children = [[Trijata]], Taranisen
| children = Taranisena, Nila (sons), Sananda, [[Trijata]] and Analte(daughters) by Sarama
| dynasty = [[Pulastya]]
| dynasty = [[Rakshasa]]
| father = [[Vishrava]]
| father = [[Vishrava]]
| mother = [[Kaikesi]]
| mother = [[Kaikesi]]
| siblings = [[Ravana]] <br/> [[Kumbhakarna]] <br/>[[Shurpanakha]]
| siblings = [[Ravana]] <br/> [[Kumbhakarna]] <br/>[[Shurpanakha]]
| type = hindu
| type = Hindu
| affiliation = [[Raja]] of [[Lanka]]
| affiliation = [[Rakshasa]], [[Vaishnavism]]
|texts = [[Ramayana]] and its versions
| texts = [[Ramayana]] and its versions
| deity_of = King of Lanka<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc242055.html | title=Story of Vibhīṣaṇa | date=28 January 2019 }}</ref>
| member_of = [[Chiranjivi]]
}}
}}


{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}


'''''Vibhishana''''' ([[IAST]]: {{IAST|Vibhīṣaṇa}} or V'''''ibhishan''''') is the younger brother of [[Ravana]], the king of [[Lanka]] in the ancient Indian epic [[Ramayana]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.viralsrilanka.com/ravana/|title=Ravana &#124; King Ravana - Viral Sri Lanka|access-date=24 January 2020|date=3 January 2020}}</ref> Though a [[Rakshasa]] himself, Vibhishana betrayed Ravana because he chose the side of dharma and joined Rama's army. Later, when Rama defeated Ravana, Rama crowned Vibhishana as the king of Lanka before returning to Ayodhya.
'''Vibhishana''' ({{Langx|sa|विभीषण|lit=formidable|translit=Vibhīṣaṇa}})<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2012-06-24 |title=Vibhishana, Vibhīṣaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇā: 28 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vibhishana |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> is the younger brother of [[Ravana]], the King of [[Lanka]], in the ancient Indian epic ''[[Ramayana]],'' and one of the eight [[Chiranjivi]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.viralsrilanka.com/ravana/|title=Ravana &#124; King Ravana - Viral Sri Lanka|access-date=24 January 2020|date=3 January 2020|archive-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804102920/https://www.viralsrilanka.com/ravana/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Though a [[rakshasa]] himself, Vibhishana turned his back on Ravana, and defected to [[Rama]]'s side, owing to his ''[[dharma]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Buck |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vvuIp2kqIkMC&dq=vibhishana+brother+ravana&pg=PA281 |title=Ramayana |date=2000 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1720-3 |language=en}}</ref> After Rama defeated Ravana, the former crowned Prince Vibhishana as the King of Lanka before returning to [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]].
[[File:Vibhishana showing Vimana to Rama.jpg|thumb|Vibhishana (left) shows the [[Pushpaka Vimana]] to Rama and Lakshmana]]


==In the Ramayana==
==Legend==
[[File:Rameshvaram lingam.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Rama and Sita worship god [[Shiva]] at [[Rameshwaram]] as Vibhishana (right) looks on with [[Lakshaman]], [[Tumburu]] and [[Narada]]]]
[[File:Rameshvaram lingam.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Rama and Sita worship [[Shiva]] at [[Rameshwaram]] as Vibhishana (right) looks on with Lakshmana, [[Tumburu]] and [[Narada]]]]


Vibhishana had a [[sattvic]] (pure) mind and a sattvic heart. From his early childhood, he spent all his time [[penance|meditating on the name of the Lord]]. Eventually, [[Brahma]] appeared and offered him any boon he wanted. Vibhishana said that the only thing he wanted was to have his mind fixed at the feet of the Lord as pure as lotus leaves (charan kamal). He prayed that he should be given the strength by which he would always be at the feet of the Lord and that he would receive the darshan (holy sight) of Lord [[Vishnu]]. This prayer was fulfilled when he was able to give up all his wealth and family, and join Rama, who was [[Avatar]] of Lord [[Vishnu]] (God incarnate).
=== Early life and boon from Brahma ===
Prince Vibhishana is portrayed as a pious and pure of heart in the epic. After performing a penance to invoke a boon from [[Brahma]], he asked the deity to always set his mind on the path to righteousness, and nothing more.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Saraswati |first=Smt T. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RBGLDwAAQBAJ&dq=vibhishana+prays+brahma&pg=PT9 |title=Vibhishana |date=2019-03-02 |publisher=Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana |isbn=978-93-89020-78-6 |language=en}}</ref> Pleased by his righteousness Brahma gave the boon of immortality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Draupadi-harana Parva: Section CCLXXIII |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03273.htm |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>


Vibhishana was the youngest son of Kaikesi and Sage [[Vishrava]], who was himself a son of Sage Pulatsya, one of the Heavenly Guardians. He (Vibhishana) was the younger brother of the Lord of Lanka, Ravana and [[Kumbakarna]]. Even though he was born in the [[Rakshasa|demon race]], he was alert and pious and considered himself a Brahmin, since his father was intuitively such. When Kaikesi, daughter of the demon Sumali, expressed to Vishrava her wish to become his wife, Vishrava said that due to her asking this wish at such an inauspicious time that their children would be born with horrible body structure and cruel nature. Hearing this, Kaikesi fell at the Brahmin's foot and began crying. Observing this, Vishrava said that destiny could not be changed, but due to Kaikesi's devotion and actions as a dutiful wife that their youngest son would be born with normal body structure and a pious mind though the others would remain same.
Vibhishana was the youngest son of the rakshasi Kaikesi and the sage [[Vishrava]], who was himself a son of the sage Pulastya, one of the [[Prajapati]]. Vibhishana was the younger brother of the King of Lanka, Ravana, and also the sibling of [[Kumbakarna|Kumbhakarna]]. Even though he was born as a [[rakshasa]], he was pious and virtuous, upholding the values of [[dharma]].


Due to Vibhishana's differences with Ravana, because he was against the act of kidnapping Sita and most of all because Ravana wanted the throne for himself, he fled Lanka. His mother, [[Kaikesi]], advised him to go and serve Shri Rama, who was at that time assembling an army to conquer Ravana and to recover Sita. He divulged the secrets of Ravana's army and made sure Rama was victorious in the great battle. Lord Rama accepted Vibhishana's service and anointed him the Lord of Lanka after Ravana's death.
=== Rama's devotee and Lanka war ===
[[File:Vibhishana clarifies Rama about the enemy troops.jpg|thumb|left|Vibhishana clarifies Rama about the enemy troops]]
Due to Vibhishana's differences with Ravana, and because he was against the act of kidnapping Sita, he fled Lanka. His mother, [[Kaikesi]], advised him to go and serve Rama, who was at that time assembling an army to defeat Ravana and to recover his wife. As a consequence, he divulged the secrets of Ravana's army and made sure Rama was victorious in the great battle. Rama accepted Vibhishana's fealty and anointed him the King of Lanka after Ravana's death. In some versions of the epic, he takes his slain brother's queen [[Mandodari]] as his second wife, though in others he merely seeks her blessings during his coronation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shashi, S. S. |title=Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. |publisher=Encyclopaedia Indica |year=1998 |volume=21–35 |pages=222}}</ref>


In the Lanka War, Vibhishana's knowledge about the secrets of Lanka proved invaluable to Shri Rama. Vibhishana freely divulged many secrets that became key to the success of Rama's attack, including revealing the secret path to the temple of Mata Nikumbala, the family deity of the Pulatsya Clan. In the climactic battle between Rama and Ravana, when Rama was unable to kill Ravana, he revealed the secret of Ravana's death to Rama. He told Rama that Ravana has stored the nectar of immortality in his belly and it is necessary to dry it. With this knowledge, Rama was finally able to kill Ravana.  
In the Lanka War, Vibhishana's knowledge about the secrets of Lanka proved invaluable to Rama.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ranganayakamma |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MPLgDwAAQBAJ&dq=Vibhishana+secrets+rama&pg=PA569 |title=RAMAYANA The Poisonous Tree |publisher=Sweet Home Publications |language=en}}</ref> Vibhishana freely divulged many secrets that became key to the success of Rama's attack, including revealing the secret path to the temple of Nikumbala, the family deity of the Pulastya clan.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Maheshwari |first1=Vipul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pMwAEAAAQBAJ&dq=Vibhishana+nikumbala&pg=PT146 |title=Ramayana Revisited: An Epic through a Legal Prism |last2=Maheshwari |first2=Anil |date=2020-10-18 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-93-89351-07-1 |language=en}}</ref> In the climactic battle between Rama and Ravana, when Rama was unable to kill Ravana, he revealed the secret of Ravana's invulnerability to Rama. He told Rama that Ravana has stored the nectar of immortality in his belly and it is necessary to dry it. With this knowledge, Rama was finally able to kill Ravana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Keshavadas |first=Sadguru Sant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3XIatVGyjmQC&dq=Vibhishana+secrets+rama&pg=PA200 |title=Ramayana at a Glance |date=1988 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-0545-3 |pages=200 |language=en}}</ref> He had a daughter named [[Trijata]].


In the Ramayana, Vibhishana's characterization assists in demonstrating the practical implications of the concept of Dharma. The epic stresses that neither Vibhishana or Kumbhakarna strayed from the path of Dharma and that there is no single way out of a moral dilemma. The Ramayana teaches that Kumbhakarna adhered to the Dharma of loyalty to his kin when his advice fails, while Vibhishana chose to oppose his kin when his advice failed.
=== Chiranjivi ===
When Rama was about to leave Ayodhya at the end of his reign, he assumed his true form of Vishnu, ordering Vibhishana to stay on earth and serve the people and guide them to the path of truth and ''dharma''. Hence, Vibhishana is considered one of the immortals, the [[Chiranjeevins|Chiranjivis]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramesh |first=M. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dAdJAQAAIAAJ&q=Vibhishana+chiranjeevi |title=108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams |date=1997 |publisher=T.T. Devasthanams |pages=262 |language=en}}</ref> Vishnu also ordered Vibhishana to pray to the family deity of [[Solar dynasty]], [[Ranganatha]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Saraswati |first1=Smt T. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RBGLDwAAQBAJ&dq=vibhishana&pg=PT30 |title=Vibhishana |date=2 March 2019 |publisher=Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana |isbn=978-93-89020-78-6 |language=en |access-date=6 September 2020}}</ref>


Symbolically, Vibhishana represents a devotion to Shri Rama and as a demon devotee, he shows that the Lord does not distinguish between his followers based on birth or circumstances in life. A similar theme may be found in the story of [[Prahlada]] and [[Narasimha]].
== Characterisation ==
In the ''Ramayana'', Vibhishana's characterisation assists in demonstrating the practical implications of the concept of ''dharma''. The epic stresses that neither Vibhishana nor Kumbhakarna strayed from the path of ''dharma'' and that there is no single way out of a moral dilemma. The ''Ramayana'' teaches that Kumbhakarna adhered to the ''dharma'' of loyalty to his kin when his advice fails, while Vibhishana chose to oppose his kin when his advice failed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Keshavadas |first=Sadguru Sant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3XIatVGyjmQC&dq=Vibhishana+dharma&pg=PA180 |title=Ramayana at a Glance |date=1988 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-0545-3 |language=en}}</ref>


He had a daughter named AnalTe or [[Trijata]].
==Regional legends==


When Rama was about to leave [[Ayodhya]] at the end of his reign, Lord Rama in his original form of Shri Vishnu ordered Vibhishana to stay on earth and serve the people and guide them to the path of truth and Dharma. Hence, Vibhishana is considered one of the [[Seven Immortals (Indian mythology)|seven immortals]] or [[Chiranjeevins]]. Lord Vishnu also ordered Vibhishana to pray the family deity of [[Sun Dynasty]], Lord [[Ranganatha]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Saraswati |first1=Smt T. N. |title=Vibhishana |date=2 March 2019 |publisher=Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana |isbn=978-93-89020-78-6 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Vibhishana/RBGLDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vibhishana&pg=PT30&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Srirangam ===
[[File:Lankatillaka Temple, Vibhishana 0547.jpg|thumb|The [[Murti|statue]] in [[Lankatilaka Vihara]] of Vibhishana and [[Shakti|wife]] is [[Sarama (Ramayana)|Sarama]] as in position of [[Grāmadevatā|guardian deity]] of [[Sri Lanka]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lanka-excursions-holidays.com/lankatilaka.html|title=Lankatilaka Temple near Kandy}}</ref>]]
Vibhishana is featured in the [[Pancharatra]], and consequently the [[Sthala purana|regional legend]] of [[Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple|Ranganathaswamy temple]] of [[Srirangam]], considered the foremost of the [[Divya Desam]]s, the abodes of Vishnu in [[Sri Vaishnavism]]. During the coronation of [[Rama]], the avatar of Vishnu, Vibhishana was presented the sacrosanct Sri Ranga [[vimana]]. He decided to carry it to his kingdom of Lanka. Midway his journey, in order to rest, he placed the image on the banks of the [[Kaveri]]. After performing his routine [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]], he tried to lift the vimana, but it could not be lifted.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kalyanaraman |first=Srinivasan |title=Evidence for temples in Bhāratam, from ca. 4th-3rd millennium BCE |url=https://www.academia.edu/59775998}}</ref> Vishnu appeared to him and said that he desired to stay as Ranganatha in the place, which went on to become [[Srirangam]]. Vishnu also desired to watch the [[brahmotsava]]m at Tirucherai. The festivals of the temple are thus considered sacred.<ref name=M>{{cite book|title=15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu|last=M.|first=Rajagopalan|pages=66–75|publisher=Govindaswamy Printers|location=Chennai, India|year=1993}}</ref>
 
=== Sri Lanka ===
In some period of history [[Sinhalese people]] have considered Vibhishana as one of the ''[[Four Heavenly Kings|Sathara Waram Deviyo]]'' (four guardian deities).<ref>{{cite news|last=Kariyawasam|first=A.G.S|title=The Gods & Deity Worship in Sri Lanka|year=1995|url=http://www.hotspotsz.com/The_Gods_and_Deity_Worship_in_Sri_Lanka_%28Article-348%29.html|access-date=26 September 2014|publisher=The Wheel Publication No. 402/404, Buddhist Publication Society|isbn=955-24-0126-7|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208063827/http://www.hotspotsz.com/The_Gods_and_Deity_Worship_in_Sri_Lanka_%28Article-348%29.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> This belief was more prominent in the [[Kingdom of Kotte|Kotte period]]. According to the ''Ravana Katha'' of Wickramasinghe Adigar, after the defeat of Ravana, Vibhishana transferred the [[Yaksha]] capital from [[Alaka]] mandawa to [[Kelaniya]].<ref>Dr. Mirando Obeysekere, ''Was Maya Dannawa the architect of Sigiriya?'', Daily News, 6 March 2003. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/mdannawa.html</ref> In the 15th-century poem of [[Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera]], the ''sælalihini sandesaya'', [[Sri Lanka Myna|Myna]] is ordered to carry the missive to Vibhishana at his temple in Kelaniya. After the 16th century, he was replaced as a God of the four warrants by the goddess [[Pattini]]. He continues to be worshipped by a diminishing number of adherents, mainly in the Kelaniya area.<ref>Nandasena Ratnapala, ''Folklore of Sri Lanka'', State Printing Corporation, Colombo, 1991; {{ISBN|955-610-089-X}}</ref>
 
== Literature ==
The Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram is a mantra that is featured in [[Hindu texts|Hindu literature]]:
 
{{Blockquote|text=अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनुमांश्च विभीषण:।<br>कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तैतै चिरञ्जीविन:॥<br>सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्।<br>जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः॥


==Other legends==
aśvatthāmā balirvyāsō hanumāṁśca vibhīṣaṇaḥ।<br>kṛpaḥ paraśurāmaśca saptaitai cirañjīvinaḥ॥<br>saptaitān saṁsmarēnnityaṁ mārkaṇḍēyamathāṣṭamam।<br>jīvēdvarṣaśataṁ sopi sarvavyādhivivarjitaḥ॥|title=Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram}}
[[File:Lankatillaka Temple, Vibhishana 0547.jpg|thumb|The [[Murti|statue]] in [[Lankatilaka Vihara]] of Vibhishana and [[Shakti|wife]] is [[Sarama (Ramayana)|Sarama]] as in position of [[Grāmadevatā|guardian deity]] of [[Sri Lanka]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lanka-excursions-holidays.com/lankatilaka.html|title=Lankatilaka Temple near Kandy}}</ref>]]
Vibishana is attached with the legend of [[Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple]], considered the abode of Vishnu on earth and the primary temple of Vishnu on earth. During the coronation of [[Rama]], the avatar of Vishnu, [[Vibishana]] was presented the sacrosanct Sri Ranga Vimana. He was carrying it all the way to his kingdom of [[Sri Lanka]] and midway, to rest, he placed the image on the banks of Kaveri. After performing his routine [[Puja (Hinduism)|pooja]], he tried to lift the Vimana, but it could not be lifted.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Mahavishnu appeared to him and said that he desired to stay as Ranganatha in the place, which went on to become [[Srirangam]]. Vishnu also desired to watch the Brahmotsavam at Tirucherai. The festivals of the temple are thus considered sacred.<ref name=M>{{cite book|title=15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu|last=M.|first=Rajagopalan|pages=66–75|publisher=Govindaswamy Printers|location=Chennai, India|year=1993}}</ref>


In some period of history [[Sinhalese people]] have considered Vibhishana as one of the ''[[Four Heavenly Kings|Sathara Waram Deviyo]]'' (four guardian deities).<ref>{{cite news|last=Kariyawasam|first=A.G.S|title=The Gods & Deity Worship in Sri Lanka|year=1995|url=http://www.hotspotsz.com/The_Gods_and_Deity_Worship_in_Sri_Lanka_%28Article-348%29.html|access-date=26 September 2014|publisher=The Wheel Publication No. 402/404, Buddhist Publication Society|isbn=955-24-0126-7}}</ref> This belief was more prominent in the [[Kotte]] period. According to the ''Ravana Katha'' of Wickramasinghe Adigar, after the defeat of Ravana, Vibhishana transferred the [[Yaksha]] capital from [[Alaka]] mandawa to [[Kelaniya]].<ref>Dr. Mirando Obeysekere, ''Was Maya Dannawa the architect of Sigiriya?'', Daily News, 6 March 2003. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/mdannawa.html</ref> In the 15th-century poem of [[Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera]], the ''sælalihini sandesaya'', [[Sri Lanka Myna|Myna]] is ordered to carry the missive to Vibhishana at his temple in Kelaniya. After the 16th century, he was replaced as a God of the four warrants by the goddess [[Pattini]]. He continues to be worshipped by a diminishing number of adherents, mainly in the Kelaniya area.<ref>Nandasena Ratnapala, ''Folklore of Sri Lanka'', State Printing Corporation, Colombo, 1991; {{ISBN|955-610-089-X}}</ref>
The mantra states that the remembrance of the eight immortals ([[Ashwatthama]], [[Mahabali]], [[Vyasa]], [[Hanuman]], Vibhishana, [[Kripa]], [[Parashurama]], and [[Markandeya]]) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
{{Ramayana}}
{{Ramayana}}

Latest revision as of 18:33, 22 November 2025


Vibhishana
King of Lanka[1]
Member of Chiranjivi
Lakshmana crowns Vibhishana as King of Lanka
AffiliationRakshasa, Vaishnavism
PredecessorRavana
AbodeLanka
TextsRamayana and its versions
Personal information
Parents
SiblingsRavana
Kumbhakarna
Shurpanakha
ConsortSarama
Mandodari
ChildrenTaranisena, Nila (sons), Sananda, Trijata and Analte(daughters) by Sarama
DynastyRakshasa

Vibhishana (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.)[2] is the younger brother of Ravana, the King of Lanka, in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, and one of the eight Chiranjivis.[3] Though a rakshasa himself, Vibhishana turned his back on Ravana, and defected to Rama's side, owing to his dharma.[4] After Rama defeated Ravana, the former crowned Prince Vibhishana as the King of Lanka before returning to Ayodhya.

Vibhishana (left) shows the Pushpaka Vimana to Rama and Lakshmana

Legend[edit | edit source]

Rama and Sita worship Shiva at Rameshwaram as Vibhishana (right) looks on with Lakshmana, Tumburu and Narada

Early life and boon from Brahma[edit | edit source]

Prince Vibhishana is portrayed as a pious and pure of heart in the epic. After performing a penance to invoke a boon from Brahma, he asked the deity to always set his mind on the path to righteousness, and nothing more.[5] Pleased by his righteousness Brahma gave the boon of immortality.[6]

Vibhishana was the youngest son of the rakshasi Kaikesi and the sage Vishrava, who was himself a son of the sage Pulastya, one of the Prajapati. Vibhishana was the younger brother of the King of Lanka, Ravana, and also the sibling of Kumbhakarna. Even though he was born as a rakshasa, he was pious and virtuous, upholding the values of dharma.

Rama's devotee and Lanka war[edit | edit source]

Vibhishana clarifies Rama about the enemy troops

Due to Vibhishana's differences with Ravana, and because he was against the act of kidnapping Sita, he fled Lanka. His mother, Kaikesi, advised him to go and serve Rama, who was at that time assembling an army to defeat Ravana and to recover his wife. As a consequence, he divulged the secrets of Ravana's army and made sure Rama was victorious in the great battle. Rama accepted Vibhishana's fealty and anointed him the King of Lanka after Ravana's death. In some versions of the epic, he takes his slain brother's queen Mandodari as his second wife, though in others he merely seeks her blessings during his coronation.[7]

In the Lanka War, Vibhishana's knowledge about the secrets of Lanka proved invaluable to Rama.[8] Vibhishana freely divulged many secrets that became key to the success of Rama's attack, including revealing the secret path to the temple of Nikumbala, the family deity of the Pulastya clan.[9] In the climactic battle between Rama and Ravana, when Rama was unable to kill Ravana, he revealed the secret of Ravana's invulnerability to Rama. He told Rama that Ravana has stored the nectar of immortality in his belly and it is necessary to dry it. With this knowledge, Rama was finally able to kill Ravana.[10] He had a daughter named Trijata.

Chiranjivi[edit | edit source]

When Rama was about to leave Ayodhya at the end of his reign, he assumed his true form of Vishnu, ordering Vibhishana to stay on earth and serve the people and guide them to the path of truth and dharma. Hence, Vibhishana is considered one of the immortals, the Chiranjivis.[11] Vishnu also ordered Vibhishana to pray to the family deity of Solar dynasty, Ranganatha.[12]

Characterisation[edit | edit source]

In the Ramayana, Vibhishana's characterisation assists in demonstrating the practical implications of the concept of dharma. The epic stresses that neither Vibhishana nor Kumbhakarna strayed from the path of dharma and that there is no single way out of a moral dilemma. The Ramayana teaches that Kumbhakarna adhered to the dharma of loyalty to his kin when his advice fails, while Vibhishana chose to oppose his kin when his advice failed.[13]

Regional legends[edit | edit source]

Srirangam[edit | edit source]

The statue in Lankatilaka Vihara of Vibhishana and wife is Sarama as in position of guardian deity of Sri Lanka[14]

Vibhishana is featured in the Pancharatra, and consequently the regional legend of Ranganathaswamy temple of Srirangam, considered the foremost of the Divya Desams, the abodes of Vishnu in Sri Vaishnavism. During the coronation of Rama, the avatar of Vishnu, Vibhishana was presented the sacrosanct Sri Ranga vimana. He decided to carry it to his kingdom of Lanka. Midway his journey, in order to rest, he placed the image on the banks of the Kaveri. After performing his routine puja, he tried to lift the vimana, but it could not be lifted.[15] Vishnu appeared to him and said that he desired to stay as Ranganatha in the place, which went on to become Srirangam. Vishnu also desired to watch the brahmotsavam at Tirucherai. The festivals of the temple are thus considered sacred.[16]

Sri Lanka[edit | edit source]

In some period of history Sinhalese people have considered Vibhishana as one of the Sathara Waram Deviyo (four guardian deities).[17] This belief was more prominent in the Kotte period. According to the Ravana Katha of Wickramasinghe Adigar, after the defeat of Ravana, Vibhishana transferred the Yaksha capital from Alaka mandawa to Kelaniya.[18] In the 15th-century poem of Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera, the sælalihini sandesaya, Myna is ordered to carry the missive to Vibhishana at his temple in Kelaniya. After the 16th century, he was replaced as a God of the four warrants by the goddess Pattini. He continues to be worshipped by a diminishing number of adherents, mainly in the Kelaniya area.[19]

Literature[edit | edit source]

The Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram is a mantra that is featured in Hindu literature:

अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनुमांश्च विभीषण:।
कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तैतै चिरञ्जीविन:॥
सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्।
जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः॥ aśvatthāmā balirvyāsō hanumāṁśca vibhīṣaṇaḥ।
kṛpaḥ paraśurāmaśca saptaitai cirañjīvinaḥ॥
saptaitān saṁsmarēnnityaṁ mārkaṇḍēyamathāṣṭamam।
jīvēdvarṣaśataṁ sopi sarvavyādhivivarjitaḥ॥

— Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram

The mantra states that the remembrance of the eight immortals (Ashwatthama, Mahabali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripa, Parashurama, and Markandeya) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Story of Vibhīṣaṇa". 28 January 2019.
  2. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (24 June 2012). "Vibhishana, Vibhīṣaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇā: 28 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Ravana | King Ravana - Viral Sri Lanka". 3 January 2020. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  4. ↑ Buck, William (2000). Ramayana. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-1720-3.
  5. ↑ Saraswati, Smt T. N. (2 March 2019). Vibhishana. Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana. ISBN 978-93-89020-78-6.
  6. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Draupadi-harana Parva: Section CCLXXIII". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  7. ↑ Shashi, S. S. (1998). Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. Vol. 21–35. Encyclopaedia Indica. p. 222.
  8. ↑ Ranganayakamma. RAMAYANA The Poisonous Tree. Sweet Home Publications.
  9. ↑ Maheshwari, Vipul; Maheshwari, Anil (18 October 2020). Ramayana Revisited: An Epic through a Legal Prism. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-93-89351-07-1.
  10. ↑ Keshavadas, Sadguru Sant (1988). Ramayana at a Glance. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 200. ISBN 978-81-208-0545-3.
  11. ↑ Ramesh, M. S. (1997). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams. T.T. Devasthanams. p. 262.
  12. ↑ Saraswati, Smt T. N. (2 March 2019). Vibhishana. Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana. ISBN 978-93-89020-78-6. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  13. ↑ Keshavadas, Sadguru Sant (1988). Ramayana at a Glance. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-0545-3.
  14. ↑ "Lankatilaka Temple near Kandy".
  15. ↑ Kalyanaraman, Srinivasan. "Evidence for temples in Bhāratam, from ca. 4th-3rd millennium BCE". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ↑ M., Rajagopalan (1993). 15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu. Chennai, India: Govindaswamy Printers. pp. 66–75.
  17. ↑ Kariyawasam, A.G.S (1995). "The Gods & Deity Worship in Sri Lanka". The Wheel Publication No. 402/404, Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 955-24-0126-7. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  18. ↑ Dr. Mirando Obeysekere, Was Maya Dannawa the architect of Sigiriya?, Daily News, 6 March 2003. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/mdannawa.html
  19. ↑ Nandasena Ratnapala, Folklore of Sri Lanka, State Printing Corporation, Colombo, 1991; ISBN 955-610-089-X

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