Sumali

Sumali
Devanagari	सुमाली
Sanskrit transliteration	Sumālī
Affiliation	Rakshasa King
Abode	Lanka (formerly), Patala
Texts	Ramayana (Uttara Kanda)
Gender	Male
Personal information
Parents	Sukesha (father) Devavati (mother)
Siblings	Malyavan and Mali
Consort	Ketumati
Children	Sons: Prahasta, Akampana, Vikata, Kalakarmuka, Dhumraksha, Danda, Suparshva, Sanhradi, Praghasa, Bhasakarna Daughters: Raka, Pushpotkata, Kaikesi, Kumbhinasi

Sumali (Sanskrit: सुमाली, IAST: Sumālī) is a Rakshasa king in Hindu mythology. He features in the Uttara Kanda of the Hindu epic Ramayana as the son of Sukesha and Devavati, and the brother of Malyavan and Mali. Sumali is best known as the maternal grandfather of Ravana, the principal antagonist of the Ramayana.

Early life and boons

According to the Uttara Kanda, Sumali and his brothers Malyavan and Mali were born to the Rakshasa king Sukesha and his wife Devavati (a Gandharva princess). The three brothers grew up to be extraordinarily powerful. Desiring invincibility, they traveled to Mount Meru to perform terrible austerities (tapasya).

Their severe penance pleased the creator god Brahma, who appeared before them to grant a boon. Sumali and his brothers asked for invincibility, longevity, mutual affection, and the power to conquer their enemies. Brahma granted these wishes, making the brothers virtually unstoppable.

Establishing Lanka

Armed with Brahma's boons, Sumali and his brothers became arrogant and sought a grand city to rule. They approached the divine architect Vishvakarma and demanded that he construct a magnificent city for them. Vishvakarma informed them of Lanka, a beautiful golden city situated on Mount Trikuta, originally built on the shores of the southern ocean by the order of Indra. The three Rakshasa brothers migrated to Lanka, occupied it, and established a formidable empire.

Marriage and children

To continue his lineage, Sumali married Ketumati, the daughter of a Gandharvi named Narmada. Through Ketumati, Sumali fathered fourteen children—ten sons and four daughters.

His sons were Prahasta, Akampana, Vikata, Kalakarmuka, Dhumraksha, Danda, Suparshva, Sanhradi, Praghasa, and Bhasakarna. His four daughters were Raka, Pushpotkata, Kaikesi, and Kumbhinasi. Many of his sons would later become prominent commanders in Ravana's army, while his daughter Kaikesi became the mother of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, and Surpanakha.

Defeat and exile

Intoxicated by their power, Sumali and his brothers began harassing the Devas (gods), Rishis (sages), and human beings. Tormented by the Rakshasas, the gods sought refuge with Shiva, who directed them to Vishnu.

Vishnu rode into battle on his mount, Garuda, to confront the Rakshasa army. A fierce battle ensued. While Sumali fought valiantly, Vishnu's power was insurmountable. After Vishnu killed Sumali's younger brother, Mali, the Rakshasa forces were routed. Terrified of Vishnu, Sumali, Malyavan, and their surviving wives and followers abandoned Lanka and fled to the subterranean realm of Patala to hide.

Later life

Sumali lived in exile in Patala for a long time. Years later, he secretly visited the earth and witnessed Kubera, the lord of wealth, traveling in his flying chariot, Pushpaka Vimana. Realizing that Kubera's power came from his father, the sage Vishrava, Sumali hatched a political plot to restore the glory of the Rakshasa race.

He instructed his beautiful daughter Kaikesi to approach Vishrava and offer herself as his wife, hoping she would bear sons as powerful as Kubera. Kaikesi obeyed, and her union with Vishrava resulted in the birth of Ravana and his siblings, who eventually reclaimed Lanka and established the greatest Rakshasa empire.