Rakshasa family of Lanka

Rakshasa Lineage According to the Uttara Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the Rakshasa race was created by Brahma to protect the primal waters. The first leaders of the Rakshasas were two brothers, Heti and Praheti. The lineage descends primarily from Heti.

Main Lineage (from Heti to Sukesha)

• Heti – One of the first Rakshasas. He married Bhayaa, the sister of Yama (Kala).
• Praheti – Brother of Heti. He was righteous, remained a celibate, and retreated to the forest to perform austerities.
  • Vidyutkesha – Son of Heti and Bhayaa. He married Salakatankata (daughter of Sandhya).
    • Sukesha – Son of Vidyutkesha and Salakatankata. Abandoned at birth, he was protected and blessed by Shiva and Parvati. He married Devavati, the daughter of the Gandharvi Gramani.
      • Malyavan – Eldest son of Sukesha.
      • Sumali – Second son of Sukesha and maternal grandfather of Ravana.
      • Mali – Youngest son of Sukesha.

The Three Brothers (Malyavan, Sumali, Mali)

The three sons of Sukesha married three Gandharva princesses (daughters of Narmada) and produced numerous offspring who formed the primary strength of the Rakshasa army.

• Malyavan (Married Sundari)
  • Sons: Vajramushti, Virupaksha, Durmukha, Suptaghna, Yajnakopa, Matta, and Unmatta.
  • Daughter: Anala.

• Sumali (Married Ketumati)
  • Sons: Prahasta (Commander-in-chief of Ravana's army), Akampana, Vikata, Kalakarmuka, Dhumraksha, Danda, Suparsva, Sanhradi, Praghasa, and Bhaskarna.
  • Daughters: Raka, Puspotkata, Kumbhinasi, and Kaikasi. (Note: Kaikasi married the sage Vishrava and became the mother of the primary Ramayana antagonists).

• Mali (Married Vasuda)
  • Sons: Anala, Nila, Hara, and Sampati. (They later became ministers in the court of Vibhishana).

Descendants of Kaikasi and Sage Vishrava

Kaikasi (daughter of Sumali) married the Brahmin sage Vishrava (son of Pulastya and grandson of Brahma). Because she approached him at an inauspicious time, they birthed formidable Rakshasa children. (Note: Vishrava was also the father of Kubera from his first wife Ilavida, making Kubera the half-brother of Ravana).

• Ravana (Dashagriva) – The ten-headed Rakshasa King of Lanka.
  • Wives: Mandodari (Daughter of Mayasura and the apsara Hema), and Dhanyamalini.
  • Sons of Ravana:
    • Indrajit (Meghanada) – Eldest son, born to Mandodari.
    • Akshayakumara – Born to Mandodari; slain by Hanuman in Ashoka Vatika.
    • Atikaya – A gigantic son born to Dhanyamalini; slain by Lakshmana.
    • Narantaka – Slain by Angada.
    • Devantaka – Slain by Hanuman.
    • Trishira – Three-headed son; slain by Hanuman.

• Kumbhakarna – The gigantic brother known for his prolonged sleep.
  • Wife: Vajrajwala (Granddaughter of Virochana).
  • Sons of Kumbhakarna:
    • Kumbha – Slain by Sugriva in the Lanka war.
    • Nikumbha – Slain by Hanuman in the Lanka war.

• Shurpanakha – Sister of Ravana.
  • Husband: Vidyujjihva (A Kalakeya demon). He was killed by Ravana during his conquest of the underworld.

• Vibhishana – The righteous brother who defected to Lord Rama.
  • Wife: Sarama (Daughter of the Gandharva Sailusha).
  • Daughter: Trijata (A Rakshasi who comforted Sita in Ashoka Vatika. Though not explicitly named as Vibhishana's daughter in the main text of Valmiki, widespread later traditions firmly establish her as such).

Visual Family Tree

Heti

Bhaya

Praheti

Vidyutkesha

Salakatankata

Sukesha

Devavati

Malyavan

Sumali

Mali

7 Sons & 1 Daughter

4 Sons (Ministers of Vibhishana)

10 Sons (incl. Prahasta, Akampana) & 3 Daughters

Kaikasi

Sage Vishrava

Ravana

Mandodari (& others)

Kumbhakarna

Vajrajwala

Shurpanakha

Vidyujjihva

Vibhishana

Sarama

Shambhukumara

Trijata

Indrajit

Akshayakumara

Atikaya

Devantaka

Narantaka

Trishira

Kumbha

Nikumbha