Rakshasa family of Lanka

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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.[1]

Main Lineage (from Heti to Sukesha)[edit | edit source]

  • 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 Gandharva king 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)[edit | edit source]

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.[2]

  • 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.
      • Prahasta's son : Jambumali (slain by Hanumana)[3]
    • Daughters: Raka, Puspotkata, Kumbhinasi, and Kaikasi. (Note: All of them married the sage Vishrava and Kaikesi became the mother of the primary Ramayana antagonists).
  • Mali (Married Vasuda)
    • Sons: Anala, Anila, Hara, and Sampati. (They later became ministers in the court of Vibhishana).

Descendants of Kaikasi and Sage Vishrava[edit | edit source]

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.[4] (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),[5], Dhanyamalini and others
    • Sons of Ravana through Mandodari:[6]
    • Sons of Ravana through Dhanyamalini:
      • Atikaya – A gigantic son slain by Lakshmana.
    • Other sons of Ravana:
      • 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).[5]
    • 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).[5] 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 king Sailusha).[5]
    • Daughter: Kalaa[7]/Analaa[8] (A Rakshasi who comforted Sita in Ashoka Vatika.)

Other descendants Sage Vishrava[edit | edit source]

  • Khara: killed by Rama in Janasthana.
    • Son: Makaraksha[9]
  • Dushana
  • Mattanika
  • Mahodara[10]
  • Mahaparshva

Visual Family Tree[edit | edit source]

HetiBhayaaPraheti
VidyutkeshaSalakatankata
SukeshaDevavati
MalyavanSundariSumaliKetumatiMaliVasuda
Sons:
Vajramushti, Virupaksha, Durmukha,
Suptaghna, Yajnakopa, Matta, Unmatta
Daughter: Anala		Sons: Prahasta, Akampana, Vikata,
Kalakarmuka, Dhumraksha, Danda,
Suparsva, Sanhradi, Praghasa, Bhaskarna
Daughters: Raka, Puspotkata, Kumbhinasi
Prahasta's son: Jambumali		KaikasiSage VishravaSons: Anala, Anila, Hara, Sampati
(ministers of Vibhishana)
MandodariRavanaDhanyamaliniKumbhakarnaVajrajwalaShurpanakhaVidyujjihvaVibhishanaSaramaOther descendants
of Vishrava:
Khara (son: Makaraksha),
Dushana, Mattanika,
Mahodara, Mahaparshva
IndrajitAkshayakumaraKumbhaNikumbhaKalaa
AtikayaNarantakaDevantakaTrishira

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Uttara Kanda: The Final Chapter of Ramayana". Valmiki Ramayana. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  2. ↑ Sage Valmiki. "Sarga 5". Ramayana. Vol. 7 (Uttara Kanda).
  3. ↑ "The Death of Jambumalin [Chapter 44]". www.wisdomlib.org. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  4. ↑ Sage Valmiki. "Sarga 9". Ramayana. Vol. 7 (Uttara Kanda).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "The Marriages of the Rakshasas [Chapter 12]". www.wisdomlib.org. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Sage Valmiki. "Sarga 123". Ramayana. Vol. 6 (Yuddha Kanda).
  7. ↑ "Sita refuses to be rescued by Hanuman [Chapter 37]". www.wisdomlib.org. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  8. ↑ Narasimhan (24 January 2024). "37 Sarga सुन्दरकाण्डः - JIR Foundation-Sri Ramanuja Meghamala, Sri Ramanuja Granthamala, Shemushi". Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Makaraksha, Makarākṣa: 4 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  10. ↑ "The Death of Devantaka, Trishiras, Mahodara and Mahaparshva [Chapter 70]". www.wisdomlib.org. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
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