We have been following the recital on Rakshasas by the sages after Rama asked about them earlier. Coming from the victory over demons, he sought few answers from the sages about those he just defeated. The sages begin by narrating the entire history of Rakshasa clan, their advent into Lanka and the story of Ravana along with his ancestral hierarchy. This narration on the historic details of the Rakshasas continue for a significant part of the book, as the sages give an elaborate picture of them. In the last post we had seen an initial war between Vishnu and Rakshasas where Vishnu routed them thoroughly driving them into the interiors of Earth, the netherworld or Patala. Emerging into the mortal world, one of the three sons of Sukesha, Sumali asks his daughter Kaikasi to marry Vishrava. Due to the wrong time of the union, they beget a son Dashagriva or the one with ten heads who later become popularly known as Ravana. Along with Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana are also born after the war with Vishnu. We can see in the following chapters how the Rakshasa brothers take shape to perform severe austerities and take over Lanka.
In chapter 10, the severe penances performed by Dashagriva, his brothers and the boons they received is documented.
Rama approached the sages, inquiring about the austerities undertaken by the brothers during their time in the forest. The sage Agastya responded by explaining the rigorous spiritual practices the brothers observed in their quest for dharma.
He spoke of Kumbhakarna, who was deeply dedicated to dharma. In the intense summer heat, he subjected himself to the torturous experience of sitting amid five blazing fires, displaying extraordinary resilience. During the monsoon season, despite being drenched by the incessant rains, he remained in virasana, a meditative posture. In winter, he immersed himself consistently in water, enduring ten thousand years of such extreme austerities, all while maintaining his focus on the path of virtue.
Similarly, Vibhishana also dedicated himself to dharma for a tremendous span of time. For five thousand years, he stood on one foot in relentless devotion. Following that, he raised his arms toward the heavens for another five thousand years, his mind entirely in control, gazing at the sun. For a total of ten thousand years, he practiced severe austerities, as if he were in the heavenly realm of Nandana.
On the other hand, Dashanana (Ravana) observed a starkly different approach; he ate nothing for a decade and offered one of his ten heads to the fire as a sacrifice every thousand years. After nine thousand years of this grim sacrifice, he sought to sever his tenth head. Yet, at that moment, his grandfather, the god, appeared to him with great joy. The god proclaimed his pleasure at Ravana's commitment to dharma and invited him to ask for a boon.
In a moment filled with emotion, Ravana expressed his greatest fear: death. He requested immortality, wishing to be free from the threat of being killed by divine or earthly beings. The god, encouraged by Ravana's words, agreed to grant him this plea, indicating that his heads would be restored after being offered in sacrifice.
Following this exchange, the god turned to Vibhishana, commending his intelligence and adherence to dharma. He invited Vibhishana to ask for a boon. Vibhishana humbly requested the boon of being surrounded by all good qualities, similar to how the moon is complemented by its beams. Prajapati granted him immortality, assuring him that although he was born into a family of rakshasas, there would be no trace of adharma in him.
The gods then grew anxious about granting a boon to Kumbhakarna, fearing he might terrorize the worlds with his power, as he had already devoured many divine beings and humans. They requested that Brahma grant Kumbhakarna a boon that would confuse him, ensuring safety for the worlds while also satisfying him.
Prajapati, pondering this, sought the assistance of Goddess Sarasvati, who agreed to be the divine speech that would fulfill the desires of the gods. When Kumbhakarna was approached, he asked for the ability to sleep for many years, a wish that was agreed upon by the divine presence.
Sarasvati departed after securing this boon from him, leaving Kumbhakarna in bewilderment over the words he had just uttered. Ultimately, the brothers, powerful in their austerities, received their respective boons and went to live in a forest called Shleshmataka, content in their newfound abilities.
In chapter 11, emboldened by the boons, Rakshasas enter Lanka, headed by Ravana.
The chapter revolves around Sumali and his grandson Dashagriva, who are powerful rakshasas, beings in Hindu mythology. Sumali learns that the roamers of the night, which include his grandson, have acquired boons that embolden them against their fears. They previously fled from the fearsome Vishnu to the netherworld known as rasatala.
Sumali expresses joy over Dashagriva's newfound boon, believing it will grant them strength to reclaim their former territory in Lanka. He indicates they collectively suffered and had to abandon their homes due to fears instigated by Vishnu. In this moment, Sumali declares that Dashagriva should rightfully become the lord of Lanka.
Dashagriva responds, showing respect towards the current lord of treasures (Vaishravana), who is his brother. However, Prahasta, an adviser of the rakshasa kind, cautionarily reminds Dashagriva of the implications of such ambition, citing familial bonds. He shares a story about the sisters Aditi and Diti, who produced deities and daityas, respectively, indicating that conflicts between them led to a cosmic struggle. Prahasta urges Dashagriva to avoid misunderstandings that may harm inter-family relationships.
After a moment of contemplation, Dashagriva agrees to enter a pact of retrieval for Lanka, seeking to reclaim what rightly belongs to the rakshasas. Full of delight, he heads into the forest with his companions and sets up base at Trikuta. He sends Prahasta as an emissary to convey his intentions firmly yet diplomatically to the lord of treasures, Vaishravana.
Prahasta, skilled in persuasion, is tasked with presenting Dashagriva's words in a manner that is agreeable and respectful, advising Vaishravana to relinquish Lanka back to Dashagriva, echoing sentiments of amiability and dharma.
Upon hearing Prahasta, the lord of treasures expresses a willingness to comply with Dashagriva's wishes but mentions the need to consult with their father, the venerable sage Vishrava. Vishrava, upon receiving the request, reflects on Dashagriva's ambitions and warns his son about the chaos that could arise from succumbing to the evil nature represented by Dashagriva. He urges Vaishravana to abandon Lanka to avoid further conflict, suggesting that they establish a residence at Mount Kailasa for peace.
Having accepted his father’s wise counsel, Vaishravana prepares to move with his companions, abandoning Lanka. Meanwhile, Prahasta updates Dashagriva about their decision. The rakshasas finally enter the empty city of Lanka, with Prahasta emphasizing that it is an expansive place, one they believe should be governed by Dashagriva, as it is aligned with their dharma.
Gathering his brothers, forces, and followers, Dashagriva enters Lanka and is consecrated in the city. The scene is filled with excitement as the rakshasas celebrate their reclamation, echoing the nature of ambition and power that characterizes their lineage. Dashagriva, now recognized as Dashanana (the ten-headed one), resides prominently in Lanka, surrounded by riches and decorated residences reminiscent of celestial realms, signaling the dawn of a new chapter for the rakshasas in that mythical city.
In chapter 12, the marriages of the Rakshasas is portrayed in vivid picture.
The narrative involving various celestial beings, primarily focusing on the Indra among rakshasas who is seeking a husband for his sister, Shurpanakha. After a consecration ceremony, he decides to bestow his sister on Vidyujjihva, an Indra among danavas. Subsequently, he encounters Maya, Diti's son, who shares his own story of marriage and loss.
Maya reveals that he was once united with an apsara named Hema, with whom he spent five hundred years. Hema has been away for fourteen years to fulfill a task given by the gods. In her absence, Maya constructed a magnificent city of gold, adorned with precious gems, but felt no attachment to it due to his loneliness and sadness from her absence. Consequently, Maya abandoned the city and, taking his daughter, sought a groom for her in the forest.
Maya expresses that daughters can bring unhappiness and uncertainty to families and shares about his two sons, Mayavi and Dundubhi. He inquires about Dashagriva, the rakshasa king, and learns that he is the son of the sage Poulastya. Delighted by this revelation, Maya offers his daughter, Mandodari, born from Hema, to Dashagriva as his wife. Dashagriva accepts the proposal and performs a ritual to formalize their union, lighting a fire to signify his acceptance.
Maya also provides Dashagriva with an invincible javelin obtained through rigorous austerities, which Dashagriva later uses against Lakshmana. Following this event, Dashagriva returns to the city with Mandodari, where he arranges marriages for his two brothers as well.
Dashagriva's brother Kumbhakarna marries Vajrajvala, while Vibhishana, another of Dashagriva's brothers, marries Sarama, the daughter of the king of gandharvas, Shailusha. Sarama’s name is derived from a moment when her mother, fearful of flooding, desperately called out to a lake, instructing it not to overflow.
This concludes with the birth of Mandodari and Dashagriva’s son, Meghanada, also known as Indrajit. Upon his arrival, he cries out loudly, likened to the sound of thunder, captivating everyone in Lanka. Meghanada grows up within the protected and auspicious environment of his father's palace, nurtured by esteemed women.
This concludes chapters 10, 11 and 12 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen the severe austerities performed by Ravana and his two brothers Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana before they receive immense boons from Brahma. Ravana and his brothers performed this intense penance on Mount Gokarna for 11000 years. Ravana asked for the boon of immortality from the higher divine beings, which was granted. Encouraged by the boons, the brothers along with Rakshasas ask Vaishravana to leave from Lanka. After occupying Lanka with great fervor after intense penance, the brothers also get married. Indrajit or Meghanada is born to Ravana, who is going to eclipse his own father. We can look at the further depiction of Rakshasas in subsequent chapters.
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