WOMEN CHARACTERS OF RAMAYANA

 

WOMEN CHARACTERS OF RAMAYANA

 

Ramayana, the Epic text known as the story of Rama’s journey (Rama’s  Ayana) presents a strong band of women who display an array of fine qualities. But the disappointing fact about these characters are that most of them are forgotten in the course of time and lost their presence in many translations and adaptations of Ramayana. Only a few characters like, Sita, Kaikeyi, Manthara, Kausalya and Mandodari got the prominent spotlight even though the other women characters are as unique as these women. Even in Valmiki Ramayana the focus was on the life events of Rama and  most of the women characters appear in the events without proper description or history. Even their life after the encounter with Rama or their death was not mentioned in the Epic. 

Ramayana have an immense number of translations not only in Indian languages, but also occupy a definite place in many foreign languages and literature. The excessive number of these texts shows variety of plot changes and character descriptions. But by referring to the most common version of stories of Ramayana, here we are presenting you the major 25 women characters of Ramayana. A small description is given along with each one that may give you a basic idea of the characters.

Ramayana is not just the story of Rama, but also of numerable characters  who shaped the epic in their own way. So let’s meet some strong, brilliant, courageous and determined women in Ramayana. Read them, Remember them, Revive them.

 

·        Indumathi – Mother of Dasarath. She was the princess of Vidarbha and daughter of King Bhoja. She was an angel named Harini who was cursed to born as a human by a saint. She born as a human and married Aja, King of Kosala and gave birth to Dasarath. She was freed from the curse when she died as the garland of Devrishi Narath fell on her as he was passing through the sky. Dasarath was only 8 months old when she died and out of grief Aja committed suicide as he loved her immensely.

 

·        Kausalya – First wife of Dasarath. She as the princess of Kosala kingdom and the daughter of King Sukaushal and Queen Amritaprabha. She had a brother named Bhanumatha and a sister named Vershini (Wife of Lompada, King of Ang Desh and fostermother of Santha) . She had a daughter named Shantha and a son, Rama from Dasarath.

 

·        Kaikeyi – Wife of Dasarath. She was the daughter of Ashwapati, the King of Kekaya kingdom. She had 4 brothers including Yudhajit and she had a son named Bharath from Dasarath. She met king Dasarath in Kashmir and fell in love. She fell under the influence of Mandhara and became the reason of Rama’s exile.

 

·        Sumithra – Wife of Dasarath. She was the princess of Kashi and the mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughana.

 

·        Santha – Daughter of Dasarath and Kausalya. She was the elder sister of Rama and other 3 brothers. She was taken care by her foster parents, King Lompada of Ang Desh and his wife Vershini. She was married to Rishyashringa, son of sage Vibhandaka. She was mentioned in Mahabhratha more than Ramayana.

 

·        Sita – Sita is considered as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and the daughter of Goddess Earth (Bhumi \ Prithvi). She was raised by King Janaka of Videha (Mithila) and his wife Queen Sunaina. She had a younger sister named Urmila. She was married to the prince of Ayodhya, Rama in a swayamvara. Sita was also known as Janaki (daughter of Janaka), Maithili (princess of Mithila) and Vaidehi (princess of Videha). She returned to the womb of her mother Earth (dies) after reuniting her sons Lava and Kusha with Rama. Mandavi (wife of Bharath) and Shrutakirti (wife of Shatrughana) were Sita’s cousin sisters.

 

·        Mandavi – Wife of Bharath. She was the daughter of King Kushadhwaja of Sankasya and Queen Chandrabhaga. She had a sister named Shrutakirti and Sita was their cousin sister. She had two sons Taksha and Pushkala with Bharath.

 

·        Urmila – Wife of Lakshmana. She was the daughter of King Janaka of Mithila and Queen Sunaina. She was the younger sister of Sita. She had two sons named Angada and Chandraketu. She waited for Lakshmana during the time of Rama’s 14 years exile along with Sita and Lakshmana. She stayed in the palace taking care of Dasarath and his wives.

 

·        Shrutakirti – Wife of Shatrughana. They had two sons, Shatrughati and Subahu. She was the daughter of King Kushadhwaja of Sankasya and Queen Chandrabhaga.

·         Sunaina – Wife of King Janaka of Mithila. She was the mother of Urmila and foster mother of Sita. She was believed to be born from the tear of Servent King Vasuki and raised by River Goddess Narmala under the guidance of Devi Parvati.

 

·         Mandodari – Wife of Ravana. She was the daughter of Mayasura, King of Asuras and an apsara named Hema. She is considered to be one of the Panchakanya. She had two sons Meghanad and Akshayakumara. After the death of Ravana, she was requested to marry Vibhishana by Lord Rama. But the marriage was mentioned in Ramayana.

 

·         Dhanyamalini – Second wife of Ravana. They had 5 sons named Atikaya, Narantaka, Devantaka, Trishira and Prahastha. She was the daughter of Mayasura and Hema and sister of Mandodari.

 

·         Vajramala – Wife of Kumbhakarna. She had two sons named Kumba and Nikumba. She was the daughter of Mahabali, granddaughter of Virochana and great granddaughter of  Prahlada. She had two siblings named Banasura and Ratanamala.

 

·          Karkati – Wife of Kumbhakarna. She had a son named Bhimasura. She was the princess of Sayadri.

 

·          Sarama – Wife of Vibhishana. They had a daughter named Trijata. Sarama was the daughter of Shaileesha. She was in duty of Sita’s protection while she was in Lanka. She behaved very friendly with Sita.

 

·         Surpanakha – Sister of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishansa. She was the daughter of Rishi Vishrava and Kaikashi. Her real name was Meenakshi. She was married to a Danava named Vidyatjuhva (Dushtabudhi) and had a son Shambhri. Later Vidyatjuhva was killed by Ravana and Meenakshi was left to live in forest. She was mutilated by Lakshmana as she attacked Sita, enraged by the rejection of  Rama and Lakshmana.

 

·        Trijata – Daughter of Vibhishana and Sarama. Like her mother she was also a friendly companion to Sita while she was in Lanka. She was in duty of security of Sita in Lanka.

 

·        Sulochana – Wife of Meghanad, son of Ravana. She was the daughter of King of serpents, Vasuki. She was believed to be born from the tears of Vasuki along with her sister Sunaina ( Sita’s foster mother ). She was also called as Pramila.

 

·        Tara – Wife of Bali, King of Kishkinda. She was the daughter of Vanara Physician Sushena. She had a son named Angada from Bali. After the death of Bali, she married his brother Sugriva.

 

·        Ruma – Wife of Sugriva. She was taken as wife by Bali as a punishment when he came to know Sugriva made Tara as his wife when Bali wasn’t present  in Kishkinda.

 

·        Kaikeshi – Mother of Ravana.  She was the daughter of Ravana king Sumali and Gandharva princess Ketumashi. She married a sage Vishrava and had 3 sons ( Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana) and a daughter ( Meenakshi – Surpankha).

 

·        Manthara – The maid of Queen Kaikeyi. She took care of  Kaikeyi from her childhood and came to Ayodhya when she was married to Dasarath. Her excessive loyalty towards Kaikeyi leads to the major turning point of the story.

 

·        Anjana – Mother of Hanuman. She was an apasara named Punjikastala, later she was born on Earth as a Vanara princess named Anjana. She married a Vanara chief Kesari and Hanuman was born to her as a blessing of Lord Shiva carried to her through Lord of wind Vayu.

 

·        Tataka -  Tataka was a beautiful woman who was transformed to a Rakshasi once she tried to seduce Sage Agastya. She tortured, killed and drank the blood of creatures. Her curse was broken by Rama, when he slayed her.

 

·        Menaka – Menaka was born during the churning of the ocean by the Devas and Asuras. She was an apsara who was sent to Earth to seduce Sage Viswamitra. But they fell in love and had a daughter Shakuntala. Shakuntala’s son Bharath was an ancestor of  Pandavas and Kauravas. Their story is mentioned in Bala Kanda of Ramayana. 

 

 

Here is, the 25 fierce women who stood with dignity, filled with love and lived a meaningful life. The lost importance through ages never diminished their truth. The descriptions shows how important each of them, even though they are not fully presented in its completeness. The characters stay as pillars to the story and the plot changes. Each of them represents definite qualities and displays traits of true human emotions. The different shades of perspective, decisions and existence make these characters display an universal approach of human behavior.  The chaos, the determination and the sense of sacrifice of these characters makes Ramayana not only Rama’s Journey but also their own Journey in an unique manner. 

Thank you.