Indrajit

Indrajit
Victory of Meghanada by RRV
Other names	Meghanada, Shakrajit, Ravani, Vasavajit, Varidanada, Ghananada
Personal information
Spouse	Sulochana
Parents	Ravana (father) Mandodari (mother)
Siblings	Indrajit Atikaya Akshayakumara Narantaka Devantaka Trishira Prahasta

Indrajit or Meghanada, according to Hindu mythology, was a prince of Lanka and a conqueror of Indra Loka (heaven) like his father before him. He was mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana. Indrajit played an active role in the great war between Rama and Ravana. He is considered as the Atimaharathi class warrior in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and the Vedas. He is one and only warrior who possessed the three ultimate weapons of Trimurti, i.e. Brahmanda astra, Vaishnavastra, and Pashupatastra. He acquired all kinds of celestial weapons from his Guru Shukra, Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. By defeating the Devas in the heaven he took their weapons and become the possessor of all kinds of divine weapons of deva, asura's and trimurti's due to which he became Atimaharathi.^[1] Indrajit subdued both Rama and Lakshman, and later incapacitated Lakshman in their second encounter. Indrajit killed 670 million Vanara's in a single day, nearly exterminating the entire half man-half monkey race using his powerful Brahmanda astra. ^[1][2]

Etymology

In Sanskrit literal translation the name "Indrajit" (इन्द्रजित्) mentioned as "Conqueror of Indra" and "Meghanāda" (Sanskrit: मेघनाद) as "Thunderous or lord of sky". In Tamil or Telugu, literal translation of the name "Meghanathan" ^[3] (Tamil: மேகநாதன்) or "Meghanathudu" is mentioned as "Lord of Clouds", which combines the words "Megham" (clouds) and "Nathan"/"nathudu" (lord). He defeated Indra, the king of the Devas, after which he came to be known as 'Indrajit'("the conqueror of Indra")^[4]. He can be also known as Shakrajit, Ravani, Vasavajit, Varidanada and Ghananada. Indrajith is a derived version of the original Sanskrit name Indrajitha.

Biography

Wayang Figure Of Indrajit.

Indrajit was the eldest son of Ravana and his wife Mandodari. He was named Meghanada after his birth because his birth cry sounded like thunder. When Meghnadh was going to be born, Ravana wished his son to be supreme so that no one in the world could defeat him. Ravana wanted his son to be the ultimate warrior and extremely knowledgeable. Ravana was a great astrologist so to make his son immortal he commanded all the planets and constellations in such a position that would allow his son to be born the way he wanted. Because of Ravana’s anger and power, all the planets and constellation feared him. All the planets were in the position as desired by Raavan at time of his son Meghnad’s birth. All the planets aligned in such a way that they come in the 11th house of his Meghnad’s horoscope.^[5] However, Shani (Saturn) had disobeyed Ravana's orders and had settled in the 12th house of Meghanada's horoscope. Ravana became furious at this and lamed Shani. Due to the state of Shani, Meghanada had to die at the hands of Lakshmana in the war between Rama and Ravana.

At a very young age, Meghanada became the possessor of several supreme celestial weapons, including Brahmanda astra, Vaishnavastra and Pashupatastra. Not even Trimurtis Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva possessed the ultimate weapons of their contemporaries. He is considered as the one and only Atimaharati class mortal warrior ever. Meghanada was also an expert in magical warfare, sorcery and tantra. He was married to Sulochana, the virtuous daughter of the King of the Serpents, Shesha Naga.^[6]

Brahmas boon

During the battle between the Devas and Ravana, Lord Indra, king of heavens accompanied by all other devas captured Ravana. To rescue his father, Meghanada attacked Indra and his elephant Airavat, defeated all the Devas, even Indra. Meghanada tied and mounted Indra onto his celestial chariot and dragged him to Ravana in Lanka. Ravana and Meghanada decided to kill Indra. At this juncture, Lord Brahma intervened and asked Meghanada to free Indra. Meghanada obliged and was granted a chance to ask for a boon from Brahma. Meghanada asked for immortality, but Brahma remarked that absolute immortality is against the law of the nature. Instead, he was then granted another boon that after the completion of the Yagna (fire-worship) of his native goddess Prathyangira or the "Nikumbhila yagna" would be completed, he will get a celestial chariot, mounting on which, he will win over any enemy in war and become invulnerable. But Brahma also cautioned him that whosoever would destroy this yagna would also kill him. Brahma was highly impressed by Meghanada's valor in this war and it was he who gave him the name Indrajit ("the conqueror of Indra"). It is also believed that Meghanada was granted another boon by Brahma in which it was promised to him that he would only be killed by such a man who hadn't had sleep and food for twelve years. ^[7]

Astra's (Celestial missiles) of Indrajit

Indrajit was trained under the guidance of Shukra and obtained all kinds of divine weapons of man, Devas, Asura's and Trimurti's. The weaponry is categorized mainly into two types. One is Shastra, a handheld weapon like sword, lance or mace. The other is astra, a projectile missile invoked by reciting hymns.

Shastra's (Celestial weapons )of Indrajit

Offensive astra's of Indrajit were

Defensive astra's or Upasamhaara astras, which can be used to neutralize enemy's astra's

Offensive astras and their Defensive astras or Upasamhaara Astras that can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes are.^[9]

Battle against Hanuman

Rama sent Hanuman to know about Sita, who was held captive by Ravana in Lanka. Hanuman met Sita and passed the message of Rama to Sita. The other purpose of this mission was to spy on Lanka and its forces. On the way Hanuman encountered the troops of Ravana in Ashoka vatika, where Sita was kept. Hanuman fought with them and swiftly destroyed many soldiers.Hanuman even killed the vatika's guard Jambumali and Ravana's youngest son Akshayakumara(Indrajit's brother). Indrajit entered the battlefield. He used tantrik vidya as well as several astras on him. Though due to the boons by various gods, most celestial weapons of Indrajit had no effect on Hanuman. Indrajit then used Brahmastra and Hanuman swoon due to the immense power of this weapon. Indrajit then arrested Hanuman and presented him in front of his father King Ravana.^[10]

Battle Against Rama & Lakshmana

Indrajit joined the battle when all his brothers had been killed by Rama and his army. His father, Ravana, had been humiliated in the battle by Rama and his paternal uncle Kumbhakarna had been killed by Rama. Indrajit fought with Rama's army for three days.

First Day

Rama & Lakshmana Bound By Indrajit's Nagapasha

On the first day of his battle with Rama's army, Indrajit was swift with his weapons. He swiftly wiped out the Armies of Sugriva, calling on Lord Rama and Lakshmana to come out of their hiding, so he could avenge the deaths of his paternal uncle and his brothers. When Rama and Lakshmana appeared before him, he fought fiercely and arrested both the brothers using his most nefarious weapon Nagapash (a trap made of a million snakes). Both the brothers fell on the ground breathless. They were rescued by Garuda on behest of Hanuman. Garuda was the enemy of the serpents and also the flying vehicle of Vishnu, of whom Rama was the seventh avatar.

Third day

Lakshamana Fights Indrajit

Killing Of Indrajit Painting By Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi

When Indrajit came to know that Lakshmana had survived again, he went to his native deity's secret temple to perform the yagna that would make him invincible. Vibhishana, Indrajit's paternal uncle who left Ravana to join Rama, learned of his nephew Indrajit's plans through his spies and alerted Rama. Lakshmana and Vibhisana took the opportunity to face Indrajit in the "Yagnaagaar", where Indrajit would not touch any weapons. As the Valmiki Ramayana quotes, upon his Yagna being destroyed by the armies of Lakshmana, Indrajit became enraged and stormed out of the Temple Cave. Indrajit fought Lakshmana with the utensils of the yagna.^[11]

Seeing his uncle Vibhishana at Lakshmana's side multiplied Indrajit's fury manyfold. He vowed to kill his uncle Vibhisana along with Lakshmana once and for all, letting loose the Yama-astra which he had been conserving for punishing Vibhishana's perceived treason. At this juncture, Lakshmana protected Vibhishana, countering the Yama-astra owing to an earlier warning by Kubera. A fierce battle ensued and Indrajit resorted to using the three Supreme Weapons (Brahmanda astra, Pashupatastra and Vaishnavastra) on Lakshmana. To Indrajit's surprise and dismay, each of the three weapons refused to touch Lakshmana, with the Vaishnavastra circumambulating Lakshmana before disappearing. Realization dawned on Indrajit that Lakshmana was no ordinary human as he and his father had perceived, as Lakshmana was the avatar of Lord Vishnu and Sesha. Indrajit vanished briefly from the battlefield, returning to Ravana at the royal palace and reported the developments, proposing that his father make peace with Rama. Ravana blinded with pride was unrelenting and annoyed, claiming that Indrajit was a coward for having fled the battlefield. This accusation provoked Indrajit who briefly lost his temper, striking fear even at the mighty Ravana's heart before apologizing and clarifying to his father that his primary duty as a son was to serve his father's best interests and that even in the face of death, he would never abandon Ravana. Preparing to go back to the battle and knowing that he indeed faced death at the hands of a heavenly incarnation, Indrajit said his last goodbyes to his parents and his wife. He returned to the battlefield and fought Lakshmana with all his skill at both warfare and sorcery. Lakshmana was unstoppable because the celestial astras of Indrajit refused to harm the avatar of Shesha. Lakshmana slew Indrajit by beheading him with the Indrastra. It was possible only because Rama's brother Lakshmana was an incarnation of Sesha Naga and he didn't have any sleep or food for twelve years during their exile so that he would be able to serve Rama and Sita efficiently. Upon his death his wife Sulochana became Sati on his funeral pyre. ^[12]

Abilities

Indrajit is said to be the one of the most skilled warrior even surpassing Rama, the avatar of Vishnu. Indrajit with the help of Shukracharya acquired weapons from Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, including the boon that he would remain immortal as long as he fought from the divine chariot which rose each time he performed sacrifices to Brahma at Nikumbhila.

He was said to be so skilled in archery that he could slay multiple opponents with one arrow shot from his bow. Indrajit was also capable of spreading darkness and ignorance among enemies, which greatly empowered the might of the Rakshasas. He even defeated Indra and all Devas and captured all of them. Indrajit was well versed in using divine weapons and shot serpents in the form of arrows at Rama and Lakshmana. On the second battle at Lanka, Indrajit infused the power of the Brahmashira astra into his chariot, bow and arrows and slew six hundred and seventy million Vanaras in one day. Indrajit was capable of producing a false version of Sita and killing her in front of Vanaras, demoralizing them.

Lakshmana had to employ deceit to kill Indrajit. Lakshman started the fight with Indrajit before sunrise, which was considered to be prohibited at that era. Lakshmana with the help of Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana by employing deceit disrupted the sacrifice of Indrajit at early morning. Lakshmana with the help of Vibhishana, who had earlier betrayed his brother Ravana, ambushed Indrajit and finally killed him.

In popular culture

Meghnad is the central figure of Meghnad Badh Kavya, a Bengali ballad, which describes Meghnad as a caring husband, a devoted son of parents and friend of all people. Meghnad Badh Kavya is the most famous and most acclaimed poem by the poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta. It is based on the demise of Meghnad (Indrajit), son of Ravana, the villain of the classic Sanskrit epic Ramayana.

It was first published in 1861, incidentally the year of birth of the Bengali author, Rabindranath Tagore, who afterwards wrote a review on it. The ballad is divided into 9 different sargas, i.e. parts.^[13] Each part exhibits different incidents. Starting from the death of Beerbahu, a son of Ravana, it is continued till the sati-daha (the ancient Indian custom of burning the widows alive with the dead husband) of Prameela, Meghnad's beloved wife.Since according to this ballad, Meghnad's wife is Prameela, it can be reasonably believed that Sulochana was also known as Prameela.

Ravana, along with his sons, were the ones performing evil deeds in the Ramayana, which was originally written in Sanskrit by the sage Valmiki. But Dutta claims to have found a tragic hero in Meghnad of Ramayana, as he was conversant Western literature. He feels a shadow of Hector of Troy in Meghnad and Karna in Mahabharata. According to him, he realized why Ravana had perpetrated such crimes and Meghnad was slayed by Lakshmana brutally in an unfair fight. He says that Meghnad was worshiping Lord Shiva in the royal temple of Lanka, while Lakshmana attacked him with some help from Vibhishana who is eventually an uncle of Meghnad. Meghnad asked not to fight with an unarmed person, rebuking Lakshmana as a coward; but Lakshmana did not heed him. This unfortunate hero twice endangered Rama but could not survive himself in this unfair battle. This is the central theme of this epic. Here Meghnad is shown to be a patriot, a loving husband, a caring son and a friend to his countrymen.

See also

• Valmiki
• Ramayan
• Meghnad Bodh Kavya
• Radhakrishna
• Hindu mythological wars
• Patalkot, India
• Astra (weapon)

References

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Ramayana

External links

• Intarachit in the Thai Ramakian (Ramayana)