Rakshasa Kingdom

Rakshasa Kingdom refers to the territory of Rakshasas who were a tribe, mentioned along with others like Devas (including Rudras, Maruts, Vasus and Adityas), Asuras (including Daityas, Danavas and Kalakeyas), Pisachas, Gandharvas, Kimpurushas, Vanaras, Suparnas, Kinnaras, Bhutas and Yakshas. Rakshasas were described to have large bodies, probably due to their continuous life in cold climates over snow-covered mountains. The forefathers of the famous Rakshasa king Ravana lived along with the Yakshas. The Yaksha king Vaisravana was the elder brother of Rakshasa king Ravana. Ravana had many sons among Gandharva wives. The two epics Mahabharata and Ramayana and many Puranas attest that Rakshasas, Yakshas and Gandharvas were related and had inter-marriages.

References in Ramayana and Mahabharata

Kingdom of Ravana

Ravana was the most famous Rakshasa who ruled from the Trikuta mountains of Lanka where the climatic conditions were similar to Himalayas. Many Rakshasas like Khara ruled under Ravana, at different places in ancient Indian mainland. Khara's kingdom was in south-central India, in a dense forest named Dandaka.

Kingdom of Ghatotkacha

Ghatotkacha was a Rakshasa born of the Pandava Bhima and the Rakshasa woman Hidimbi. Rakshasa Ghatotkacha's kingdom Kamyaka Forest was near Kuru kingdom. Bhima was king before ghatotkacha. Ghatotkacha and his kingdom participated in the Kurukshetra War. That prince of Rakshasas Ghatotkacha, born of Bhima and Hidimva, and endued with ample powers of illusion, is, in my (Bhishma's) judgment, a leader of the leaders of car-divisions (5:173). Ghatotkacha fought against other Rakshasa tribes in the side of the Kauravas. Alamvusa and Alayudha were the main Rakshasa opponents of Ghatotkacha (7:1715). Ghatotkacha's son Anjanaparvan was slain by Ashwathaman. Ghatotkacha was slain by Karna.

See also
  • Kingdoms of Ancient India
  • Exotic Tribes of Ancient India
  • Lanka Kingdom
  • Danda Kingdom
  • Kishkindha Kingdom
  • Gandharva Kingdom
  • Danda Kingdom

References
  • Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
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