Story of Indrajit

Rāvaṇa’s son, Meghanāda.

Genealogy.

Descended from Viṣṇu thus:—Viṣṇu,-Brahmā—Pulastya—Viśravas—Rāvaṇa—Meghanāda (Indrajit).

To Pulastya, one of the Prajāpatis was born by Mālinī, Viśravas. Viśravas had two wives, Devavarṇinī, also called Ilibilā and Kaikasī. Vaiśravaṇa or Kubera was his son by Ilibilā and Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa and Śūrpaṇakhā (daughter) being the offsprings of Kaikasī. Rāvaṇa married Mandodarī and three sons, Meghanāda, Atikāya and Akṣakumāra were born to them. Meghanāda came to be known as Indrajit also, because he had defeated Indra once.

Son of Śiva.

Though it was Mandodarī, Rāvaṇa’s wife, who gave birth to Meghanāda (Indrajit) the Uttararāmāyaṇa refers to him as the son of Śiva in a story as follows:—

Once, after religious fasting and other rites on a Monday (to propitiate the Sun-God) Madhurā, an Apsarā woman, adorned with all kinds of ornaments went to Mount Kailāsa to offer salutations to Lord Śiva. Pārvatī, Śiva’s consort was not present then, and Madhurā used the opportunity to please the Lord, and she got pregnant by him. All on a sudden Pārvatī appeared on the scene, and knowing what had happened in her absence she cursed Madhurā to fall into an abandoned well as a frog. Madhurā prayed for redemption from the curśe, and Śiva pitying her sad plight blessed her that after 12 years she would get herself transformed into a fair damsel and become the daughter of Maya and would, then, be married by a great King. According to Pārvatī’s curse Madhurā fell into a well in the forest as a frog. Mayāsura was performing penance near the well to get a daughter. On the expiry of 12 years after Madhurā fell into the well as a frog, Mayāsura looked into it and beheld a beautiful girl. He took her to his palace named her Mandodarī and brought her up as his own daughter. Rāvaṇa married her. It was at this stage that Śiva’s vital fluid which had, twelve years before, entered her womb made its appearance in the form of a son. Rāvaṇa named him Meghanāda. Being Śiva’s son he grew up with great prowess. (Uttara Rāmāyaṇa).

Meghanāda’s yajñas.

When once Rāvaṇa was away from Laṅkā on a conquest of the world, Meghanāda went to Nikumbhilā, the central place for conducting yajñas, and performed seven yajñas with sage Śukra as the chief priest. By the time all the seven yajñas, viz. Agniṣṭoma, Aśvamedha, Bahusvarṇa, Vaiṣṇava, Māheśvara, Rājasūya and Gosava were over, Rāvaṇa returned to Laṅkā and sage Śukra gave him details about the yajñas conducted by his son Meghanāda. Rāvaṇa did not like the Vaiṣṇava yāga performed by his son, and Śukra, who got angry at this cursed, Rāvaṇa that he would meet with his death at the hands of Viṣṇu. (Uttara Rāmāyaṇa).

By performing a Śaiva yāga, Meghanāda got the blessings of Śiva, who taught him (Meghanāda) the great art of Samādhi, which helped one to move amongst others invisible to them.

The name, Indrajit.

Once Rāvaṇa encircled Indraloka with a big army, and Indra, very much alarmed ran up to Viṣṇu for protection. Viṣṇu told Indra that it was not yet time for Rāvaṇa’s death and when it was time Viṣṇu himself would slay him. Disappointed at this Indra returned, and a fierce war ensued between him and Rāvaṇa. Indra fought with Rāvaṇa, and Jayanta, his son fought with Meghanāda. When fighting reached its climax Meghanāda resorted to the art of Samādhi taught by Śiva, and became invisible to others. Then he showered his arrows. Jayanta fainted on the battlefield. Pulomā, father of Indrāṇī, carried away Jayanta without others knowing and concealed him in the ocean. Everyone thought that Jayanta was dead. Burning with grief and revenge Indra confronted Rāvaṇa again. Rāvaṇa fell down at the blow with Indra’s vajra (thunderbolt). Then once more making himself invisible to others, Meghanāda jumped into Indra’s chariot and bound him prisoner. By that time Rāvaṇa got up on his feet, and he and Meghanāda carried away Indra to Laṅkā and chained him to the foot of the flagstaff.

The Devas, grief-stricken at this sad fate of Indra went to Brahmā and submitted their grievance. Brahmā reached Laṅkā, and named Meghanāda Indrajit. (He who gained victory over Indra). Indrajit prayed to Brahmā for the boon, which would ward off death for ever. When Brahmā told him that the boon of eternal deathlessness was out of the question he sought the following boon: that when he had performed a yajña, out of the sacrificial fire should emerge a chariot and necessary horses and that he should not be killed by any one while fighting from that chariot, and that he did not mind being killed by enemies if he got away without completing the yajña. Brahmā granted him the boon. And, as directed by Brahmā Rāvaṇa released Indra from imprisonment after one year. (Uttara Rāmāyaṇa).

Indrajit and Hanūmān.

A clash occurred between Indrajit and Hanūmān, who landed in Laṅkā in search of Sītā, and the former got Hanūmān bound by Brahmāstra. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa).

Death of Indrajit.

At the height of the fierce war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa clashed with each other. Finding victory impossible Indrajit created a fake Sītā and killed her. Thinking that Sītā was dead, grief-stricken Hanūmān, Lakṣmaṇa and the regiment of monkeys withdrew from the fight. Informed of Sītā’s death Rāma fainted.

Indrajit began the yajña for victory over Rāma at the place called Nikumbhilā. Vibhīṣaṇa told Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa about the warning of Brahmā that Indrajit would be killed if the yajña was obstructed. Happy at the information Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa immediately went to Nikumbhilā to fight with Indrajit who was engaged in performing the yajña, and without completing the yajña he came out and began fighting, and Lakṣmaṇa killed him. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 82-91).