RAKSASA I 629 RAKTABlJA

RAKSASA I. A particular sect of . The ancients RAKSASAYAJNA (RAKSASASATRA). Parasara had ordained that Raksasas should not be killed at dusk. Muni once conducted a yajna to annihilate the Raksasas Valmiki , Balakanda, Canto 22, Verse 22). altogether. (Adi Parva, Chapter 180). The provocation Uttararamayana, contains the following story about the for ParaSara to conduct the yajna was that a Raksasa origin of Raksasas. When was reciting the called Kalmasapada ate Sakti, the father of the muni at the beginning of Krtayuga he felt very hungry and the son of Vasistha. When the yajna had reached and certain forms emanated from his face. Those who its climax Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu went to Parasara were born from his anger assumed the form of Ra- and held conciliatory talks with him, and Parasara, ksasas and those from his hunger that of Yaksas. The ended the yajna. The that he had made to devour Raksasas turned out to be evil folk killing and eating the Raksasas was discarded on the slopes of the Hima- cows and brahmins. Praheti and Heti were the layas. According to the that fire, even to this first born Raksasas, the latter of whom wedded Bhaya, day, continues consuming the Raksasas, trees and rocks. daughter of Kala, and to them was born a son called (For details see under Kalmasapada and Parasara) . Vidyutkesa. He married Salakatanka, daughter of RAKSITA. A celestial woman, daughter of Kasyapa- Sandhya. Though a child was born to them they prajapati by Pradhadevi. (Adi Parva, Chapter 65, forsook it in the Himalayan slopes and went their own Verse 50). way. RAKSOBHAKSA. A hell. (For details see under Kala.) At that time Siva and came that way and after RAKSOVAHA. A kingdom in ancient India. The Ksa- blessing the child returned to Kailasa. The child was triyas there were annihilated by Paras urama. (Drona named Sukei a. He married Devavati, daughter of the Parva, Chapter 70, Verse 12). called Manimaya and three children were RAKTA. A son of Mahisasura. He had two sons called born to the couple, viz. Malyavan, Sumall and Mali. Bala and Atibala. He had also a number of mighty They did tapas to propitiate Brahma and when he army generals like Dhumraksa and thousand aksauhinis appeared requested him thus : "We must defeat Yaksas under each general. (Skanda Purana, 7.1.119). Kinnaras, ^ Siddhas, Vidyadharas, , RAKTABlJA. 1 General. Rebirth of of , Vasava, Naga kings and daityas and danavas ) Rambhasura, father Mahi- and we must not be defeated by any one. We must sasura. Stories of Raktablja and Rambhasura are kill all enemies and they shall not kill us. We three inextricably intertwined. shall never quarrel among ourselves." 2) Origin of Raktabija. Once upon a time there lived an Brahma granted all their prayers. The three, proud and king called Danu. His two sons, and haughty due to these boons, began roaming about con- Karambha who had no children, did tapas at Pancanada suming cows and brahmins. They asked Visvakarma for the blessing of having issues. Rambha and Karambha to build a city for them and he built for them Lanka meditated upon Miilavata Yaksa, the former seated at on Mount Trikuta in the south sea. The three brothers the centre of the five fires and the latter standing in the took their abode in Larika Malyavan, Sumall and water. in the guise of a crocodile dragged Mall married respectively Sundari. Ketumati, and Karambha away by the feet and killed him. Angry at Vasudha, daughters of the Gandharva woman Narmada the death of his brother, Rambha decided to cut off his head and it Malyavan begot of Sundari seven sons called Vajramusti offer in fire. When he was about to do so, Virupaksa, Durmukha, Suptaghna, Yajnakosa, Malta, Agni appeared and told him that suicide was worse and Unmatta, and also a daughter called Nala. than killing others, and promised to grant him what- To Sumall were born of Ketumati ten sons and also four ever he desired. Accordingly Rambha requested Agni daughters. for a son more effulgent than the latter, who would Four sons were born to Mall of his wife Vasudha, and conquer the three worlds and would not be defeated even they became the ministers of Vibhlsana. by the Devas and the Asuras. Rambha further wanted that son to be as powerful asVayu, Then thousands of Raksasas were born as sons, grand- exceptionally handsome and skilled in archery. sons, brothers, nephews, etc. to the above and they lived blessed Rambha that he would as a in Larika, a terror to the whole world. Agni have, desired, son by the woman whom he coveted. On his While the daughters of Sumali, Veka, Puspotkata, way back home he saw a beautiful which he Kaikasi and Kumbhinasi were once walking in the she-buffalo, married. He took the buffalo which forest they saw Kubera on a visit to Brahma in all got pregnant by him, to Patala to protect it from the attack pomp and glory. They understood that Kubera owed by other buffaloes. One another buffalo felt a his pomp and glory to his being the son of ViSravas and day passion for Rambha's wife and in the that ensued Rambha therefore, the next day one of the four, Kaikasi, went fight was killed by it. Rambha's wife died in his funeral to Visravas's asrama and prayed for children by him. It was from the centre of fire Three sons called Ravana, Vibhisana and Kumbha- pyre. the that the very Mahisasura was born. Ramhhasura karna and a daughter called Surpanakha were born to powerful also rose from the fire under the name' her by Vigravas. They secured boons by performing Raktabija. (Vamana Purana, Chapter 17; Bhagavata, 5th tapas and Ravana lived in Lanka as king of the Skandha). Raksasas. 3) Boon to Raktabija. Raktabija secured from Siva a boon according to which if one of blood from RAKSASA II. An of drop approved system marriage. (See his fell on the under body battlefield, many Raktabijas would Vivaha). arise from the blood and fight the enemies. Each of RAKSASAGRAHA. An evil connected spirit with the these Raktabijas would also be like the others in the Raksasas. Affected by this spirit man will matter immediately of strength, form and weapons. (Devi Bhaga- become mad. Verse (Vana Parva, Chapter 23, 50). vata, 5th Skandha).