| Prahasta | |
|---|---|
| Ramayana character | |
| In-universe information | |
| Family | Father: Sumali Mother: Ketumati |
| Children | Jambumali[1] |
In the Hindu epic the Ramayana, Prahasta (Sanskrit: प्रहस्त, IAST: prahasta, lit. he who has extended hands) was a powerful rakshasa warrior, chief commander of Ravana's army of Lanka. He was son of Sumali and Ketumathi.[2] In his next birth Prahastha was reborn as Purochana in the Mahabharata as Duryodhana's trusted aide and who was responsible for the Lakshagraha incident.
Legend
Prahastha was one of ten sons of Sumali and Ketumati. He also had four sisters. One of them was Ravana's mother Kaikashi.[2]
Prahasta was appointed as commander-in-chief of Ravana's army. He leads Ravana's army in the wars against Yama, Kubera and the Devas, and the Asuras and Daityas, through which Ravana establishes his sovereignty over the three worlds. He also leads the initial Lankan response to the invasion led by Rama, Lakshmana, Sugriva and the Vanara army.
Prahastha killed several important warriors of Sugriva's army and was actually proving to be a real threat to the army of Rama. As per one version of Ramayana, Prahastha was killed by Lakshmana. In another version, Nila hurled a rock at Prahastha that broke his neck and killed him. (Valmiki Ramayana, book 6, canto 58, verses 53,54)[3]
Further reading
- Ramesh Menon (2001), The Ramayana.
References
- ^ Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- ^ a b Mittal, J. P. (2006). History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
- ^ Rao, Desiraju Hanumanta. "Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - Sarga 58". www.valmikiramayan.net. Retrieved 2 January 2017.