The story of Ahiravana

Ahiravana is a character from Hindu mythology, specifically from the epic Ramayana. He was a powerful rakshasa (demon) living in the underworld and known for his magical powers.

During the Ramayana, Rama, the epic hero, is engaged in a battle with the demon king Ravana and his army of rakshasas. At one point, Ravana's brother Kumbhakarna is killed, and Ravana decides to take revenge by performing a powerful ritual to summon the rakshasa Ahiravana to help him.

Ahiravana agrees to help Ravana, but only to be allowed to sacrifice two humans to his goddess before joining the battle. Ravana agrees, and Ahiravana sets off to find the two humans he needs for the sacrifice.

Who was Ahiravana

Ahiravan is the brother of the demon Ravan. During the war of Ramayan, Lord Laxshman killed the son of Lanka Naresh (Indrajit). So Ravan hunts for revenge and seeks help from His brother Ahiravan. He's the King of Paathal Loka or the underworld. And incorporates the boon of being powerful.

He is known for his magical powers, including the ability to create illusions of himself, his knowledge of dark arts, and the ability to summon powerful deities. Ahiravana is said to have been the son of the demon king Ravana's brother, Maya, Ravana's brother, and was known to have an insatiable thirst for power and control.

Ahiravana comes to rescue Ravana

Ahiravana comes into play in the later part of the Ramayana, during the battle between Rama and Ravana. After Ravana's brother Kumbhakarna is killed, Ravana becomes desperate for help and decides to summon Ahiravana to assist him in the battle against Rama and his army.

Ravana performs a powerful ritual to summon Ahiravana, who agrees to help him, but only on the condition that he be allowed to sacrifice two humans to his goddess before joining the battle. Ravana agrees to this condition, and Ahiravana then assumes the form of Vibhishana, Ravana's defective brother, and tricks Hanuman into leaving the camp.

With Hanuman out of the way, Ahiravana can kidnap Rama and Lakshmana and take them to his underworld lair. Rama and Lakshmana are eventually rescued by Hanuman and his allies, but not before a fierce battle with Ahiravana, during which Rama has to use a special mantra to defeat him.

So, Ahiravana becomes a powerful ally of Ravana and a formidable opponent to Rama and his allies.

Read More: Hanuman's leap of Faith

Vibhisana smells of conspiracy.

Ravan seeking help from his brother Ahiravan to capture Rama and Lakshman – is heard by Vibhishana, the younger brother of Ravana (Vibhishana here joins Rama's army). So, Vibhishana tells Hanuman to remain alert and not allow anyone to enter the place where Lakshman and Rama are in the palace.

Ahiravan then involves the premises and tries hard to abduct them but fails to try and do it repeatedly. Later, Ahiravan disguises himself as Vibhishana, the Hanuman being the guard, failing to shield Rama and Lakshman. Ahiravan enters his original form and abducts Rama and Lakshman to Paathal Lok, making them unconscious with a spell!

When Rama and Lakshmana go missing

Ahiravana eventually learns that the two humans he needs are none other than Rama and his brother Lakshmana, who are camped nearby with their army. He assumes the form of Vibhishana, Ravana's defective brother who had joined Rama's army and tricks Hanuman, Rama's loyal monkey general, into leaving the camp.

With Hanuman out of the way, Ahiravana takes the opportunity to kidnap Rama and Lakshmana and bring them to his underworld lair. He then prepares to sacrifice them to his goddess, but Hanuman manages to escape from his trap and returns to the camp to inform Rama of what has happened.

Hanuman finds that Rama and Lakshmana are missing in the camp and searches for them. He hears two pigeons talking that they found two Rakshasas taking up two strong men into the netherworld. Hanuman goes to Patala and searches there. There he finds a vanara who is none other than Makaradhwaja, son of Hanuman. A conversation takes place between.

He blesses him and goes out searching for the Ikshvaku princes. He finds a large goddess's idol in a temple near the cave. He then enters the temple in atomic size and talks in the goddess's voice, addressing Ahiravan and Mahiravan, who have been worshipping her for a long time. Hanuman asks them to bring delicious food for her (the goddess), good clothes, and weapons for Lord Rama and Lakshmana. He orders them to bring them alive and not dead. They feel happy that the goddess is happy with their worship and does the same.

After some time, Rama and Lakshmana wake up. They take up the weapons and fight the rakshasas. Rama kills them both, but they revive again. It happens again, but they are not dead. Hanuman thinks that some death secret is involved in killing the Rakshasa duo. He wanders here and there in search of a way to kill them. Then he finds a woman sitting alone in a garden. She is the wife of Ahiravan (bhoga patni). He asks for details about her, and she replies she is a Naga kanya enjoyed forcibly by Ahiravan.

She says they both ill-treated her and gave her grief. She agrees to give out the secret of Ahiravana and Mairavana's death on one condition. The condition is when she becomes Lord Rama's wife. Hanuman agrees and returns to where Rama and Lakshmana are fighting. Ahiravana and Mahiravana saved a huge colony of honey bees from children long ago. As gratitude, they were protecting Ahiravan and Mahiravan. They collect a valuable elixir (Amrit) and purify the duo's blood. Hence, they can't be killed when the colonies of honey bees are alive. She says there are crores of bees in the palace of Ahiravan and Mahiravan.

After hearing this, Hanuman goes to their palace immediately and kills them, except for a single bee which seeks the refugee of Hanuman. Hanuman sends this bee to Nagakanya's gynaeceum, eats out the legs of the bed she rests on and stays silent. The rest of the work of killing Rakshasas was done by Rama. He kills both the Rakshasas. Here ends the story of Ahiravana and Mahiravana.

Now, Hanuman requests Rama and Lakshmana to visit Naga Kanya's palace as she has helped them kill two rakshasas. Rama agrees to that request. They saw different artefacts and pictures present in the palace. She asks Rama to sit as a mark of receiving guests. When Lord Rama sits on the bed smiling at her, the bed, which was already majorly damaged by a bee, falls due to his weight.

This was counted as Naga Kanya being the wife of Rama without Rama not actually marrying or doing anything. She was satisfied with it. She then gets ready to jump into the fire. Lord Rama gives a boon to her that she will be reborn as a Brahmin lady in the Dwapara Yuga, and he will marry her. She was born as Kanyakumari, whom Lord Krishna married.

Read more: Lord Rama and the little squirrel

Conclusion

The story of Ahiravana carries several morals that can be applied to our lives. One of the most important lessons from this story is the importance of being cautious and vigilant in our actions and decisions. Ravana's desperate attempt to summon Ahiravana ultimately led to his downfall. Ahiravana's plan to kidnap Rama and Lakshmana was successful due to Ravana's lack of caution and willingness to make a deal with the demon.

The story also highlights the importance of trust and loyalty. Hanuman's unwavering loyalty to Rama enabled him to see through Ahiravana's illusion and rescue Rama and Lakshmana from the underworld.

Furthermore, the story shows the power of good over evil and how even the most powerful demons can be defeated by those who are righteous and just. Despite his magical abilities, Rama's victory over Ahiravana is a testament to the power of righteousness and the importance of staying true to one's values.

In summary, the story of Ahiravana teaches us the importance of being cautious and vigilant, the value of trust and loyalty, and the power of good over evil.

FAQ

Is the story of Ahiravana part of the original Ramayana?

Ans. Yes, the story of Ahiravana is a part of the Ramayana. This ancient Indian epic poem tells the story of Rama, a prince exiled from his kingdom and embarks on a quest to rescue his wife, Sita, from the demon king Ravana.

Who was Ahiravana, and what was his role in the Ramayana?

Ans. Ahiravana was a powerful demon and the son of Maya, Ravana's brother. He had magical abilities and was known to have knowledge of many powerful mantras and spells. He was summoned by Ravana to help him in the battle against Rama and his army. Ahiravana's role was to kidnap Rama and Lakshmana and sacrifice them to his goddess before joining the battle.

How did Rama defeat Ahiravana?

Ans. Rama defeated Ahiravana with the help of Hanuman and his allies. During the battle, Rama used a special mantra to defeat Ahiravana and rescue his brother.

What is the moral of the story of Ahiravana?

Ans. The story of Ahiravana teaches us the importance of being cautious and vigilant, the value of trust and loyalty, and the power of good over evil.

Is there any significance to the name Ahiravana?

Ans. The name Ahiravana is derived from the Sanskrit words' ahis', meaning serpent, and 'Ravana', meaning crying or roaring. This name refers to Ahiravana's serpent-like appearance and terrifying roar, which struck fear into the hearts of those who heard it. 

Why did Ravana need the help of Ahiravana?

Ans. Ravana needed the help of Ahiravana because he was desperate for allies and felt that his army was not strong enough to defeat Rama and his army. Ahiravana was known to be a powerful demon with magical abilities, and Ravana believed he could turn the tide of the battle in his favour.

How did Hanuman defeat Ahiravana's illusion?

Ans. Hanuman could see through Ahiravana's illusion because of his unwavering loyalty to Rama. When Ahiravana appeared before Hanuman in the guise of Vibhishana, Hanuman was suspicious and asked him to prove his loyalty by reciting the name of Rama. When Ahiravana failed to do so, Hanuman realized that he was an imposter and uncovered his true identity.

Why did Ahiravana want to sacrifice Rama and Lakshmana to his goddess?

Ans. Ahiravana wanted to sacrifice Rama and Lakshmana to his goddess to gain her favour and enhance his power. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that performing sacrifices to the gods can bring great rewards and blessings. Ahiravana believed that sacrificing Rama and Lakshmana would help him achieve his goals.

What happened to Ahiravana after he was defeated by Rama?

Ans. After Rama defeated him, Ahiravana was killed, and his soul was released. What happened to his soul after his death is unclear, as the story does not provide any details.

Is the story of Ahiravana popular in Indian folklore and culture?

Ans. Yes, the story of Ahiravana is a popular and well-known tale in Indian folklore and culture. It is often retold in various forms, including plays, movies, and television shows. It is also popular in traditional Indian art forms, such as painting and sculpture.