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 Indrajit: (pronounced indrajīt) (Sanskrit: इन्द्रिजत) or Meghanada/Meghanath, a mythological warrior mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana, was the son of the Lankan king Ravana. The word 'Indrajit' literally means the 'conqueror of Indra (the Hindu king of gods)'. Indrajit played an active role in the great war between Rama and Ravana. He was said to be invincible in battle because of a Yajna he used to perform before every battle. He twice defeated Rama and Lakshmana, but on the third occasion Lakshmana disrupted the Yajna with the help of Vibhishana and killed him.[1]
[edit] BiographyIndrajit was born to Ravana and his wife Mandodari, the daughter of Mayasura. He was named "Meghanada", because his birth cry sounded like thunder. He defeated Indra, the king of the Devas, after which he came to be known as 'Indrajit' ("the conqueror of Indra"). At a very young age, Meghnada became the possessor of several supreme celestial weapons, including Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, and Vaishnavastra, under the guidance of Shukra, the guru of the daityas (demons). He was married to Sulochana, the daughter of the King of the Serpents Shesha Naga. [edit] Brahma's boonDuring the Devasoor Sangram (the battle between the devas and the asuras), he freed his father from the shackles of Indra. He then turned the tables on Indra, tying him up and mounting him onto his celestial chariot. At this juncture, Brahma intervened and asked him to free Indra. Meghnada obliged, and was granted a chance to ask for a boon from Brahma. Meghanada asked for immortality, but Brahma remarked that absolute immortality is against the law of the nature. Instead, he was then granted another boon: he would never be won over in any battle, until his Yagna (fire-worship) of his native goddess Nikumbala was disturbed and detroyed. On the completion of the Yagna, a supreme celestial chariot would appear, boarding which, Indrajeet would become invincible in any battle. But Brahma also cautioned him that whosoever would destroy this yagna would also kill him. It was Brahma who gave him the name Indrajit ("the conqueror of Indra"). [edit] Battle against Rama and LakshmanaIndrajit joined the battle when all his brothers had been killed by Rama and his army. His father, Ravana, had been humiliated in the battle by Rama, and his paternal uncle Kumbhakarna had been killed by Rama. Indrajit fought with Rama's army for three days. [edit] First dayOn the first day of his battle with Rama's army, Indrajit was swift with his weapons. He swiftly wiped out the Armies of the Sugriva, calling on the Lord Rama and Lakshmana to come out of their hiding, so he could avenge the deaths of his paternal uncle and his brothers. When Rama and Lakshmana appeared before him, he fought fiercely, and arrested both the brothers using his most nefarious weapon Nagapash (a trap made of million snakes). Both the brothers fell on the ground breathless. They were rescued by the Garuda on behest of Hanuman, who was also the enemy of the serpents & also the the flying vehicle of narayana. [edit] Second dayWhen Indrajeet came to know that both the Brothers Rama and Lakhsmana were still alive and were rescued by Garuda, he was fiery and vowed to kill at least one of the brothers that day. When the battle started, he used all his force to cast a havoc on the armies of Sugriva. At this Lakshmana appeared before him, and fought a fierce battle with him. When Indrajeet realised that Lakshmana could not be won over, he started using his supreme magical powers, darting across the clouds and skies like a bolt of lightning. He combined his skills of sorcery and deceptive warfare, repeatedly vanishing and reappearing behind Lakshmana's back to catch him off-guard, when used his fiercest and deadliest weapon, Shakti. On being impaled in the back by the weapon, Lakshmana fell unconscious, poised to die precisely at the following sunrise. His life was saved by Lord Hanuman, who kidnapped the Rajvaidya(royal physician) Sushena from the Lankan fortress, and brought the whole mountain of Dhauladhar from the Himalayas to Lanka overnight to find the remedy(the magical herb - Sanjivani booti) for the weapon used by Indrajeet. Sushena first was hesitant to use the herb on an enemy, which was only common as he was abducted from Lanka and was in a bad mood, but when Rama reminded him of the ancient saying that physicians then used, "A physician has no friends or enemies", Sushena bowed beneath the saying and cured Lakshmana, who, aroused and ready, challenged Indrajit once more. [edit] Third dayWhen Indrajeet came to know that Lakhsman had survived again, he went to his native deity's secret temple, to perform the yagna that would make him invincible. Vibhishana learnt of Indrajeet's routine through his spies and alerted Lord Rama. Lakshmana and Vibhisana took the opportunity to face Indrajeet in the yagnaagaar where Indrajeet would not touch any weapons. Indrajeet fought Lakshmana with the utensils of the yagna and even managed to make him unconscious for some time. But before Indrajeet could leave the place to get armed, Lakshmana regained consciousness and killed him. Upon his death his wife Sulochana became Sati on his funeral pyre [2]. As the Valmiki Ramayana Quotes,on his Yagna being destroyed by the armies of Lakshmana. Indrajeet became Dejected & came out of the Holy Cave.Finding Vibhisana with Lakshmana Made him furious & he vowed to kill Vibhisana. At this Juncture Lakshmana stood there to Gaurd Vibhsana. It is said that Indrajit used all three Supreme Weapons(Brahmaastra, Pashupatastra & Vaishnavstra) on Lakshmana, but they Refused to even Touch Lakshmana. It made Indrajit realise that Lakshmana was no Common Human as percieved. The Battle wasFiercest at this Junsture as both of the Warriors Tried to Annhilate each other. Finally Lakshmana Killed Indrajit with Aindrastra(verse70 chapter 90 yudhkanda Valmiki Ramayana). [edit] In popular cultureIn modern popular culture, Indrajit appeared as a villain (referred to as the King of Demons) in the Xena: Warrior Princess episode 'The Way,' and was portrayed by Rajneel Singh. In the video game Digital Devil Saga, Meganada/Indrajit appears as a boss. [edit] References
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