Danda kingdom

Last updated

Danda is a region frequently mentioned in Hindu mythology, and is prominently featured in various narratives, such as Dandaka, which refers to both a kingdom and forest of the same name. [1] Danda was a colonial state of Lanka during the reign of Ravana, with his governor Khara ruling the province. [2] The region served as a stronghold for all the Rakshasa tribes living in the Dandaka Forest [3]

Contents

Historically, Danda is believed to have encompassed the Nashik District in Maharashtra, with its capital located at Janasthana, now known as Nashik city. [4] It was from this region that the Rakshasa Khara launched an attack on Raghava Rama of Kosala, who was residing with his wife and brother at Panchavati, located in modern-day Nashik. [5]

In the Ramayana, the demon Danda is portrayed as the maternal uncle of Ravana, being the son of Sumali. [6]

References in the Mahabharata

Though Dandaka was mentioned in the epic Ramayana, with great detail, a few mentions of this kingdom are found in the epic Mahabharata. [7]

Sahadeva's conquests

Sahadeva, the Pandava general, and younger brother of Pandava king Yudhishthira, came to southern regions to collect tribute for the Rajasuya sacrifice of the king. [8] Having acquired jewels and wealth from king Rukmin (ruling at the second capital of Vidarbha, named Bhojakata), he marched further south to Surparaka, Talakata, and the Dandakas. The Kuru warrior then vanquished and subjugated numberless kings of the Mleccha tribe living on the sea coast (2-30). [9]

Dandaka forest

The forest of Dandaka was the biggest forest in ancient India, Dandakaranya. It stretched from Vindhya ranges in central Indian to the banks of river Krishnavenna (now known as river Krishna) and Tungabhadra in the south. Mention of this forest is found in Mahabharata at (3-85). [10] The sacred forest of Dandaka is mentioned here along with its possible boundaries and the rivers flowing within it. Surparaka (North Konkan) probably formed its western boundary, with Mahendra Mountains in Orissa formed its eastern boundary, and the rivers Godavari, and Krishnavenna run through this forest. The river (or lake) Payoshni is mentioned at the northern entrance of this forest. [11] According to the epic Ramayana, no kingdom except the Dandaka kingdom and Kishkindha kingdom is mentioned as lying within this forest. During the epic Mahabharata many regions that was formerly Dandaka forest were found to be habitable kingdoms. Dandaka kingdom was a kingdom of Rakshasas in the midst of the Dandaka forests. [12]

Raghava Rama lived for some time in the forest of Dandaka, from desire of slaying the Rakshasas. At Janasthana, he cut off the head of a wicked-souled Rakshasa (as per epic Ramayana, his name was Khara) with a razor-headed shaft of great sharpness (9-39). Raghava Rama, that foremost of bowmen, taking his bow and in company with his queen (Sita) and brother (Lakshmana), with the view of compassing his father’s welfare, began to reside in the Dandaka forest. From Janasthana (the capital of Dandaka kingdom ), that mighty Rakshasa monarch, the wicked Ravana, carried away Rama’s queen. (3,146). A southern path through the Dandaka woods existed during the time of Raghava Rama. He travelled through this path in search of his wife, abducted by Ravana. Many uninhabited asylums of ascetics, scattered over with seats of Kusa grass and umbrellas of leaves and broken water-pots, and abounding with hundreds of jackals were seen along that path.(3,277). [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rakshasa</span> Race in Hindu mythology

Rākshasa are a race of usually malevolent beings prominently featured in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Folk Islam. They reside on Earth but possess supernatural powers, which they usually use for evil acts such as disrupting Vedic sacrifices or eating humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lanka</span> Island kingdom in Hindu mythology

Lanka is the name given in Hindu epics to the island fortress capital of the legendary asura king Ravana in the epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The fortress was situated on a plateau between three mountain peaks known as the Trikuta Mountains. The ancient city of Lankapura is said to have been burnt down by Hanuman. After its king, Ravana was killed by Rama with the help of Ravana's brother Vibhishana, the latter was crowned king of Lankapura. His descendants were said to still rule the kingdom during the period of the Pandavas. According to the Mahabharata, the Pandava Sahadeva visited this kingdom during his southern military campaign for the rajasuya of Yudhishthira. The palaces of Ravana were said to be guarded by four-tusked elephants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maricha</span> Rakshasa (demon) in Ramayana

In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Maricha, or Mareecha is a rakshasha, who was killed by Rama, the hero of the epic and an avatar of Vishnu. He is mentioned as an ally of Ravana, the antagonist of the epic. His most notable exploit is his role in the kidnapping of Sita, Rama's wife. His son Kalanemi was killed by Hanuman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakshmana rekha</span> A line in the soil drawn by Lakshmana

Lakshmana Rekha, in some later versions of the Hindu epic Ramayana, is a line in the soil drawn by Lakshmana. This line is drawn around the dwelling in the forest that he shared with his elder brother, Rama, and Rama's wife, Sita. The line is meant to protect Sita, while he was away searching for Rama. This line is not featured in the original epic by Valmiki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanara</span> Characters of Hindu epic Ramayana

In Hinduism, Vanara are either monkeys, apes, or a race of forest-dwelling people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugriva</span> Vanara king and Ramas companion in Ramayana

Sugriva, is a character In the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana. He is the younger brother of Vali, whom he succeeded as ruler of the vanara kingdom of Kishkindha.He is a son of Surya, the Hindu deity of the sun. Later He married to Vali's wife, Tara and adopted their son, Angada. As the king of the vanaras, Sugriva aided Rama in his quest to liberate his wife Sita from captivity at the hands of the rakshasa king Ravana.

Ambalika is the queen of Kuru Kingdom in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The youngest daughter of Kashya, the King of Kashi and Kausalya, Ambalika is abducted by Bhishma during her svayamvara ceremony, and becomes the wife of Vichitravirya, the King of Hastinapura. She is the mother of Pandu and the grandmother of Pandavas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vali (Ramayana)</span> Vanara king in Hindu epic Ramayana

Vali also known as Bali, was a vanara and the king of Kishkindha in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He was the husband of Tara, the son of Indra, the elder brother of Sugriva, and the father of Angada through his wife Tara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindu mythological wars</span> Conflicts of the Hindu Mythos

Hindu mythological wars are the wars described in the Hindu texts of ancient India. These wars depicted both mortals of great prowess as well as deities and supernatural beings, often wielding supernatural weapons of great power. Hindu teachings prescribe war as the final option, to be employed only after all peaceful methods are exhausted. Participation in righteous war, or dharmayuddha, was said to be honourable and was a principal duty of the Kshatriya or the warrior varna, and victory in such wars was regarded as a matter of honour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shurpanakha</span> Sister of Lanka king Ravana in the epic Ramayana

Shurpanakha, is a rakshasi (demoness) in Hindu epic. Her legends are mainly narrated in the epic Ramayana and its other versions. She was the sister of Lanka's king, Ravana, and the daughter of the sage Vishrava and the rakshasi Kaikeshi. Shurpanakha's role in the original epic is small, yet significant.

Nishada is a tribe mentioned in ancient Indian literature. The ancient texts mention several kingdoms ruled by this tribe.

Rakshasa kingdom refers to the territory of Rakshasas who were a tribe, mentioned along with others like Devas, Asuras, Pisachas, Gandharvas, Kimpurushas, Vanaras, Suparnas, Kinnaras, Bhutas and Yakshas. Rakshasas were described to have large bodies, probably due to their continuous life in cold climates over snow-covered mountains. The forefathers of the famous Rakshasa king Ravana lived along with the Yakshas. The Yaksha king Kubera was the elder brother of Rakshasa king Ravana. Ravana had many sons among Gandharva wives. The two epics Mahabharata and Ramayana and many Puranas attest that Rakshasas, Yakshas and Gandharvas were related and had inter-marriages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kishkindha</span> Vanara kingdom in Ramayana

Kishkindha is a kingdom of the vanaras in Hinduism. It is ruled by King Sugriva, the younger brother of Vali, in the Sanskrit holy book Ramayana. According to the Hindu holy book, this was the kingdom that Sugriva ruled with the assistance of his counsellor, Hanuman.

Dandakaranya, also rendered Dandaka, is a historical region and the name of a forest mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. It covers about 92,200 square kilometres (35,600 sq mi) of land, which includes the Abujhmar Hills in the west and the Eastern Ghats in the east, including regions of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Telangana states. It spans about 300 kilometres (200 mi) from north to south and about 500 kilometres (300 mi) from east to west.

An astra is a supernatural weapon in Hindu epics. It is presided over by a specific deity and imbued with spiritual and occult powers. The term came to denote any weapon that was released from the hand, compared to holding it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kabandha</span> Demon in Hindu mythology

In Hinduism, Kabandha is a Rakshasa (demon) who is killed and freed from a curse by the god Rama – an Avatar of Vishnu – and his brother Lakshmana. Kabandha's legend appears in the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as in later Ramayana adaptations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viradha</span> Demon in epic Ramayana

Virādha is minor character from the Aranya Kanda of the Ramayana. He is a rakshasa living in Dandaka forest who briefly kidnaps Sita in an episode that has been described as "strongly [prefiguring Sita's] later abduction by Ravana, the central event of the book and the pivotal event of the epic." Rama and Lakshmana begin to battle the monster, but though they shoot it with many arrows, the arrows pass straight through him and leave him unharmed.

The monster reveals that he has a boon from Brahma which makes him invincible to weapons. So the brothers kill the rakshasa by first breaking his arms, then burying him alive in a grave. When the monsters arms are broken, he begins to praise the brothers for liberating him: he had, in a previous life, been a celestial being named Tumburu, and had been cursed by Kubera to live as a fearsome monster until he be killed by Rama. The brothers bury him, and he apparently goes back to his former celestial abode.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panchakanya</span> Group of five iconic heroines of Hindu epics

The Panchakanya is a group of five iconic women of the Hindu epics, extolled in a hymn and whose names are believed to dispel sin when recited. They are Ahalya, Draupadi, Kunti, Tara, and Mandodari. While Draupadi and Kunti are from the Mahabharata, Ahalya, Tara, and Mandodari are from the Ramayana. The Panchakanya are regarded to be ideal women who exemplify perfect wives in Hinduism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nila (Ramayana)</span> Ramayana character

Nila, also spelled as Neela, is a character in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is a vanara chieftain in the army of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya and avatar of the god Vishnu. He is the commander-in-chief of the vanara army under the vanara king Sugriva, and is described as leading the army in Rama's battle against the rakshasa king Ravana of Lanka and as killing many rakshasas.

References

  1. ↑ "Vedicfeed - Vedic Knowledge and Information". vedicfeed.com. 13 February 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "PeepulTree" . Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  3. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (29 June 2012). "Dandaka, Daṇḍaka, Daṇḍakā, Damdaka: 30 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Meyerson, Joel D. (1986). Images of a Lengthy War. Center of Military History, U.S. Army. ISBN   978-0-16-001620-2.
  5. ↑ "7 Most Mystical Places In Asia in 2023". www.holidify.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "Valmiki Ramayana - Baala Kanda - Sarga 24". www.valmikiramayan.net. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Mahabharata | Definition, Story, History, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Jarasandhta-badha Parva: Section XXX". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Jarasandhta-badha Parva: Section XXX". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section LXXXV". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section C". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXXXV". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXXXV". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.