Sugriva
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Sugriva | |
---|---|
Ramayana character | |
In-universe information | |
Race | Vanara |
Family | Surya (father) Aruni (mother)[1] Vriksharaja (adoptive father) |
Spouses | Rumā Tara |
Relatives | Vali (brother) and Angada (nephew) |
Home | Kishkindha |
Sugriva (
Nomenclature
He is also known as Javanese: Sugriwa, Thai: Su-khrip, Lao: Sugeep, Khmer: Sukhreeb, Creole: Soogrim, Lao: Sangkip, Tamil: Sukkrivan, Burmese: Thugyeip, Sugreeva or Sugreev. Malayalam:Sugreevan.
Legend
The story of Sugriva is part of Ramayana and in an abbreviated version, is also present in the Mahabharata.
The king of Kishkindha, Vrikshraja, was a divine creature born from Brahma's tilaka. He had the body of a human and face and tail of a monkey. He was instructed to roam the forests and kill demons. One day, Vriksharaja entered an enchanted pond, and was transformed into a beautiful lady, attracting the attention of both Indra and Surya. Soon after, they each sired Vali and Sugriva respectively. Vali and Sugriva were born having brute strength, equal to Indra and Surya.
According to a legend from the Kathasaritsagara, Aruna (Hinduism)the sun,the charioteer of Surya, travelled to Devaloka to see the dance of the apsaras. Since men were not allowed to observe the event, Aruna assumed the feminine form of Arunidevi. Observing the beautiful form of Arunidevi, Indra grew infatuated with her, and a child was soon born to them. On the advice of Indra, Arunidevi took the child to Ahalya, leaving it there before the dawn to be brought up by her. This child became Vali. Aruna reported this incident to Surya, who wished to see his female form of Arunidevi as well. Becoming besotted with her, Surya sired a son from her. The child, Sugriva, would also be raised under the care of Ahalya.[3]
Quarrel between brothers
Sugriva makes an alliance
In exile, Sugriva made the acquaintance of
The Death of Vali
Together, Sugriva and Rama went to seek out Vali. While Rama stood back, Sugriva shouted a challenge and dared him to battle. The brothers rushed at each other, fighting with trees and stones, with fists, nails, and teeth. They were evenly matched and indistinguishable to the observer, until Sugriva's counselor Hanuman, stepped forward and placed a garland of flowers around Sugriva's neck. It is then that Rama emerged with his bow and drove an arrow through Vali's heart.[6] After Vali's death, Sugriva reclaimed the vanara kingdom, took back his first wife, Ruma, and also reclaimed Vali's primary wife, Tara, who became his queen. Her son by Vali, Angada, became the crown prince.[7]
Duel with Lava and Kusha
On
. Rama greets and hugs Sugriva, Jambavantha and others on their arrival to Ayodhya.The yajna horse is captured by Lava and Kusha brothers. In the Rama's army the news spreads that two muni kumara's has captured the Yagya's horse. Shatrughana walks and fights with Lava and he is defeated by Lava. Then Lakshamana comes and he is also defeated by Lava due to the fact that he was holding back. Then Bharata asks Rama to give him the permission to go to set horse free from both muni Kumara. Sugriva and Hanuman also request Rama to permit them to go along with Bharata in the battle. Lava and Kusha defeat Bharata and Sugriva and took Hanuman as a prisoner. Hanuman is the only one who knew that Lava and Kusha were sons of his master Rama & Sita and thus allowed himself to be imprisoned by his master's sons.[8]
Retirement
When Rama decided to depart from the world and took
Jainism
According to
Depictions
- The combat of Sugriva with his brother .
- A detailed and moving Hindu temple of Banteay Sreidepicts the combat of the brothers, as well as Rama's intervention and Vali's death in the arms of another vanara.
- A Rakshasas.
- The fight between Vali and Sugriva is also represented at the lesser-known 13th century Angkorian temple of Preah Pithu.
References
- ^ As per Kathasaritsagara
- ^ Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1979). Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Writings, and Speeches: Riddles in Hinduism. Education Department, Government of Maharashtra.
- ISBN 978-81-7625-226-3.
- ^ Ramayana of Valmiki, Book IV, Canto 9–10.
- ^ Ramayana of Valmiki, Book IV, Canto 8, 10; Mahabharata, Book III: Varna Parva, Section 278.
- ISBN 978-0-520-22074-4.
- ^ Ramayana of Valmiki, Book IV, Canto 11 ff.; Mahabharata, Book III: Varna Parva, Section 278.
- ^ Valmiki Ramayana
- ^ "Mangi Tungi Temple". Archived from the original on 1 October 2013.
Further reading
- Anna Dhallapiccola, Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. (ISBN 0-500-51088-1)
- Valmiki Ramayana, Ramayana written by Maharshi Valmiki.
External links
- The Ramayana of Valmiki, online version, English translation by Ralph T. H. Griffith.
- The Mahabharata of Vyasa, online version, English translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli.
- Photos of the tympanum at Banteay Srei in Cambodia depicting Sugriva's combat with Vali and Rama's intervention.