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{{Short description|Sage in Hinduism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
|
Trishira, Dushana, Vidyutjiha (sons), Malika and Asalika (daughters) by Raka
▲| children = [[Kubera]], [[Ravana]], [[Kumbhakarna]], [[Vibhishana]] (sons)<br>[[Surpanakha]] (daughter)
Mahodara, Prahasta, Mahaparsha, Khara (sons) and Kumbhinashi (daughter) by Pushpotkata
| consort = [[Ilavida]], [[Kaikasi|Kaikasi, Raka, and Pushpotkata]]
| parents = [[Pulastya]] (father), Havirbhu/Manini (mother) (Ramayana)
| name = Vishrava
| siblings = [[Agastya]]
}}
'''Vishrava'''
== Legend ==
=== Birth ===
The birth of Vishrava is described in the Ramayana. Once, the great sage Pulastya was engaged in austerities in the [[Ashram|ashrama]] of Trinabindu, on the slopes of [[Mount Meru]]. Even as he was engaged in a penance in solitude, he was disturbed by a number of youthful maidens, the daughters of other sages, pannagas, as well as [[Apsara|apsaras]]. They played their musical instruments and danced, seeking to divert his attention. Enraged, Pulastya declared that she among them who fell under his gaze would instantly conceive. Terrified of the [[Brahmin|Brahmin's]] curse, the girls vanished. During this moment, Manini, the daughter of Trinabindu,<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2015-08-01 |title=Trinabindu, Tṛṇabindu, Trina-bindu: 8 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/trinabindu#purana |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> who had not been present when the curse was invoked, wandered near the sage, searching for her friends. She found herself pregnant, and rushed to report her condition to her father. The sage Trinabindu requested Pulastya to marry his daughter, and the latter agreed, and so the two lived together in the ashrama. Pleased with his wife's virtuous conduct, Pulastya declared that their child would inherit her virtue, and would be named Vishrava.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-27 |title=The Birth of Vishravas [Chapter 2] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424763.html |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>
=== Children ===
Vishrava grew to become a great sage, devoted to the study of the [[Vedas]], and detached from earthly pleasures. [[Bharadwaja|Bharadvaja]], in particular, was so impressed with Vishrava, that he gave him his daughter, [[Ilavida]], in marriage. Ilavida bore Vishrava a son, Vaishravana, also called [[Kubera]], the god of wealth, who was subsequently blessed with the rulership of [[Lanka]] by [[Brahma]].<ref name="Hindu Mythology encyclopedia">[http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/visravas.htm Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India] Quote: VISRAVAS. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology] Son of Prajapati Pulastya, or, according to a statement of the Mahabharata, a reproduction of half Pulastya himself. By a Brahmani wife, daughter of the sage Bharadwaja, named Idavida or Ilavida, he had a son, Kuvera, the god of wealth.</ref>
A [[rakshasa]] named Sumali urged his daughter, Kaikasi, to seek Vishrava as her husband, promising her that their children would rival Kubera. Kaikasi finds Vishrava while he was performing a [[yajna]], and told him of her father's wish for her to wed him. The cognisant Vishrava informed the beautiful maiden that their children, if produced, would be rakshasas, of cruel exploits. Kaikasi prostrated herself before him, seeking children of his disposition. Vishrava agreed to wed her, though he forewarned her that only their last child would inherit his disposition. Accordingly, Kaikasi gives birth to the rakshasas Ravana, [[Kumbhakarna]], and [[Shurpanakha]], and one virtuous rakshasa who had the characteristics of a Brahmin, [[Vibhishana]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-27 |title=The Birth of Dashagriva and his Brothers [Chapter 9] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424770.html |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>
Vishrava educated Ravana regarding the practices of tapasya, yajna, and the Vedas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kdE5DwAAQBAJ&dq=vishrava+ravana&pg=PT55 |title=Four Brides for Four Brothers: (Penguin Petit) |date=2017-10-09 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-87326-18-7 |pages=55 |language=en}}</ref>
When Ravana claimed Lanka for himself, Vishrava counselled Kubera to accede to his half-brother's demand, to avoid conflict. Obeying his father, Kubera retired to [[Mount Kailash|Kailasha]], and became a [[lokapala]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Buck |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YO0lEAAAQBAJ&dq=vishrava+fights+ravana&pg=PA26 |title=Ramayana |date=2021-06-08 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-38338-8 |pages=26 |language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
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