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Vishrava was the son of Pulastya, the brother of celebrated sage Agastya Muni and the grandson of Brahma, the Creator, and a powerful Rishi as described in the great Hindu scripture epic Ramayana of Ancient India. A scholar par excellence, he earned great powers through Tapasya, which in turn, earned him great name and fame amongst his fellow Rishis. Bharadwaja, in particular, was so impressed with Vishrava that he gave him his daughter, Ilavida, in marriage. Ilavida bore Vishrava a son, Kubera, the Lord of Wealth and the original ruler of Lanka.[1]
| Vishrava | |
|---|---|
| Genealogy | |
| Parents |
|
| Spouse | Ilavida, Pushpothkata and Kaikeshi |
| Children | Kubera, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana (sons) Surpanakha (daughter) |
The accounts of Vishrava's far-reaching Yogic powers reached the ears of the Asura, Sumali, and his wife, Ketumathi. Both sought to increase their own powers through alliances with mighty Kings and Rishis. They decided that their daughter, Pushpothkata would make a worthy wife for Vishrava and orchestrated her chance encounter with the Rishi. Vishrava fell in love with the beautiful-appearing (magically) Pushpothkata and fathered four children with her. The oldest was Ravana who would eventually oust his half-brother, Kubera, as King of Lanka and usurp his throne. Ravana was also the main antagonist of an epic, the Ramayana.[citation needed]
In addition to Ravana, Vishrava fathered Vibhishana, Kumbakarna and a daughter, Shurpanakha, through Pushpothkata. He is said to have disowned his demonic family after witnessing Ravana's disrespectful treatment of his older brother, Kubera and returned to his first wife, Ilavida.
References
- ^ 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.