Maricha
Encyclopedia
Maricha or Mareecha (Sanskrit
: मारीच Mārīcha, , , ) was a rakshasa
who played a small but important part in the Indian Ramayana
epic. He was thrown into a remote island by the arrow of Lord Rama
when he tried to interrupt Sage Vishwamitra's yagna
. After that he became very afraid of the very mention of the name Rama. (Rama is described as Maareechaadini paataka Ram in the Nama Ramayana, a Sanskrit
verse eulogising Rama )
Later in the epic, Ravana
strives to kidnap Sita
and so asks for Maricha's help. Maricha turns himself into a golden deer. The golden lustre of the deer lures Sita, causing her to ask Rama to catch the deer for her. While Rama understands that the deer is unnatural, and hence potentially dangerous, Sita insists on having it. Rama asks Lakshmana
to take care of Sita while he goes for hunting the deer.
While chasing the deer, Rama concludes from its behaviour that it is indeed unnatural and evil. Therefore he decides to kill it rather than capture it alive for Sita. After a long chase, he shoots it down with an arrow; but in its death, the deer cries out to Sita and Lakshmana for help, mimicking Rama's voice. Sita falls prey to the ruse and asks Lakshmana to go on a search for Rama. When Lakshmana insists that no one can harm Rama, Sita, still very much worried, implores and then orders Lakshmana to go. When Lakshmana reluctantly leaves to look for Rama, Ravana succeeds in kidnapping Sita.
Maricha was the son of Suketu
in Valmiki's version. He also had a sister named Tataka
. In some versions, he was said to be Tataka's son.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
: मारीच Mārīcha, , , ) was a rakshasa
Rakshasa
A Rakshasa or alternatively rakshas, is a race of mythological humanoid beings or unrighteous spirit in Hindu and Buddhist religion...
who played a small but important part in the Indian Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
epic. He was thrown into a remote island by the arrow of Lord Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
when he tried to interrupt Sage Vishwamitra's yagna
Yajna
In Hinduism, yajna is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes...
. After that he became very afraid of the very mention of the name Rama. (Rama is described as Maareechaadini paataka Ram in the Nama Ramayana, a Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
verse eulogising Rama )
Later in the epic, Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
strives to kidnap Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
and so asks for Maricha's help. Maricha turns himself into a golden deer. The golden lustre of the deer lures Sita, causing her to ask Rama to catch the deer for her. While Rama understands that the deer is unnatural, and hence potentially dangerous, Sita insists on having it. Rama asks Lakshmana
Lakshmana
Lakshmana was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana...
to take care of Sita while he goes for hunting the deer.
While chasing the deer, Rama concludes from its behaviour that it is indeed unnatural and evil. Therefore he decides to kill it rather than capture it alive for Sita. After a long chase, he shoots it down with an arrow; but in its death, the deer cries out to Sita and Lakshmana for help, mimicking Rama's voice. Sita falls prey to the ruse and asks Lakshmana to go on a search for Rama. When Lakshmana insists that no one can harm Rama, Sita, still very much worried, implores and then orders Lakshmana to go. When Lakshmana reluctantly leaves to look for Rama, Ravana succeeds in kidnapping Sita.
Maricha was the son of Suketu
Suketu
Suketu was a Yaksha King in the epic Ramayana, and the father of the demoness, Thataka. After being childless for many years, Suketu meditated upon the Creator Brahma and was granted the gift of a beautiful daughter...
in Valmiki's version. He also had a sister named Tataka
Tataka
Tatakā or Tadaka was a yakshasi in Indian mythology. Her father Suketu, a yaksha king performed tapasya for an offspring...
. In some versions, he was said to be Tataka's son.