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Mandodari

2014-08-25T08:42:01Z

Jasvantsingh:

{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| Image = Hanuman obtaining Mandodari's weapon.jpg
| Image_size = 200px
| Caption = Hanuman steals from Mandodari the weapon that leads to Ravana's death.
| Name = Mandodari
| Affiliation = [[Rakshasa]], ''Panchakanya''
| Devanagari = मंदोदरी
| Sanskrit_Transliteration = Mandodarī
| Abode = [[Lanka]]
| Consort = [[Ravana]], [[Vibhisana]]
}}

'''Mandodari''' ({{lang-sa|मंदोदरी}} {{IAST|Mandodarī}}, lit. "soft-bellied";<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=1jRWziY9m4cC&pg=PA429&dq=mandodari+hipped&hl=en&ei=8YkUTL3ZJoi4rAeLjvWlCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=mandodari%20hipped&f=false Rāmopākhyāna: the story of Rāma in the Mahābhārata p.429]</ref>) is the [[queen consort]] of [[Ravana]], the king of [[Lanka]], according to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] epic ''[[Ramayana]]''. The ''Ramayana'' describes Mandodari as beautiful, pious, and righteous. She is extolled as one of the ''[[Panchakanya]]'' ("five virgins"), the recital of whose names is believed to dispel sin.

Mandodari is the daughter of [[Mayasura]], the King of the [[Asura]]s (demons), and the ''[[apsara]]'' Hema. Mandodari bears three sons: [[Meghanada]] (Indrajit), [[Atikaya]], and [[Akshayakumara]]. According to some Ramayana adaptations, Mandodari is also the mother of [[Rama]]'s wife [[Sita]], who is infamously kidnapped by Ravana. The adaptation of Ramayana which describes Mandodari as mother of Sita were written when muslims were ruling india. The Ramayana was polluted to please Muslim rulers. Valmiki Ramayan does not contain any such account. Despite her husband's faults, Mandodari loves him and advises him to follow the path of righteousness. Mandodari repeatedly advises Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but her advice falls on deaf ears. Her love and loyalty to Ravana are praised in the ''Ramayana''.

Different versions of the ''Ramayana'' record her ill-treatment at the hands of Rama's monkey generals. Some versions say they disturb a sacrifice by Ravana, and some that they destroy her chastity, which was the last protection for Ravana's life. [[Hanuman]] tricks her into disclosing the location of a magical arrow which Rama uses to kill Ravana. After Ravana's death, [[Vibhishana]]—Ravana's younger brother who joins forces with Rama and is responsible for Ravana's death—marries Mandodari on the advice of Rama.

==Birth==
The ''Uttara Ramayana'' narrates a story about the birth of Mandodari. [[Mayabramha]] (Maya), the son of sage [[Kashyapa bramha]] is married to the ''[[apsara]]'' (heavenly nymph) Hema. They have two sons, Mayavi and Dundubhi, but long for a daughter, so they start performing penances to seek the favour of the god [[Shiva]].<ref name = "Mani476"/>

Meanwhile, an apsara named Madhura arrives at [[Mount Kailash]], the abode of Shiva, to pay her respects. In absence of his wife [[Parvati]], Madhura has clandestine coitus with Shiva . When Parvati returns, she finds traces of ashes from Shiva’s body on the breasts of Madhura. Agitated, Parvati curses Madhura and sends her to live in a well as a frog for twelve years. Shiva consoles Madhura and says she will become a beautiful woman and be married to a great valorous man. After twelve years, Madhura becomes a beautiful maiden again and cries out loudly from the well. Mayabramha and Hema, who are performing penance nearby, answer her call and adopt her as their daughter. They bring her up as Mandodari.<ref name = "Mani476"/>

==Marriage and later life==

Ravana comes to the house of Mayabramhah and falls in love with Mandodari. Mandodari and Ravana are soon married with Vedic rites. Mandodari bears Ravana three sons: [[Meghanada]], [[Atikaya]], and [[Akshayakumara]].<ref name = "Mani476"/>

Despite Ravana's faults, Mandodari loves him and is proud of his strength. She is aware of Ravana's weakness towards women.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer"/> A righteous woman, Mandodari tries to lead Ravana to righteousness, but Ravana always ignores her advice. She advises him to not to subdue the ''[[Navagraha]]'', the nine celestial beings that govern one's destiny, and not to seduce [[Vedavati]], who would be reborn as Sita and cause the destruction of Ravana.<ref name="ayyer"/>

Ravana kidnaps [[Sita]], the wife of [[Rama]], the exiled prince of [[Ayodhya]], who is an incarnation of the god [[Vishnu]]. Mandodari advises Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but to no avail. Mandodari knows this lust will bring the downfall of Ravana.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer"/>

[[File:Sita at ashokavana.jpg|thumb|Mandoadari stops Ravana from slaying Sita (right).]]
Mandodari is described as a beautiful woman in Valmiki's Ramayana. When [[Hanuman]], the monkey messenger of Rama, comes to Lanka in search of Sita, he is stupefied by Mandodari's beauty when he enters Ravana's bed chambers and mistakes Mandodari for Sita.<ref name = "Mani476">Mani p. 476</ref> When Hanuman finally finds Sita, he finds Ravana threatening to kill Sita unless she marries him. Ravana raises his sword to behead Sita when she refuses. Mandodari saves Sita by holding Ravana's hand. Mandodari says that the murder of a woman is a heinous sin and thus Ravana should not kill Sita. She asks Ravana to entertain himself with his other wives and give up the idea of having Sita as his wife. Ravana spares Sita's life, but does not give up his wish to marry Sita.<ref>Wheeler p. 338</ref> Though Mandodari considers Sita inferior to her in beauty and ancestry, Mandodari acknowledges Sita's devotion to Rama and compares her to goddesses like [[Sachi]] and [[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rohini]].<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/>

When all attempts for a peaceful return of Sita fail, Rama declares war on Ravana's Lanka. Before the final battle against Rama, Mandodari makes a last attempt to dissuade Ravana, but to no avail.<ref>Wheeler p. 365</ref> Finally, Mandodari stands by her husband in the final battle like an obedient and faithful wife,<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/> though she also advises her son Meghanada, alias Indrajit ("One who had conquered [[Indra]]; the god-king of heaven"), to not to fight Rama.<ref>Wheeler p. 370</ref>

The ''Valmiki Ramayana'' narrates: When all of Ravana's sons and warriors die, Ravana organizes a ''[[yajna]]'' ("fire sacrifice") to assure his victory. Rama sends a troop of monkeys headed by Hanuman and the monkey prince [[Angada]] to destroy this ''yajna''. The monkeys create havoc in Ravana's palace, but Ravana continues the ''yajna''. Angada drags Mandodari by her hair in front of Ravana. Mandodari pleads to her husband to save her and reminds him what Rama is doing for his wife. The enraged Ravana abandons the ''yajna'' and strikes Angada with his sword. With the ''yajna'' disturbed, Angada's purpose is served and he leaves Mandodari and escapes. Mandodari again implores Ravana to surrender Sita to Rama, but he refuses.<ref>Wheeler pp. 373-4</ref> Other Ramayana adaptations present more gruesome descriptions of the incident. The ''[[Krittivasi Ramayan]]'' narrates that the monkeys dragged Mandodari and tore off her clothes. In ''Bicitra Ramayana'', it is Hanuman who humiliates Mandodari. The Thai adaptation ''[[Ramakien]]'' narrates a symbolic rape of Mandodari. Hanuman sleeps with her in the form of Ravana and destroys her chastity, which protects Ravana's life.<ref>Lutgendorf p. 211</ref>

[[File:Ravana is grieved.jpg|thumb|350px|While preparations for Ravana's funeral are underway, Ravana's wives headed by Mandodari (with her back to the viewer, upbraiding her hair) lament his death.]]

Ravana fights the final duel with Rama. Rama fails to kill Ravana with his ordinary arrows, but finally kills with a magical arrow. While Valmiki's Ramayana narrates that the magical arrow was given to Rama by Indra, in other versions the magical arrow is hidden in Mandodari's bed chambers or under her bed. While Mandodari is engrossed in worshipping the goddess [[Parvati]] for Ravana's wellbeing, Hanuman comes to her disguised as a [[Brahmin]]. After winning her confidence, he tricks her into revealing the secret location of the arrow. Hanuman seizes the arrow and gives it to Rama, leading to Ravana's end.<ref>Lutgendorf pp. 154, 217</ref> Mandodari appears at the death scene of Ravana in a disarrayed state and laments his death.<ref name = "Mukherjee39">Mukherjee p. 39</ref><ref>Wheeler p. 382</ref> In this battle, Mandodari loses her husband, her sons, and her kinsmen.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/>

After the death of Ravana, Rama advises Vibhishana to take Mandodari as his wife, even though he already has a wife. A theory suggests that Ravana's race may have had matrilineal families and thus, to restore order in the kingdom after Ravana's death, it was necessary for Vibhishana to marry the reigning queen to get the right to rule.<ref name = "Shashi"/> Another theory suggests it may be a non-[[Aryan]] custom to marry the reigning queen.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/> The marriage between Mandodari and Vibhishana is purely an "act of statesmanship", rather than a marriage based on their "mutual sexual interference".<ref name = "Shashi"/> Mandodari may have agreed to marry Vibhishana, her younger brother-in-law, as this would lead the kingdom to prosperity and stability as allies of Rama's Ayodhya, and she would continue to have a say in governance.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/> Another reason for the marriage is as an alternative to suicide for the widowed Mandodari, which is averted by Rama.<ref name = "Shashi">Shashi p. 222</ref>

==Mother of Sita?==
[[File:Ravi Varma-Ravana Sita Jathayu.jpg|thumb|right|Ravana abducts Rama's wife, Sita. According to some ''Ramayana'' adaptations, Ravana was abducting his own daughter from a union with Mandodari.]]
Though Valmiki's Ramayana does not record Mandodari as being the mother of Sita, some later adaptations of the Ramayana depict Mandodari as the mother of Sita or at least the cause of the latter's birth.

The ''[[Adbhuta Ramayana]]'' narrates: Ravana used to store the blood of sages he killed in a large pot. The sage Gritsamada was practicing penance to acquire the goddess Lakshmi as his daughter. He stored milk from Darbha grass and purified it with [[mantra]]s in a pot so that Lakshmi would inhabit it. Ravana poured the milk from this pot into his blood pot. Mandodari is frustrated seeing the evil deeds of Ravana, so she decides to commit suicide by drinking the contents of the blood-pot, which is described to be more poisonous than poison. Instead of dying, Mandodari gets pregnant with the incarnation of Lakshmi due to the power of Gritsamada's milk. Mandodari buries the foetus in [[Kurukshetra]], where it is discovered by Janaka, who named her Sita.<ref name = "Mani721"/><ref>Shashi pp. 14-15, Sarga VIII of Adbhuta Ramayana</ref>

The ''[[Devi Bhagavata Purana]]'' says: When Ravana wants to marry Mandodari, Maya warns him that her horoscope indicated her first-born would destroy her clan and should be killed. Ignoring Maya's advice, Ravana buries his first child by Mandodari in a casket in Janaka’s city, where it is discovered and grew up as Sita.<ref name = "Mani721"/> [[Jain]] adaptations of the Ramayana like ''Vasudevahindi'', ''Uttara-purana'', and others also state that Sita is the daughter of Ravana and Mandodari, and is abandoned when she is prophesied to be the cause of the end of Ravana and his family.<ref>Shashi p. 237</ref>

In the [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]-[[Malay language|Malay]] ''Seri Rama'' and the [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]-[[Java]]nese ''Rama Keling'', Ravana wants to possess Mandodari, the mother of Rama, but instead marries a pseudo-Mandodari, who looks like the real one. Rama's father has a union with this pseudo-Mandodari, resulting in the birth of Sita, who is nominally Ravana's daughter.<ref>Shashi p. 243</ref> Hence in this version, Rama and Sita are brother and sister, not husband and wife.

According to the ''Ananda Ramayana'', king Padmaksha had a daughter named Padma - an incarnate of the goddess Lakshmi. When her marriage is organized, Rakshasas (demons) kill the king. The grief-stricken Padma jumps into fire. Ravana discovers her body, which had turned into five jewels, in the fire and takes it to Lanka sealed in a box. Mandodari opens the box and finds Padma inside it. She advises Ravana to cast off the box containing the ill-fated Padma, who led to the doom of her father. When the lid of the box is closed, Padma curses Ravana that she will return to Lanka and cause his doom. Ravana buries the box in the city of Janaka, who discovers Padma and brings her up as Sita.<ref name = "Mani721">Mani p. 721</ref>

==Assessment==
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf op de aan Brahma gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016175.jpg|thumb|right|Queen Mandodari and the women of Lanka mourning the death of [[Ravana]]. She bring flower garland upon her husband body lied upon cremation wood. Bas-relief of 9th century [[Prambanan]] temple, Java, Indonesia]]
<blockquote>
{{IAST|Ahalyā draupadi kuntī tārā mandodari tathā 
pañcakanyā smarenityaṃ mahapātaka nāśanaṃ }}
 
Remembering ever the virgins five -[[Ahalya]], [[Draupadi]], [[Kunti]], [[Tara (Ramayana)|Tara]] and Mandodari 
Destroys the greatest of sins.<ref name="panchakanya">{{cite journal|last=Devika|first=V.R.|title=Women of substance: Ahalya|journal=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|date = October 29, 2006|volume = 24|issue = 48|page = 52}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Hindus remember the ''panchakanya'' - the five virgins or maidens in this daily prayer because they grow up to become perfect wives in most challenging situations, always standing to guard their husband's life and honor. They are ideal woman who could be emulated.<ref>Mukherjee p. 36</ref><ref name = "Mukherjee48ff">Mukherjee pp. 48-9</ref> Mandodari, with Ahalya and Tara, belong to the ''Ramayana'', while the rest are from the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name="Bhattacharya">{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/hinduism/panchkanya/pk01.htm|title=Panchkanya: Women of Substance|last=Bhattacharya|first=Pradip|date=1999–2010|publisher=Boloji Media Inc|accessdate=15 June 2010}}</ref> Among the five [[mahabhuta|elements]], Mandodari is equated to water, "turbulent on the surface and deep in her spiritual quest".<ref name="ayyer"/> The writer Dhanalakshmi Ayyer says:<ref name="ayyer"/>
<blockquote>
Her story is a reminder that the universal denigration of a group, based on the behaviour of a few, cannot cloud the greatness of the individual. Mandodari defies the stereotype of this racism. She is simple, unswerving, and self-effacing, driven by the light of knowledge which gives meaning to solid materialism in an age that is shrouded by impulse, passion, and desire. She is the instrument that awakens the mind and counsels reason when irrationality becomes the core being. That she goes unheard and unheeded does not change her path. To her, the [[dharmic]] part is inward-looking, while the role of the dutiful wife is the external self. Mandodari thought that her duty to her husband on issues of morals and values ended with her telling him what she thought of his actions. She neither put up any brave fight to stop him nor considered it her duty to do so.
</blockquote>

Mandodari's role is short in the Ramayana but very important. She is described as a pious and righteous royal lady.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer">{{cite journal|last=Ayyer|first=Dhanalakshmi |title=Women of substance: Mandodari : Pure as water|journal=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|date = October 29, 2006|volume = 24|issue = 48|pages = 50–1}}</ref> Compared to the rest of the ''panchakanya'', Mukherjee considers Mandodari's life as "less colourful and eventful". He adds: "Mandodari seldom got prominence ... Her image lacks substance and fades quickly",<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/> though he stresses on her love and loyalty towards her husband.<ref name = "Mukherjee48ff"/> Pradip Bhattacharya, author of the book ''Panchkanya: Women of Substance'' notes that "there is hardly anything special that Valmiki (Ramayana) has written about her (Mandodari) except that she warns her husband to return Sita and has enough influence to prevent his raping her."<ref name="Bhattacharya"/>

==References==
; Notes
{{Reflist|2}}

; Books
* {{cite book|last=Lutgendorf|first=Philip|title=Hanuman's tale: the messages of a divine monkey|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press |location=US}}
*{{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 0-8426-0822-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Mukherjee|first=Prabhati|title=Hindu Women: Normative Models |year=1999|publisher=Orient Blackswan|location=Calcutta|isbn=81-250-1699-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Shashi|first=S. S.|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|series=Encyclopaedia Indica|volume=21-35|year=1998|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD}}
* {{cite book|last=Wheeler|first=James Talboys |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages: The Rámáyana and the Brahmanic period|volume=II|year=1869|publisher=N. Trübner|location=London|url = http://books.google.co.in/books?id=C1DRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA373&dq=mandodari+Angada&as_brr=3&cd=2#v=snippet&q=mandodari%20&f=false}}

{{Ramayana}}

{{Good article}}

[[Category:Rakshasa in the Ramayana]]

Mandodari

2013-11-26T07:35:01Z

Jasvantsingh: /* Marriage and later life */

{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| Image = Hanuman obtaining Mandodari's weapon.jpg
| Image_size = 200px
| Caption = Hanuman steals from Mandodari the weapon that leads to Ravana's death.
| Name = Mandodari
| Affiliation = [[Rakshasa]], ''Panchakanya''
| Devanagari = मंदोदरी
| Sanskrit_Transliteration = Mandodarī
| Abode = [[Lanka]]
| Consort = [[Ravana]], [[Vibhisana]]
}}

'''Mandodari''' ({{lang-sa|मंदोदरी}} {{IAST|Mandodarī}}, lit. "soft-bellied";<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=1jRWziY9m4cC&pg=PA429&dq=mandodari+hipped&hl=en&ei=8YkUTL3ZJoi4rAeLjvWlCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=mandodari%20hipped&f=false Rāmopākhyāna: the story of Rāma in the Mahābhārata p.429]</ref> [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]: මන්දෝදරි; [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: Montotari; [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], [[Javanese language|Javanese]] and [[Sundanese language|Sundanese]]: Banondari; [[Khmer language|Khmer]]: Mandogiri; [[Malay language|Malay]]: Mandudaki; [[Thai language|Thai]]: Montho Thewi) is the [[queen consort]] of [[Ravana]], the king of [[Lanka]], according to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] epic ''[[Ramayana]]''. The ''Ramayana'' describes Mandodari as beautiful, pious, and righteous. She is extolled as one of the ''[[Panchakanya (Hinduism)|panchakanya]]'' ("five virgins"), the recital of whose names is believed to dispel sin.

Mandodari is the daughter of [[Mayasura]], the King of the [[Asura]]s (demons), and the ''[[apsara]]'' Hema. Mandodari bears three sons: [[Meghanada]] (Indrajit), [[Atikaya]], and [[Akshayakumara]]. According to some Ramayana adaptations, Mandodari is also the mother of [[Rama]]'s wife [[Sita]], who is infamously kidnapped by Ravana. Despite her husband's faults, Mandodari loves him and advises him to follow the path of righteousness. Mandodari repeatedly advises Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but her advice falls on deaf ears. Her love and loyalty to Ravana are praised in the ''Ramayana''.

Different versions of the ''Ramayana'' record her ill-treatment at the hands of Rama's monkey generals. Some versions say they disturb a sacrifice by Ravana, and some that they destroy her chastity, which was the last protection for Ravana's life. [[Hanuman]] tricks her into disclosing the location of a magical arrow which Rama uses to kill Ravana. After Ravana's death, [[Vibhishana]]—Ravana's younger brother who joins forces with Rama and is responsible for Ravana's death—marries Mandodari on the advice of Rama.

==Birth==
The ''Uttara Ramayana'' narrates a story about the birth of Mandodari. [[Mayasura]] (Maya), the son of sage [[Kashyapa]] is married to the ''[[apsara]]'' (heavenly nymph) Hema. They have two sons, Mayavi and Dundubhi, but long for a daughter, so they start performing penances to seek the favour of the god [[Shiva]].<ref name = "Mani476"/>

Meanwhile, an apsara named Madhura arrives at [[Mount Kailash]], the abode of Shiva, to pay her respects. In absence of his wife [[Parvati]], Madhura has clandestine coitus with Shiva . When Parvati returns, she finds traces of ashes from Shiva’s body on the breasts of Madhura. Agitated, Parvati curses Madhura and sends her to live in a well as a frog for twelve years. Shiva consoles Madhura and says she will become a beautiful woman and be married to a great valorous man. After twelve years, Madhura becomes a beautiful maiden again and cries out loudly from the well. Mayasura and Hema, who are performing penance nearby, answer her call and adopt her as their daughter. They bring her up as Mandodari.<ref name = "Mani476"/>

Many such illogical stories were written and circulated in Muslim time in India to break faith of people in Hindu religion. This story is aimed to portray God Shiva as a lusty person and so break people's faith in Hindu religion. This story talks about supernatural powers of transforming a woman in frog and back in a woman which looks unbelievable from scientific point of view. Where's Valmiki's Ramayan says that Mandodari was natural daughter of Mayasura and married to Ravana. Valmiki's story looks more convincing from scientific view.

==Marriage and later life==

Ravana comes to the house of Mayasura and falls in love with Mandodari. Mandodari and Ravana are soon married with Vedic rites. Mandodari bears Ravana three sons: [[Meghanada]], [[Atikaya]], and [[Akshayakumara]].<ref name = "Mani476"/>

Despite Ravana's faults, Mandodari loves him and is proud of his strength. She is aware of Ravana's weakness towards women.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer"/> A righteous woman, Mandodari tries to lead Ravana to righteousness, but Ravana always ignores her advice. She advises him to not to subdue the ''[[Navagraha]]'', the nine celestial beings that govern one's destiny, and not to seduce [[Vedavati]], who would be reborn as Sita and cause the destruction of Ravana.<ref name="ayyer"/>

Ravana kidnaps [[Sita]], the wife of [[Rama]], the exiled prince of [[Ayodhya]], who is an incarnation of the god [[Vishnu]]. Mandodari advises Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but to no avail. Mandodari knows this lust will bring the downfall of Ravana.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer"/>

[[File:Sita at ashokavana.jpg|thumb|Mandoadari stops Ravana from slaying Sita (right).]]
Mandodari is described as a beautiful woman in Valmiki's Ramayana. When [[Hanuman]], the monkey messenger of Rama, comes to Lanka in search of Sita, he is stupefied by Mandodari's beauty when he enters Ravana's bed chambers and mistakes Mandodari for Sita.<ref name = "Mani476">Mani p. 476</ref> When Hanuman finally finds Sita, he finds Ravana threatening to kill Sita unless she marries him. Ravana raises his sword to behead Sita when she refuses. Mandodari saves Sita by holding Ravana's hand. Mandodari says that the murder of a woman is a heinous sin and thus Ravana should not kill Sita. She asks Ravana to entertain himself with his other wives and give up the idea of having Sita as his wife. Ravana spares Sita's life, but does not give up his wish to marry Sita.<ref>Wheeler p. 338</ref> Though Mandodari considers Sita inferior to her in beauty and ancestry, Mandodari acknowledges Sita's devotion to Rama and compares her to goddesses like [[Sachi]] and [[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rohini]].<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/>

When all attempts for a peaceful return of Sita fail, Rama declares war on Ravana's Lanka. Before the final battle against Rama, Mandodari makes a last attempt to dissuade Ravana, but to no avail.<ref>Wheeler p. 365</ref> Finally, Mandodari stands by her husband in the final battle like an obedient and faithful wife,<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/> though she also advises her son Meghanada, alias Indrajit ("One who had conquered [[Indra]]; the god-king of heaven"), to not to fight Rama.<ref>Wheeler p. 370</ref>

The ''Valmiki Ramayana'' narrates: When all of Ravana's sons and warriors die, Ravana organizes a ''[[yajna]]'' ("fire sacrifice") to assure his victory. Rama sends a troop of monkeys headed by Hanuman and the monkey prince [[Angada]] to destroy this ''yajna''. The monkeys create havoc in Ravana's palace, but Ravana continues the ''yajna''. Angada drags Mandodari by her hair in front of Ravana. Mandodari pleads to her husband to save her and reminds him what Rama is doing for his wife. The enraged Ravana abandons the ''yajna'' and strikes Angada with his sword. With the ''yajna'' disturbed, Angada's purpose is served and he leaves Mandodari and escapes. Mandodari again implores Ravana to surrender Sita to Rama, but he refuses.<ref>Wheeler pp. 373-4</ref> Other Ramayana adaptations present more gruesome descriptions of the incident. The ''[[Krittivasi Ramayan]]'' narrates that the monkeys dragged Mandodari and tore off her clothes. In ''Bicitra Ramayana'', it is Hanuman who humiliates Mandodari. The Thai adaptation ''[[Ramakien]]'' narrates a symbolic rape of Mandodari. Hanuman sleeps with her in the form of Ravana and destroys her chastity, which protects Ravana's life.<ref>Lutgendorf p. 211</ref>

These kind of stories were added in Hindu scriptures by Muslims in India to break faith of people in Hindu religion. Most of these stories relies on unscientific and illogical arguments like husband being protected by chastity of wife. Where original story which Hindus believe says Ravana was killed in war like any normal human being dies in war he had no supernatural powers. Ravana was a coward who did not dare to go to war and kept sending his brothers and sons to war.

[[File:Ravana is grieved.jpg|thumb|350px|While preparations for Ravana's funeral are underway, Ravana's wives headed by Mandodari (with her back to the viewer, upbraiding her hair) lament his death.]]

Ravana fights the final duel with Rama. Rama fails to kill Ravana with his ordinary arrows, but finally kills with a magical arrow. While Valmiki's Ramayana narrates that the magical arrow was given to Rama by Indra, in other versions the magical arrow is hidden in Mandodari's bed chambers or under her bed. While Mandodari is engrossed in worshipping the goddess [[Parvati]] for Ravana's wellbeing, Hanuman comes to her disguised as a [[Brahmin]]. After winning her confidence, he tricks her into revealing the secret location of the arrow. Hanuman seizes the arrow and gives it to Rama, leading to Ravana's end.<ref>Lutgendorf pp. 154, 217</ref> Mandodari appears at the death scene of Ravana in a disarrayed state and laments his death.<ref name = "Mukherjee39">Mukherjee p. 39</ref><ref>Wheeler p. 382</ref> In this battle, Mandodari loses her husband, her sons, and her kinsmen.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/>

After the death of Ravana, Rama advises Vibhishana to take Mandodari as his wife, even though he already has a wife. A theory suggests that Ravana's race may have had matrilineal families and thus, to restore order in the kingdom after Ravana's death, it was necessary for Vibhishana to marry the reigning queen to get the right to rule.<ref name = "Shashi"/> Another theory suggests it may be a non-[[Aryan]] custom to marry the reigning queen.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/> The marriage between Mandodari and Vibhishana is purely an "act of statesmanship", rather than a marriage based on their "mutual sexual interference".<ref name = "Shashi"/> Mandodari may have agreed to marry Vibhishana, her younger brother-in-law, as this would lead the kingdom to prosperity and stability as allies of Rama's Ayodhya, and she would continue to have a say in governance.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/> Another reason for the marriage is as an alternative to suicide for the widowed Mandodari, which is averted by Rama.<ref name = "Shashi">Shashi p. 222</ref>

==Mother of Sita?==
[[File:Ravi Varma-Ravana Sita Jathayu.jpg|thumb|right|Ravana abducts Rama's wife, Sita. According to some ''Ramayana'' adaptations, Ravana was abducting his own daughter from a union with Mandodari.]]
Though Valmiki's Ramayana does not record Mandodari as being the mother of Sita, some later adaptations of the Ramayana depict Mandodari as the mother of Sita or at least the cause of the latter's birth.

The ''[[Adbhuta Ramayana]]'' narrates: Ravana used to store the blood of sages he killed in a large pot. The sage Gritsamada was practicing penance to acquire the goddess Lakshmi as his daughter. He stored milk from Darbha grass and purified it with [[mantra]]s in a pot so that Lakshmi would inhabit it. Ravana poured the milk from this pot into his blood pot. Mandodari is frustrated seeing the evil deeds of Ravana, so she decides to commit suicide by drinking the contents of the blood-pot, which is described to be more poisonous than poison. Instead of dying, Mandodari gets pregnant with the incarnation of Lakshmi due to the power of Gritsamada's milk. Mandodari buries the foetus in [[Kurukshetra]], where it is discovered by Janaka, who named her Sita.<ref name = "Mani721"/><ref>Shashi pp. 14-15, Sarga VIII of Adbhuta Ramayana</ref>

The ''[[Devi Bhagavata Purana]]'' says: When Ravana wants to marry Mandodari, Maya warns him that her horoscope indicated her first-born would destroy her clan and should be killed. Ignoring Maya's advice, Ravana buries his first child by Mandodari in a casket in Janaka’s city, where it is discovered and grew up as Sita.<ref name = "Mani721"/> [[Jain]] adaptations of the Ramayana like ''Vasudevahindi'', ''Uttara-purana'', and others also state that Sita is the daughter of Ravana and Mandodari, and is abandoned when she is prophesied to be the cause of the end of Ravana and his family.<ref>Shashi p. 237</ref>

In the [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]-[[Malay language|Malay]] ''Seri Rama'' and the [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]-[[Java]]nese ''Rama Keling'', Ravana wants to possess Mandodari, the mother of Rama, but instead marries a pseudo-Mandodari, who looks like the real one. Rama's father has a union with this pseudo-Mandodari, resulting in the birth of Sita, who is nominally Ravana's daughter.<ref>Shashi p. 243</ref> Hence in this version, Rama and Sita are brother and sister, not husband and wife.

According to the ''Ananda Ramayana'', king Padmaksha had a daughter named Padma - an incarnate of the goddess Lakshmi. When her marriage is organized, Rakshasas (demons) kill the king. The grief-stricken Padma jumps into fire. Ravana discovers her body, which had turned into five jewels, in the fire and takes it to Lanka sealed in a box. Mandodari opens the box and finds Padma inside it. She advises Ravana to cast off the box containing the ill-fated Padma, who led to the doom of her father. When the lid of the box is closed, Padma curses Ravana that she will return to Lanka and cause his doom. Ravana buries the box in the city of Janaka, who discovers Padma and brings her up as Sita.<ref name = "Mani721">Mani p. 721</ref>

==Assessment==
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf op de aan Brahma gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016175.jpg|thumb|right|Queen Mandodari and the women of Lanka mourning the death of [[Ravana]]. She bring flower garland upon her husband body lied upon cremation wood. Bas-relief of 9th century [[Prambanan]] temple, Java, Indonesia]]
<blockquote>
{{IAST|Ahalyā draupadi kuntī tārā mandodari tathā 
pañcakanyā smarenityaṃ mahapātaka nāśanaṃ }}
 
Remembering ever the virgins five -[[Ahalya]], [[Draupadi]], [[Kunti]], [[Tara (Ramayana)|Tara]] and Mandodari 
Destroys the greatest of sins.<ref name="panchakanya">{{cite journal|last=Devika|first=V.R.|title=Women of substance: Ahalya|journal=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|date = October 29, 2006|volume = 24|issue = 48|page = 52}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Hindus remember the ''panchakanya'' - the five virgins or maidens in this daily prayer because they grow up to become perfect wives in most challenging situations, always standing to guard their husband's life and honor. They are ideal woman who could be emulated.<ref>Mukherjee p. 36</ref><ref name = "Mukherjee48ff">Mukherjee pp. 48-9</ref> Mandodari, with Ahalya and Tara, belong to the ''Ramayana'', while the rest are from the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name="Bhattacharya">{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/hinduism/panchkanya/pk01.htm|title=Panchkanya: Women of Substance|last=Bhattacharya|first=Pradip|date=1999-2010|publisher=Boloji Media Inc|accessdate=15 June 2010}}</ref> Among the five [[mahabhuta|elements]], Mandodari is equated to water, "turbulent on the surface and deep in her spiritual quest".<ref name="ayyer"/> The writer Dhanalakshmi Ayyer says:<ref name="ayyer"/>
<blockquote>
Her story is a reminder that the universal denigration of a group, based on the behaviour of a few, cannot cloud the greatness of the individual. Mandodari defies the stereotype of this racism. She is simple, unswerving, and self-effacing, driven by the light of knowledge which gives meaning to solid materialism in an age that is shrouded by impulse, passion, and desire. She is the instrument that awakens the mind and counsels reason when irrationality becomes the core being. That she goes unheard and unheeded does not change her path. To her, the [[dharmic]] part is inward-looking, while the role of the dutiful wife is the external self. Mandodari thought that her duty to her husband on issues of morals and values ended with her telling him what she thought of his actions. She neither put up any brave fight to stop him nor considered it her duty to do so.
</blockquote>

Mandodari's role is short in the Ramayana but very important. She is described as a pious and righteous royal lady.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer">{{cite journal|last=Ayyer|first=Dhanalakshmi |title=Women of substance: Mandodari : Pure as water|journal=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|date = October 29, 2006|volume = 24|issue = 48|pages = 50–1}}</ref> Compared to the rest of the ''panchakanya'', Mukherjee considers Mandodari's life as "less colourful and eventful". He adds: "Mandodari seldom got prominence ... Her image lacks substance and fades quickly",<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/> though he stresses on her love and loyalty towards her husband.<ref name = "Mukherjee48ff"/> Pradip Bhattacharya, author of the book ''Panchkanya: Women of Substance'' notes that "there is hardly anything special that Valmiki (Ramayana) has written about her (Mandodari) except that she warns her husband to return Sita and has enough influence to prevent his raping her."<ref name="Bhattacharya"/>

==References==
; Notes
{{Reflist|2}}

; Books
* {{cite book|last=Lutgendorf|first=Philip|title=Hanuman's tale: the messages of a divine monkey|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press |location=US}}
*{{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 0-8426-0822-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Mukherjee|first=Prabhati|title=Hindu Women: Normative Models |year=1999|publisher=Orient Blackswan|location=Calcutta|isbn=81-250-1699-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Shashi|first=S. S.|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|series=Encyclopaedia Indica|volume=21-35|year=1998|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD}}
* {{cite book|last=Wheeler|first=James Talboys |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages: The Rámáyana and the Brahmanic period|volume=II|year=1869|publisher=N. Trübner|location=London|url = http://books.google.co.in/books?id=C1DRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA373&dq=mandodari+Angada&as_brr=3&cd=2#v=snippet&q=mandodari%20&f=false}}

{{Ramayana}}

{{Good article}}

[[Category:Rakshasa in the Ramayana]]

Mandodari

2013-11-26T07:21:30Z

Jasvantsingh: /* Birth */

{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| Image = Hanuman obtaining Mandodari's weapon.jpg
| Image_size = 200px
| Caption = Hanuman steals from Mandodari the weapon that leads to Ravana's death.
| Name = Mandodari
| Affiliation = [[Rakshasa]], ''Panchakanya''
| Devanagari = मंदोदरी
| Sanskrit_Transliteration = Mandodarī
| Abode = [[Lanka]]
| Consort = [[Ravana]], [[Vibhisana]]
}}

'''Mandodari''' ({{lang-sa|मंदोदरी}} {{IAST|Mandodarī}}, lit. "soft-bellied";<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=1jRWziY9m4cC&pg=PA429&dq=mandodari+hipped&hl=en&ei=8YkUTL3ZJoi4rAeLjvWlCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=mandodari%20hipped&f=false Rāmopākhyāna: the story of Rāma in the Mahābhārata p.429]</ref> [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]: මන්දෝදරි; [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: Montotari; [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], [[Javanese language|Javanese]] and [[Sundanese language|Sundanese]]: Banondari; [[Khmer language|Khmer]]: Mandogiri; [[Malay language|Malay]]: Mandudaki; [[Thai language|Thai]]: Montho Thewi) is the [[queen consort]] of [[Ravana]], the king of [[Lanka]], according to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] epic ''[[Ramayana]]''. The ''Ramayana'' describes Mandodari as beautiful, pious, and righteous. She is extolled as one of the ''[[Panchakanya (Hinduism)|panchakanya]]'' ("five virgins"), the recital of whose names is believed to dispel sin.

Mandodari is the daughter of [[Mayasura]], the King of the [[Asura]]s (demons), and the ''[[apsara]]'' Hema. Mandodari bears three sons: [[Meghanada]] (Indrajit), [[Atikaya]], and [[Akshayakumara]]. According to some Ramayana adaptations, Mandodari is also the mother of [[Rama]]'s wife [[Sita]], who is infamously kidnapped by Ravana. Despite her husband's faults, Mandodari loves him and advises him to follow the path of righteousness. Mandodari repeatedly advises Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but her advice falls on deaf ears. Her love and loyalty to Ravana are praised in the ''Ramayana''.

Different versions of the ''Ramayana'' record her ill-treatment at the hands of Rama's monkey generals. Some versions say they disturb a sacrifice by Ravana, and some that they destroy her chastity, which was the last protection for Ravana's life. [[Hanuman]] tricks her into disclosing the location of a magical arrow which Rama uses to kill Ravana. After Ravana's death, [[Vibhishana]]—Ravana's younger brother who joins forces with Rama and is responsible for Ravana's death—marries Mandodari on the advice of Rama.

==Birth==
The ''Uttara Ramayana'' narrates a story about the birth of Mandodari. [[Mayasura]] (Maya), the son of sage [[Kashyapa]] is married to the ''[[apsara]]'' (heavenly nymph) Hema. They have two sons, Mayavi and Dundubhi, but long for a daughter, so they start performing penances to seek the favour of the god [[Shiva]].<ref name = "Mani476"/>

Meanwhile, an apsara named Madhura arrives at [[Mount Kailash]], the abode of Shiva, to pay her respects. In absence of his wife [[Parvati]], Madhura has clandestine coitus with Shiva . When Parvati returns, she finds traces of ashes from Shiva’s body on the breasts of Madhura. Agitated, Parvati curses Madhura and sends her to live in a well as a frog for twelve years. Shiva consoles Madhura and says she will become a beautiful woman and be married to a great valorous man. After twelve years, Madhura becomes a beautiful maiden again and cries out loudly from the well. Mayasura and Hema, who are performing penance nearby, answer her call and adopt her as their daughter. They bring her up as Mandodari.<ref name = "Mani476"/>

Many such illogical stories were written and circulated in Muslim time in India to break faith of people in Hindu religion. This story is aimed to portray God Shiva as a lusty person and so break people's faith in Hindu religion. This story talks about supernatural powers of transforming a woman in frog and back in a woman which looks unbelievable from scientific point of view. Where's Valmiki's Ramayan says that Mandodari was natural daughter of Mayasura and married to Ravana. Valmiki's story looks more convincing from scientific view.

==Marriage and later life==

Ravana comes to the house of Mayasura and falls in love with Mandodari. Mandodari and Ravana are soon married with Vedic rites. Mandodari bears Ravana three sons: [[Meghanada]], [[Atikaya]], and [[Akshayakumara]].<ref name = "Mani476"/>

Despite Ravana's faults, Mandodari loves him and is proud of his strength. She is aware of Ravana's weakness towards women.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer"/> A righteous woman, Mandodari tries to lead Ravana to righteousness, but Ravana always ignores her advice. She advises him to not to subdue the ''[[Navagraha]]'', the nine celestial beings that govern one's destiny, and not to seduce [[Vedavati]], who would be reborn as Sita and cause the destruction of Ravana.<ref name="ayyer"/>

Ravana kidnaps [[Sita]], the wife of [[Rama]], the exiled prince of [[Ayodhya]], who is an incarnation of the god [[Vishnu]]. Mandodari advises Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but to no avail. Mandodari knows this lust will bring the downfall of Ravana.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer"/>

[[File:Sita at ashokavana.jpg|thumb|Mandoadari stops Ravana from slaying Sita (right).]]
Mandodari is described as a beautiful woman in Valmiki's Ramayana. When [[Hanuman]], the monkey messenger of Rama, comes to Lanka in search of Sita, he is stupefied by Mandodari's beauty when he enters Ravana's bed chambers and mistakes Mandodari for Sita.<ref name = "Mani476">Mani p. 476</ref> When Hanuman finally finds Sita, he finds Ravana threatening to kill Sita unless she marries him. Ravana raises his sword to behead Sita when she refuses. Mandodari saves Sita by holding Ravana's hand. Mandodari says that the murder of a woman is a heinous sin and thus Ravana should not kill Sita. She asks Ravana to entertain himself with his other wives and give up the idea of having Sita as his wife. Ravana spares Sita's life, but does not give up his wish to marry Sita.<ref>Wheeler p. 338</ref> Though Mandodari considers Sita inferior to her in beauty and ancestry, Mandodari acknowledges Sita's devotion to Rama and compares her to goddesses like [[Sachi]] and [[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rohini]].<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/>

When all attempts for a peaceful return of Sita fail, Rama declares war on Ravana's Lanka. Before the final battle against Rama, Mandodari makes a last attempt to dissuade Ravana, but to no avail.<ref>Wheeler p. 365</ref> Finally, Mandodari stands by her husband in the final battle like an obedient and faithful wife,<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/> though she also advises her son Meghanada, alias Indrajit ("One who had conquered [[Indra]]; the god-king of heaven"), to not to fight Rama.<ref>Wheeler p. 370</ref>

The ''Valmiki Ramayana'' narrates: When all of Ravana's sons and warriors die, Ravana organizes a ''[[yajna]]'' ("fire sacrifice") to assure his victory. Rama sends a troop of monkeys headed by Hanuman and the monkey prince [[Angada]] to destroy this ''yajna''. The monkeys create havoc in Ravana's palace, but Ravana continues the ''yajna''. Angada drags Mandodari by her hair in front of Ravana. Mandodari pleads to her husband to save her and reminds him what Rama is doing for his wife. The enraged Ravana abandons the ''yajna'' and strikes Angada with his sword. With the ''yajna'' disturbed, Angada's purpose is served and he leaves Mandodari and escapes. Mandodari again implores Ravana to surrender Sita to Rama, but he refuses.<ref>Wheeler pp. 373-4</ref> Other Ramayana adaptations present more gruesome descriptions of the incident. The ''[[Krittivasi Ramayan]]'' narrates that the monkeys dragged Mandodari and tore off her clothes. In ''Bicitra Ramayana'', it is Hanuman who humiliates Mandodari. The Thai adaptation ''[[Ramakien]]'' narrates a symbolic rape of Mandodari. Hanuman sleeps with her in the form of Ravana and destroys her chastity, which protects Ravana's life.<ref>Lutgendorf p. 211</ref>

[[File:Ravana is grieved.jpg|thumb|350px|While preparations for Ravana's funeral are underway, Ravana's wives headed by Mandodari (with her back to the viewer, upbraiding her hair) lament his death.]]

Ravana fights the final duel with Rama. Rama fails to kill Ravana with his ordinary arrows, but finally kills with a magical arrow. While Valmiki's Ramayana narrates that the magical arrow was given to Rama by Indra, in other versions the magical arrow is hidden in Mandodari's bed chambers or under her bed. While Mandodari is engrossed in worshipping the goddess [[Parvati]] for Ravana's wellbeing, Hanuman comes to her disguised as a [[Brahmin]]. After winning her confidence, he tricks her into revealing the secret location of the arrow. Hanuman seizes the arrow and gives it to Rama, leading to Ravana's end.<ref>Lutgendorf pp. 154, 217</ref> Mandodari appears at the death scene of Ravana in a disarrayed state and laments his death.<ref name = "Mukherjee39">Mukherjee p. 39</ref><ref>Wheeler p. 382</ref> In this battle, Mandodari loses her husband, her sons, and her kinsmen.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/>

After the death of Ravana, Rama advises Vibhishana to take Mandodari as his wife, even though he already has a wife. A theory suggests that Ravana's race may have had matrilineal families and thus, to restore order in the kingdom after Ravana's death, it was necessary for Vibhishana to marry the reigning queen to get the right to rule.<ref name = "Shashi"/> Another theory suggests it may be a non-[[Aryan]] custom to marry the reigning queen.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/> The marriage between Mandodari and Vibhishana is purely an "act of statesmanship", rather than a marriage based on their "mutual sexual interference".<ref name = "Shashi"/> Mandodari may have agreed to marry Vibhishana, her younger brother-in-law, as this would lead the kingdom to prosperity and stability as allies of Rama's Ayodhya, and she would continue to have a say in governance.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/> Another reason for the marriage is as an alternative to suicide for the widowed Mandodari, which is averted by Rama.<ref name = "Shashi">Shashi p. 222</ref>

==Mother of Sita?==
[[File:Ravi Varma-Ravana Sita Jathayu.jpg|thumb|right|Ravana abducts Rama's wife, Sita. According to some ''Ramayana'' adaptations, Ravana was abducting his own daughter from a union with Mandodari.]]
Though Valmiki's Ramayana does not record Mandodari as being the mother of Sita, some later adaptations of the Ramayana depict Mandodari as the mother of Sita or at least the cause of the latter's birth.

The ''[[Adbhuta Ramayana]]'' narrates: Ravana used to store the blood of sages he killed in a large pot. The sage Gritsamada was practicing penance to acquire the goddess Lakshmi as his daughter. He stored milk from Darbha grass and purified it with [[mantra]]s in a pot so that Lakshmi would inhabit it. Ravana poured the milk from this pot into his blood pot. Mandodari is frustrated seeing the evil deeds of Ravana, so she decides to commit suicide by drinking the contents of the blood-pot, which is described to be more poisonous than poison. Instead of dying, Mandodari gets pregnant with the incarnation of Lakshmi due to the power of Gritsamada's milk. Mandodari buries the foetus in [[Kurukshetra]], where it is discovered by Janaka, who named her Sita.<ref name = "Mani721"/><ref>Shashi pp. 14-15, Sarga VIII of Adbhuta Ramayana</ref>

The ''[[Devi Bhagavata Purana]]'' says: When Ravana wants to marry Mandodari, Maya warns him that her horoscope indicated her first-born would destroy her clan and should be killed. Ignoring Maya's advice, Ravana buries his first child by Mandodari in a casket in Janaka’s city, where it is discovered and grew up as Sita.<ref name = "Mani721"/> [[Jain]] adaptations of the Ramayana like ''Vasudevahindi'', ''Uttara-purana'', and others also state that Sita is the daughter of Ravana and Mandodari, and is abandoned when she is prophesied to be the cause of the end of Ravana and his family.<ref>Shashi p. 237</ref>

In the [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]-[[Malay language|Malay]] ''Seri Rama'' and the [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]-[[Java]]nese ''Rama Keling'', Ravana wants to possess Mandodari, the mother of Rama, but instead marries a pseudo-Mandodari, who looks like the real one. Rama's father has a union with this pseudo-Mandodari, resulting in the birth of Sita, who is nominally Ravana's daughter.<ref>Shashi p. 243</ref> Hence in this version, Rama and Sita are brother and sister, not husband and wife.

According to the ''Ananda Ramayana'', king Padmaksha had a daughter named Padma - an incarnate of the goddess Lakshmi. When her marriage is organized, Rakshasas (demons) kill the king. The grief-stricken Padma jumps into fire. Ravana discovers her body, which had turned into five jewels, in the fire and takes it to Lanka sealed in a box. Mandodari opens the box and finds Padma inside it. She advises Ravana to cast off the box containing the ill-fated Padma, who led to the doom of her father. When the lid of the box is closed, Padma curses Ravana that she will return to Lanka and cause his doom. Ravana buries the box in the city of Janaka, who discovers Padma and brings her up as Sita.<ref name = "Mani721">Mani p. 721</ref>

==Assessment==
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf op de aan Brahma gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016175.jpg|thumb|right|Queen Mandodari and the women of Lanka mourning the death of [[Ravana]]. She bring flower garland upon her husband body lied upon cremation wood. Bas-relief of 9th century [[Prambanan]] temple, Java, Indonesia]]
<blockquote>
{{IAST|Ahalyā draupadi kuntī tārā mandodari tathā 
pañcakanyā smarenityaṃ mahapātaka nāśanaṃ }}
 
Remembering ever the virgins five -[[Ahalya]], [[Draupadi]], [[Kunti]], [[Tara (Ramayana)|Tara]] and Mandodari 
Destroys the greatest of sins.<ref name="panchakanya">{{cite journal|last=Devika|first=V.R.|title=Women of substance: Ahalya|journal=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|date = October 29, 2006|volume = 24|issue = 48|page = 52}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Hindus remember the ''panchakanya'' - the five virgins or maidens in this daily prayer because they grow up to become perfect wives in most challenging situations, always standing to guard their husband's life and honor. They are ideal woman who could be emulated.<ref>Mukherjee p. 36</ref><ref name = "Mukherjee48ff">Mukherjee pp. 48-9</ref> Mandodari, with Ahalya and Tara, belong to the ''Ramayana'', while the rest are from the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name="Bhattacharya">{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/hinduism/panchkanya/pk01.htm|title=Panchkanya: Women of Substance|last=Bhattacharya|first=Pradip|date=1999-2010|publisher=Boloji Media Inc|accessdate=15 June 2010}}</ref> Among the five [[mahabhuta|elements]], Mandodari is equated to water, "turbulent on the surface and deep in her spiritual quest".<ref name="ayyer"/> The writer Dhanalakshmi Ayyer says:<ref name="ayyer"/>
<blockquote>
Her story is a reminder that the universal denigration of a group, based on the behaviour of a few, cannot cloud the greatness of the individual. Mandodari defies the stereotype of this racism. She is simple, unswerving, and self-effacing, driven by the light of knowledge which gives meaning to solid materialism in an age that is shrouded by impulse, passion, and desire. She is the instrument that awakens the mind and counsels reason when irrationality becomes the core being. That she goes unheard and unheeded does not change her path. To her, the [[dharmic]] part is inward-looking, while the role of the dutiful wife is the external self. Mandodari thought that her duty to her husband on issues of morals and values ended with her telling him what she thought of his actions. She neither put up any brave fight to stop him nor considered it her duty to do so.
</blockquote>

Mandodari's role is short in the Ramayana but very important. She is described as a pious and righteous royal lady.<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/><ref name="ayyer">{{cite journal|last=Ayyer|first=Dhanalakshmi |title=Women of substance: Mandodari : Pure as water|journal=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|date = October 29, 2006|volume = 24|issue = 48|pages = 50–1}}</ref> Compared to the rest of the ''panchakanya'', Mukherjee considers Mandodari's life as "less colourful and eventful". He adds: "Mandodari seldom got prominence ... Her image lacks substance and fades quickly",<ref name = "Mukherjee39"/> though he stresses on her love and loyalty towards her husband.<ref name = "Mukherjee48ff"/> Pradip Bhattacharya, author of the book ''Panchkanya: Women of Substance'' notes that "there is hardly anything special that Valmiki (Ramayana) has written about her (Mandodari) except that she warns her husband to return Sita and has enough influence to prevent his raping her."<ref name="Bhattacharya"/>

==References==
; Notes
{{Reflist|2}}

; Books
* {{cite book|last=Lutgendorf|first=Philip|title=Hanuman's tale: the messages of a divine monkey|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press |location=US}}
*{{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 0-8426-0822-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Mukherjee|first=Prabhati|title=Hindu Women: Normative Models |year=1999|publisher=Orient Blackswan|location=Calcutta|isbn=81-250-1699-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Shashi|first=S. S.|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|series=Encyclopaedia Indica|volume=21-35|year=1998|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD}}
* {{cite book|last=Wheeler|first=James Talboys |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages: The Rámáyana and the Brahmanic period|volume=II|year=1869|publisher=N. Trübner|location=London|url = http://books.google.co.in/books?id=C1DRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA373&dq=mandodari+Angada&as_brr=3&cd=2#v=snippet&q=mandodari%20&f=false}}

{{Ramayana}}

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[[Category:Rakshasa in the Ramayana]]