Mayasura
Mayasura
Krishna requests Mayasura build a palace for the Pandavas
AffiliationAsura
AbodeTalatala Loka
Personal information
Parents
SiblingsShringaketu, Kumbhaketu, and others
SpouseHema
ChildrenMayavi
Dundubhi
Mandodari
Bala[1][2]
Dhanyamalini ( in Ramayana version some stories )

In Hindu scriptures, Maya (Sanskrit: मय) or Mayāsura (मयासुर) was a great ancient king of the Asura, Daitya, Danava and Rākṣasa races.[3] Maya was known for his brilliant architecture. In Mahabharata, Mayasabha – the hall of illusions – was named after him.

In the Mahabharata

Mayasura had befriended a Nāga named Takshaka and lived with him in the area of Khandavprastha along with his family and friends, but when the Pandavas came there after the partition of Hastinapur, Arjun burnt the entire forest, forcing Takshaka to flee and killing everyone else. This made Mayasura decide to surrender to the Pandavas. Krishna was ready to forgive him and in return, Mayasura built a grand palace named Maya-Mahal / MayaSabha, where the Pandavas would perform the Rajsuya Yagna. Mayasura also offers him gifts like a bow, a sword etc. He gives a mace to Arjuna's brother Bhima named Vrigodharam.[4] In some versions of the Mahabharata he also gives Arjuna the Gandiva bow.

In the Ramāyana

In Ramayana he is the husband of Hema[5][6] and the father of Mayavi, Dundubhi Mandodari and Dhanyamalini ( in Ramayana version some stories ).[7], the beautiful wife of Ravana, King of Lanka.[8] Also he made the pushpaka vimana, which Ravan used to abduct Sita.

See also

References

  1. ^ Māṇi 1998, pp. 580–581.
  2. ^ Dimmitt 2012, p. 348-350.
  3. ^ Kishen SSR, SIVKISHEN (17 July 2014). Kingdom of Shiva. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 321. ISBN 9781482813401. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  4. ^ Mittal, J. P. (2006). History of Ancient India (A New Version). Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0616-1.
  5. ^ P. G. Lalye (2008). Curses and boons in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa
  6. ^ "पढ़िए, रावण की पत्नी मंदोदरी की ये 7 खास बातें". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  7. ^ "2 Wives of Ravana – and Their Legends".
  8. ^ Devahish Dasgupta (2011). Tourism Marketing. Pearson Education India. p. 20. ISBN 978-81-317-3182-6. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
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