Subahu
Painting of the death of Subahu by Rama
In-universe information
FamilyShamabara (father)

Subahu (Sanskrit: सुबाहु, romanized: Subāhu) was a rakshasa featured in the Hindu epic Ramayana.

Story

Subahu was the son of Shambara, a demon slayed by Indra. Subahu, Maricha and Maricha's mother, Tataka, took immense pleasure in harassing the munis of the jungle, especially Vishvamitra, by disrupting their yajnas with rains of flesh and blood.[1]

Vishvamitra approached Dasharatha for help in getting rid of these pestilences. Dasharatha obliged by sending two of his sons, Rama and Lakshmana, to the forest with Vishvamitra, charging them to protect both the sage and his sacrificial fires.[2]

When Subahu and Maricha again attempted to rain flesh and blood on the sage's yajna, Subahu was killed by Rama.[3]

Maricha escaped to Lanka. In the fear of Rama, he lived as a sage but was then ordered by Ravana to trick Rama into hunting him down. Maricha refused and tried to persuade Ravana to not do such a dreadful task but Ravana insisted and threatened to kill him. Maricha eventually decided to be killed by Rama since it was honourable to die at the hands of God rather than Ravana. He was eventually killed by Rama when he took the form of a deer.

References

  1. ^ Gita Jnana Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya (1 July 2018). "Rama Brings Ahalya Back to Her Living Form". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  2. ^ Shashtri, Hari Prasad (21 September 2020). "Dasaratha acquiesces [Chapter 21]". Wisdom Library - Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda. Wisdom Library. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Subahu - Asura Slain by Rama". Indian Mythology. Retrieved 22 January 2019.


Categories