Asuras

Malyavan

Other names- Malayavan, Malyavana

Malyavan was the senior-most minister in the court of Ravana, the King of Lanka. He was also Ravana’s maternal great grandfather. His father Suketu had three valiant sons; the first Malyavan, second Sumali and third Mali. The three men were as strong as Lord Shiva. In the earlier days, the golden city of Lanka was the capital of their kingdom. But on being defeated by Lord Vishnu, they had been forced to abandon it.

Sundari was the wife of Malyavan. Their sons were VajRamaushthu, Vikpaksh, Durmukh, Suptaghna, Yagyakosh, Matra and Unmatra.

They were all a part of Ravana’s mighty army. Sumali’s wife Ketumati had many strong sons too like Prahast, Akampan, Vikat,Kalikamuk, Dhumvaksh, Danda, Supardh, Sahyadri, Praghal and Bhalkarna. These invincible Rakshasa (evil/demonic) warriors too were a part of Ravana’s army. Sumali’s daughter Kekasi was Ravana’s mother. So the brave men were his mamas (maternal uncles). Kali’s wife was a Gandharva lady called Vasuda who had four sons. Anal, Anil, Har and Sampati. These four became ministers of Vibhishana and along with him, joined forces with Rama after seeking refuge with him.

All the other sons of Malyavan and Sumali were killed in the battle between Rama and Ravana at the hands of Hanuman, Jambvant, Sugreeva, Angad, Nal Neel, Vidh and Dwividh.

Narad had told Malyavan that during Tretayuga (one of the four periods the earth goes through each extending for millions of years before creation is destroyed by the great Pralaya (deluge) and started all over again) the entire Rakshasa (demonic) clan would be destroyed by Lord Rama. On the very first day of battle, Ravana was agitated by the vast number of his Rakshasa army who were killed by Rama’s Vanar Sena (army of monkeys). It was then that Malyavan tried to persuade Ravana that his opponent Rama was no ordinary mortal but the incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself. It would be in Ravana’s best interests to return Sita to Rama and make peace with him and save his clan from destruction.

Ravana was furious to hear this and regardless of the fact that Malyavan was both his great grandfather and senior statesman. He insulted him and asked him to blacken his face and join Rama. Malyavan realized that Ravana’s wrongful ways and the destruction of Rakshasas (demonic forces) were both ordained by fate and unavoidable. Before his very eyes, he witnessed the death and destruction of the race of Rakshasas.