Asuras

Vibheeshan

Other names- Vibhishan, Vibhishana, Vibheeshana

Vibhishana was the third brother of Ravana, the King of Lanka. He was extremely devout and religious by temperament.

When Sage Vaishrava was engaged in his evening prayers, Kekasi quested him to oblige her to beget a son. Sage Vishrava said, “Kekasi you have compelled me to cohabit with you at the holy hour of evening prayers. So the son born to you now will be very cruel and treacherous.” Kekasi humbly requested him for forgiveness and said, “Please give me one son who is as religious and pious as you.” Vaishrava said, “So be it!”

As declared by Vishrava, Ravana and Kumbhakarana born to Kekasi were very cruel and fierce some. But the third son Vibheeshan was good, noble and religious. Along with his brothers Ravana and Kumbakarna, Vibheeshan too undertook severe penance at Gokarna, praying and concentration on Lord Brahma.

When Brahma asked Vibheeshan for a boon, he requested for endless devotion to God and a chance to behold him and have a darshan (sighting). The noble hearted Vibheeshan was truthful and just. Hence, Ravana made him one of his ministers. Impressed by his impeccable character, a Gandharva (celestial being) named Shailesh offered his daughter Sarma in marriage to him. She too was good, noble and spiritually inclined.

When Ravana brought Sita by force to Lanka and tried to threaten her to marry him, Sarma, as asked by her husband Vibhishana, would often console her. When Hanuman arrived at Lanka in search of Sita, he saw one house where he could see a Tulsi – holy basil, planted in the courtyard and symbols of Vaishnavism (worship of Lord Vishnu) on the walls. Hanuman was happy to find a Rama devotee and introduced himself to Vibheeshan that very night and told him the purpose of his arrival. Vibheeshan told Hanuman that Sita was in Ashokvatika (grove of Ashoka trees).

Hanuman destroyed the plants in Ashokvatika and killed Akshaykumar. Then Indrajeet caught him and bought him before Ravana in the court. All Ravana’s ministers were in favor of Hanuman being killed except for Vibhishana who said it is not ethical to harm an envoy. If you feel he has done any harm, you may break a limb or two. It was then that Hanuman’s tail was tied up in cloth and set on fire. Hanuman leaped about and set all of Lanka on fire with his burning tail.

When Rama and Lakshmana came with the Vanarsena to attack Lanka, Vibheeshan tried to persuade Ravana that Shri Rama is not an ordinary mortal. Nor is his army made up of ordinary monkeys. It would be best to return Sita back to Rama and make peace with him by declaring a truce.

In response, Ravana kicked Vibheeshan and said, “Go away! Go and join the one whose praises you sing so much !” Vibheeshan did exactly that and went to join forces with Rama. Rama declared him the king of Lanka and appointed him his minister.

On the advice from Vibheeshan, Rama asked Nal and Neel to build a bridge across the ocean. When Lakshman was revived by the Sanjeevani herb, Meghnad went to the Devi (goddess) temple to perform the Aneya Yagna. On being advised by Vibheeshan, Angad, Hanuman and other Vanara braves disturbed him and ruined the proceedings. Meghnad was later killed by Lakshman .

When in the night, Rama and Lakshman were asleep in the camp in the battlefield. AhiRavana, the King of Patala, arrived there in the guise of Vibheeshan and by hoodwinking Hanuman, carried away Rama and Lakshman to his underground kingdom. In the morning, when Sugreeva, Jambavat etc. found Rama Lakshman missing from their midst and created a commotion. Then Vibheeshan clarified that it was AhiRavana who took my form, as only he is able to do so. On Vibhishana’s suggestion, Hanuman went to Patallok in search of Rama and Lakshman . AhiRavana was preparing to sacrifice Rama and Lakshman to the Goddess. Hanuman stepped in and sacrificed AhiRavana instead. Killing all the other rakshasas in Patallok, Hanuman carried Rama and Lakshman on his enormous shoulders and returned to the battlefield.

After Kumbhakarna and Meghnad were killed, Ravana came in to battle with Rama. There was a massive battle between the leaders of the two armies. Rama would chop off the heads and arms of Ravana but they would grow back at once. It was Vibheeshan who told Rama that blessed by Shiva; Ravana has nectar of immortality stored in his navel. Unless that nectar is dried out, Ravana would not be killed, Rama then used, an agniband (arrow of fire) to absorb and evaporate all the amrita (nectar of immortality) stored in Ravana’s navel. Ravana was thus killed.

After the death of Ravana, as promised, Rama made Vibheeshan the King of Lanka. Vibheeshan handed Sita to Rama and also gave him the Pushpak Viman (aerial chariot) to hasten to Ayodhya.

When Rama finished his human role on earth, he blessed Hanuman with immortality. He also blessed Vibheeshan to live forever. Immersed in his devotion for Rama, Vibheeshan became immortal. He played a very important role in the Ramayana by helping Ram in moments of peril.