Viradha - A singer and a Rakshasa.

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 Who is Viradha?

When I ask this question, I often get "We don't know". 

So, who is Viradha? 

Sorry, I am asking the same question again. Here is the answer. 

Viradha was a demon mentioned in Ramayana, Aranyakanda Sarga 2,3 & 4.

As per Valmiki Ramayana, Viradha used to live in Dandhakaranya. When Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita were roaming in Dandhakaranya during their exile, they were attacked by Viradha. 

Initially, he picks up Sita and she trembles like a leaf in a violent wind. Looking at this, Rama and Lakshmana attack Viradha with bows and arrows. 

But Viradha has a boon. He cannot be wounded with any weapon in the world. This is the actual reason for his attacks on every random person and animal. 

Given this boon, Viradha was not wounded by Rama and Lakshmana's attack. 

Further, he was so powerful that he took Rama and Lakshmana as hostages in both hands and started running into the dense forests.

Looking at this, Rama and Lakshmana severed his hands and both got freed from his hold. However, due to the boon he has, he gets both hands immediately. 

Then Rama goes for a fistfight with Viradha. After a while, Rama gets hold of Viradha and pins Viradha to the ground by keeping his leg on the throat of Viradha. 

While Rama is in a fight with Viradha, he orders Lakshmana to dig a deep pit to bury Viradha as he can't be injured or killed with any weapon.

Realising that his death is inevitable, Viradha prays to Rama by telling his story and how he became a demon.

Viradha was actually a Gandharva by the name Tumbura (Does this name sound familiar? Yes. It was the same Tumbura, the son of Sage Kashyapa). 

Tumbura used to be a courtesan of Kubera. One day he lusted on Kubera's daughter-in-law Rambha. Noticing this, Kubera cursed Tumbura to become a demon and live in Dandhakaranya.

When asked for relief from the curse, Kubera tells him that a king by the name of Rama from the Ikshvaku dynasty will free him from the curse.

On listening to this, Rama buries Viradha and thus Viradha gets freedom from his curse.

So, why should we read Viradha's story? 

Viradha's story is not just to highlight the virtues of Rama and Lakshmana. This story has an intricate moral. 

Lust should be in our control and it shouldn't be the other way.

Even Tumbura, son of Sage Kashyapa and grandson of Brahma was not spared from the ill effects of lust. 

That's it for now. Let's meet again with another story and another lesson from our epics. 

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