Ramayana: Minor Characters

Minor Characters of the Ramayana

Vasishta Vasishtha -- Brahman Sage and spiritual advisor to the King of Ayodhya. Offers the King important advice on all aspects of rule and major decisions, including the decision to let Rama go off and kill demons, and the decision to make him King.

Vishwamitra Vishwamitra -- An incredibly holy and powerful asetic who enlists Rama's aid to kill a demon who is defiling his sacrifices. He then takes Rama and Lakshmana on various demon-killing adventures, training them and giving them celestial weapons. Finally, he escorts Rama to King Janak's court, where Rama lifts the magic bow and thus win's Sita's hand in marriage.

Kaikeyi and Manthara Kaikeyi and Manthara -- Kaikeyi is King Dasaratha's second wife, the mother of Bharata. Manthara is her evil, conniving attendant. When Manthara learns that the throne is to be given to Rama, she plants the seeds of jealousy in Kaikeyi's mind and convinces her to use the two boons granted her by the King to force him to instead place Bharata on the throne and exile Rama to the forest for 14 years.

Jatayu Jatayu -- A friend and former companion of King Dasaratha who has been turned into a vulture and lives in the woods. He witnesses Ravana abducting Sita and causes his chariot to crash in his attempt to rescue her. Ravana mortally wounds him, but before he dies he manages to inform Rama and Lakshmana of what has happened.

Sugreeva Sugreeva -- The King of the monkeys, he is dethroned by his evil brother Bali due to a misunderstanding when both fight a water buffalo together and Sugreeva accidentally leaves Bali trapped in a cave, thinking he is dead. Bali then defeats Sugreeva and bansishes him to the forest. Rama and Lakshmana form an alliance with Sugreeva and help him regain his throne and defeat Bali. In return, Sugreeva pledges his monkey army (led by Hanuman) to Rama's aid in rescuing Sita from her imprisonment by Ravana on the island of Lanka. The story of Sugreeva and Bali is generally given more weight in Southeast Asian versions of the Ramayana than it is in the Valmiki version.

Kumbhakarna Kumbhakarna -- The giant, obese, powerful ogre brother of Ravana. He is awaken and enlisted into the battle against Rama and the monkey army as a last resort by Ravana.

Indrajit Indrajit -- The devious and powerful son of Ravana, who causes major problems for Rama and Lakshmana in their battle to take Lanka and rescue Sita.

Major Characters of the Ramayana

	Vasishtha -- Brahman Sage and spiritual advisor to the King of Ayodhya. Offers the King important advice on all aspects of rule and major decisions, including the decision to let Rama go off and kill demons, and the decision to make him King.
	Vishwamitra -- An incredibly holy and powerful asetic who enlists Rama's aid to kill a demon who is defiling his sacrifices. He then takes Rama and Lakshmana on various demon-killing adventures, training them and giving them celestial weapons. Finally, he escorts Rama to King Janak's court, where Rama lifts the magic bow and thus win's Sita's hand in marriage.
	Kaikeyi and Manthara -- Kaikeyi is King Dasaratha's second wife, the mother of Bharata. Manthara is her evil, conniving attendant. When Manthara learns that the throne is to be given to Rama, she plants the seeds of jealousy in Kaikeyi's mind and convinces her to use the two boons granted her by the King to force him to instead place Bharata on the throne and exile Rama to the forest for 14 years.
	Jatayu -- A friend and former companion of King Dasaratha who has been turned into a vulture and lives in the woods. He witnesses Ravana abducting Sita and causes his chariot to crash in his attempt to rescue her. Ravana mortally wounds him, but before he dies he manages to inform Rama and Lakshmana of what has happened.
	Sugreeva -- The King of the monkeys, he is dethroned by his evil brother Bali due to a misunderstanding when both fight a water buffalo together and Sugreeva accidentally leaves Bali trapped in a cave, thinking he is dead. Bali then defeats Sugreeva and bansishes him to the forest. Rama and Lakshmana form an alliance with Sugreeva and help him regain his throne and defeat Bali. In return, Sugreeva pledges his monkey army (led by Hanuman) to Rama's aid in rescuing Sita from her imprisonment by Ravana on the island of Lanka. The story of Sugreeva and Bali is generally given more weight in Southeast Asian versions of the Ramayana than it is in the Valmiki version.
	Kumbhakarna -- The giant, obese, powerful ogre brother of Ravana. He is awaken and enlisted into the battle against Rama and the monkey army as a last resort by Ravana.
	Indrajit -- The devious and powerful son of Ravana, who causes major problems for Rama and Lakshmana in their battle to take Lanka and rescue Sita.