WDT #15: Meghnad – A Tragic Hero or an Extension of Ravana's Ambition?

Hello all,

This is the fifteenth weekly discussion topic (15th WDT) in our "Indian Mythology" forum (earlier known as Mythological Masti). As you all know, I generally post a topic (in the form of a question?) from our hindu mythology every week, to have some meaningful mythological discussions.

Since mythology is considered a component of religion, and can be a sensitive topic for most people, with the characters often being revered, you must follow the rules of Indian Mythology Forum to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in our forum.

As the title suggests, the topic of this week is:

Is Meghnad a tragic hero caught between duty and righteousness, or simply an extension of Ravana's ambition?

In the epic Ramayana, Meghnad (also known as Indrajit) stands out as one of the most formidable and complex characters. Known for his extraordinary prowess in battle and his unwavering loyalty to his father, Ravana, Meghnad's character raises profound questions about the nature of duty, righteousness, and the concept of dharma.

Was Meghnad a tragic hero, caught in a moral struggle between his duty as a son and his understanding of righteousness? Or was he simply an extension of Ravana's ambition, driven by a singular focus on defending his father's cause at any cost? How do his choices and ultimate fate reflect on the broader themes of dharma and loyalty?

Share your views and interpretations below and engage in meaningful discussions with our fellow members.

Tagging a few to participate in this week's WDT! Check post 1.

That's nice topic sims. I will come back and answer later. Thanks for tag

I think i should tag more ppl here.

Hey i believe u all can answer here

Indrajit was considered as pure evil, according to Valmiki Ramayan. In Kamba Ramayan he's highly glorified. The only admirable traits I could find in him were his extreme respect for his father and his tenderness toward his wife. Meghanad was the greatest and the most furious warrior on Ravana‘s side after Ravana himself. He was a great archer and an unsurpassed fighter in illusion warfare techniques.

In addition to being a master of sorcery and magic, he possessed numerous celestial weapons, including Brahmastra. It is said that he defeated nearly half of the Vanara Sena with that Brahmastra!

When Ravana was captured by Lord Indra and other gods, Meghanada attacked Indra and his elephant, Airavata, and captured Indra after defeating all the Devas. Back in Lanka, it was decided to kill Indra, at that point, Brahma intervened and requested Indrajit for Indra’s release. Meghanad agreed and asked for immortality as a boon. This was denied, and he was given a celestial chariot, which made him immortal as long as he was mounted on it.

Meghanad's bravery during the war won Brahma's admiration, and he gave him the name Indrajit. It is also stated in the epic that he was promised that a mortal who had not slept in 14 years would be the only one to kill him. In the end, Lakshman killed him with the Anjalikastra, during the Lanka War.

Indrajit, was a mighty warrior and had access to divine weapons given by the Trideva - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. These weapons were Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, and Vaishnavastra or Narayanastra. Regarding Pasupatastra, it's never to be used against lesser enemies or by lesser warriors!! The Pashupatastra is capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings. In the Mahabharata, only Arjuna and in the Ramayana, only the sage Vishvamitra, sage Parashurama, Indrajit and Rama possessed the Pashupatastra. It demonstrates Indrajit's strength and divyastra possession! A formidable fighter possessing some Asura qualities! For this reason, he fought valiantly and died in the great war, but his name was mentioned alongside that of other great warriors.

I think everyone who had fought the war did it mostly out of loyalty towards Ravana and thought it's their duty to make him win the war.

Also, there's one version that I had read earlier. I do not know how true it is. Meghanath's wife Sulochana is the daughter of Shesh Naag and Shesh Naag didn't wanted his daughter to marry Meghanath hence they had eloped and married. That's one more reason Meghanath wanted to fight and defeat Lakshman as he was his FIL.

I think Meghnad was driven by Ravana's ambition to win the war at any cost.He was more powerful than his father.Indrajit was the greatest warrior but his intentions were evil.He possessed Brahmastra and celestial chariot defeated Vanar Sena and almost killed Ram-Lakshman with the Naga pasha.They were brought to life again by Lord Hanuman.He believed himself to be immortal and used his boons for Adharma.I feel he should have joined hands with his uncle Vibhishan and stopped the war.But Meghnad supported his father's sins which ultimately led to his death by Lakshman.

Meghnad is not at all the Tragic hero....Yes he can be said an extension of Ravan's ambition....

He was extremely powerful,bcoz of his expertise in warfare, sorcery,hold on celestial weapons and his boons.Thus he was the most difficult to win warrior on Ravan's Side....He was pitrubhakt and patnipremi...

Now he was extremely devoted to his father,,,and why not? After all Ravan changed even the position of planets before his birth to make him invisible and immortal...he had done all to make Meghnad blessed with fortune by birth only...So Meghnad was priviledged from birth and he was,in turn,an ardent follower of his father,,,bcz of his reverence.Now he was not only Loyal,but would say he had Blind Loyalty towards Ravan... therefore he never stopped or questioned or thought abt right or wrong acts of Ravan like Kumbhkaran did,who was also loyal to Ravan but not blindly loyal....but rather Meghnad was the one who fueled ,supported and protected Ravan always for whatever deeds he was doing....The biggest problem in blind loyalty is if it's towards unjust ppl,it leads to downfall of both...As indrajit was right hand of Ravan,He was required to be killed in order to kill Ravan....So his blind loyalty neither saved him nor his father bcoz they didn't mend their ways and continued their atrocities...

2 new analogies for him I hv heard recently are...1)Ravan ke ghar janma Ram and 2)Ramayan ka Karn....

Ramayan ka Karn only can be said in terms of Blind Loyalty of Meghnad towards Ravan as Karn towards Duryodhan... otherwise Karn had different set of struggles altogether,,he had skills but not rights so he had to fight against for his rights also...whereas Meghnad was priviledged in that sense from birth only....His entire thought process was for welfare of Ravan and Lanka...and had not even thought of righteousness.

And 1st analogy is ONLY true for his pitrubhakti, which can be compared with that of Ram....Now Ram inspite of being extremely respectful towards his parents but in Valmiki Ramayan,he points out even their weaknesses in mindset,like he told Lakshman in forest once lamenting about well being of Kaushalya that his father Dashrath Mahaaraj was weak and under influence of Mother Kaikeyi so he gave in to her unjust demands and did this injustice to him,Mother Kaikeyi today would be most happy bcz her wishes came true but what abt Kaushalya maa??"...Even apart from reverence towards parents,there were so many good virtues which made ShriRam who he was....that's the reason also when Lakshman slayed Meghnad with his last Aindrastra,he pledged for Ram' s Virtues & prowess...

So there is no need to sympathise with character bcoz that will lead to us starting justify his deeds which is not required at all...rather there is need of empathy to just understand without any bias, every character and theirs actions and reasons.

Thanks for the tag @Chatterbox

According to Valmiki Ramayana, Indrajeeta was no tragic hero, he was a complete villain. Yes he was a Pitrubhakt and obedient son of his father but disrespectful towards his own uncle too when he sided with Shri Rama. He neither regretted his actions nor he was apologetic. He always attacked while being invisible. He always knew his father was wrong but he supported him. Its an insult to Shri Rama if anyone compares him to that psycho Indrajeeta/ Meghnaad.

Lo sims. I echo every one. I knew my friends from ramayan forum are very eligible to answer this that's why tagged them..

Reading this perspective i question myself really was indrajeet tragic hero.

I think shows take some liberty in glorifying the villains. That by the time ravan is killed he becomes daya ka patra.

Coming back to indrajit like all said he was expert and most deadly warrior in Lanka. Perhaps superior to even ravan.

But he was pitra bhakt and in his eyes pita can't be wrong. Pita ke liye jeena pita ke liye hi marna..

Bas that part only made him tragic hero but I m not sure ABT his cruelty here