Indrajit
Conqueror of Indra
Ravana and Mandodari's son, the mightiest warrior of Lanka. His name means "conqueror of Indra" - because as a young prince, he actually defeated and captured the king of the gods.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: ఇంద్రజిత్తు
- Also known as: Meghanada, Meghanatha
- Weapons: Brahmastra, Nagapasha, Illusion warfare
- Symbols: Storm clouds, Invisible chariot
Story
Indrajit was born as Meghanada - "thunder-cloud roar" - because his first cry sounded like a storm. He grew into the deadliest warrior in Lanka, master of every divine weapon and of maya, the art of battlefield illusion: he could turn invisible, fight from the clouds, and conjure phantom armies. As a young prince he stormed the heavens beside his father, defeated Indra himself, and dragged the king of the gods to Lanka in chains - Brahma personally had to negotiate Indra's release, and gave the prince his proud new name: Indrajit, conqueror of Indra. In the war of Lanka, Indrajit was Rama's most dangerous opponent. Twice he brought down both Rama and Lakshmana - once binding them in the terrible nagapasha, the serpent noose, until Garuda came to free them. But Indrajit's power had a condition: he was unbeatable as long as he completed a secret fire ritual before battle. Guided by Vibhishana, Lakshmana - who had conquered sleep itself - interrupted the ritual and, after a duel that awed the devas, brought the storm-prince down.
Fun fact
Indrajit is one of the very few warriors in any epic said to possess all three supreme weapons - the astras of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva - yet he still fell because a ritual was left unfinished.