Sages & Others

Avindhya

अविन्ध्य

The Old Counsellor of Lanka

Who was Avindhya?

Avindhya (अविन्ध्य): The Old Counsellor of Lanka, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. An old and respected rakshasa of Ravana's court who sought Rama's good throughout.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Avindhya
Sanskrit nameअविन्ध्य
Title / EpithetThe Old Counsellor of Lanka
FactionSages & Others
Key traitsWise, Humane, Persuasive, Principled
Notable relationshipsCounsellor: Ravana, Protector: Sita, Honoured by: Rama, Ally: Trijata
Featured in3 stories

About Avindhya

An old and respected rakshasa of Ravana's court who sought Rama's good throughout. He sent word to Sita in the ashoka wood so that she would know Hanuman for a friend, and when Ravana ran at her with a sword he turned the king's fury aside by argument; after Lanka fell he led her out of the city and gave her back to Rama.

In Their Words

Placed on the blazing throne of an empire, it does not become you to slay a woman.

Avindhya

Traits

  • Wise
  • Humane
  • Persuasive
  • Principled

Story Appearances

One further tale on this site names Avindhya.

Character Arc

  1. The PasswordHis message lets Sita know Hanuman is no rakshasa in disguise
  2. The Turned SwordHe argues Ravana out of killing a captive woman
  3. The Handing OverHe walks her out of the fallen city to Rama

Key Relationships

Places in Avindhya's Story

Drawn from the stories Avindhya appears in.

Others counted among the Sages & Others.