Laṅkā (guardian goddess)

Overview

In Griffith’s third canto of Book V, the guardian goddess appears in the semblance of a rakshasi after detecting Hanuman’s entry. She identifies herself as the guardian of the town and says that her perpetual watch serves the rakshasa king. Her dialogue makes the city’s name, Lanka, also the name of its speaking protector.

She strikes Hanuman at the throat with her hand, and he fells her with his fist. On recovering, she asks him for mercy and reports Brahma’s prediction: defeat by a vanara would announce approaching terror for the giants. She now interprets the encounter as the fulfilment of that warning and foretells destruction for Ravana and his city on account of Sita. The episode is a sacred epic personification of a guarded place, rather than a zoological species.

Origins & earliest records

South Asian epic religious narrative

Records & interpretation

Directly read historical English epic witness; translator’s abridgements explicitly identified where used.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   The Ramayan of Valmiki

   Ralph T. H. Griffith (translator) · 1870–1874

   V.3; title-page edition range, not epic composition date.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Historical primary epic translationGriffith, Ramayan — V.3Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.