Rama and Sita worship god Shiva at Rameshwaram as Vibhishana (right) looks on with Lakshamana, Tumburu and Narada

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Vibhishana (Tamil: விபீடணன் Vibhīshaṇa, Sanskrit: विभीषण, Burmese: ဘိဘိသန, [bḭbḭθəna̰]; Javanese: Wibisana; Khmer: Bibhek; Lao: Phibphi; Malay: Bibusanam; Thai: พิเภก Phipek; Sinhala:විභීෂණ; Yuan: Bikbi) or Bibhishan is a character in the epic Ramayana. He was the younger half brother of the Rakshasa (demon) king Ravana of Lanka. Though a Rakshasa himself, Vibhishana was of a noble character and advised Ravana, who kidnapped and abducted Sita, to return her to her husband Rama in an orderly fashion and promptly. When his brother did not listen to his advice, Vibhishana joined Rama's army. Later, when Rama defeated Ravana, Rama crowned Vibhishana as the king of Lanka.

In some period of history Sinhala people have considered Vibhishana as one of the Four Heavenly Kings (satara varam deviyo). This belief was more prominent in the Kotte period. According to the Ravana Katha of Wickramasinghe Adigar, after the defeat of Ravana, Vibhishana transferred the Yaksha capital from Alakamandawa to Kelaniya.^[1] In the 15th century poem of Totagamuwe Sri Rahula, the sælalihini sandesaya, the Myna is ordered to carry the missive to Vibhishana at his temple in Kelaniya. After the 16th century he was replaced as a God of the four warrants by the goddess Pattini. He continues to be worshipped by a diminishing number of adherents, mainly in the Kelaniya area.^[2]

In the Ramayana[link]

Vibhishana Meets Rama

Vibhishana had a sattvic (pure) mind and a sattvic heart. From his early childhood, he spent all his time meditating on the name of the Lord. Eventually, Brahma appeared and offered him any boon he wanted. Vibhishana, said that the only thing he wanted was to have his mind fixed at the feet of the Lord as pure as lotus leaves (charan kamal). He prayed that he should be given the strength by which he would always be at the feet of the Lord, and that he would receive the darshan (holy sight) of Lord Vishnu. This prayer was fulfilled, and he was able to give up all his wealth and family, and join Rama, who was Avatar (God incarnate).

Vibhishana was the youngest son of Sage Vishrava, who was the son of Sage Pulatsya, one of the Heavenly Guardians. He (Vibhishana) was the younger brother of the Lord of Lanka, Ravana and King of Sleep, Kumbakarna. Even though he was born in the demon race, he was alert and pious and considered himself a Brahmin, since his father was intuitively such.

Due to Vibhishana's differences with Ravana and because he was against the act of kidnapping Sita, Ravana exiled him from Lanka. His mother, Kaikesi, advised him to go and serve Shri Rama, who was at that time assembling an army to conquer Ravana and to recover Sita. Lord Rama accepted Vibhishana's service and anointed him the Lord of Lanka after Ravana's death.

In the Lanka War, Vibhishana's knowledge about the secrets of Lanka proved invaluable to Shri Rama. Vibhishana freely divulged many secrets that became key to the success of Rama's attack, including revealing the secret path to the temple of Mata Nikumbala, the family deity of the Pulatsya Clan. Because of this, however, Vibhishana is also known as a traitor.

While modern readers tend to view the Indian epics with eyes used to seeing clearly defined good and bad characters, the Ramayana's characterisation is trying to represent the practical implications of the concept of Dharma. The epic stresses that neither Vibhishana or Kumbhakarna strayed from the path of Dharma and that there is no single way out of a moral dilemma. The Ramayana teaches that Kumbhakarna adhered to the Dharma of loyalty to his kin when his advice fails, while Vibhishana chose to oppose his kin when his advice failed.

Symbolically, Vibhishana represents devotion to Shri Rama, and as a demon devotee, he shows that the Lord does not distinguish between his followers based on birth or circumstances in life. The same aught can be read in the story of Prahlada and Narasimha.

When Vibhishana attained the position of the King of Lanka, he turned his subjects from the path of evil to the path of good and Dharma (righteousness). His wife, Queen Sarma also aided him in this effort. He also married ravana's widow mandodari on rama's advice.

When Shri Rama was about to leave Ayodhya at the end of his reign, Lord Rama in his original form of Shri Vishnu ordered Vibhishana to stay on earth and serve the people and guide them to the path of truth and Dharma. Hence, Vibhishana is considered one of the seven immortals, or Chiranjeevins. Lord Vishnu also ordered Vibhishana to pray the family deity of Rama's natal Sun Dynasty, Lord Ranganatha

Alternate Interpretation[link]

This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (March 2009)

There are alternative interpretations to the character and qualities of Vibhishana rooted within the alternate interpretation of Ravana himself. In certain contexts he is seen as a usurper and/or traitor. In the classic Sinhala poetry work Vavuluwa by R. Tennakoon, Vibhishana is portrayed as a naive and ignorant person who betrayed his land and brother.

In more general day-to-day context within Sri Lanka, sometimes Vibhishana is mentioned as one of the biggest traitors in the history of the nation and the incident as the greatest betrayal of the country. As with the mainstream interpretation of Ramayana, the alternative versions have not yet been proven as actual events, rather than fictions woven by narrators with different biases.

The Hindi saying "Ghar kā bhedi Lanka dhāe" means 'Traitor in the family destroyed Lanka" meaning "An enemy in the family itself can destroy it", just as Vibhishana's revealing of secrets resulted in the destruction of Lanka."

References[link]

v t e Hindu deities and texts Gods Deva Ganesha Brahma Vishnu Shiva Rama Krishna Murugan Hanuman Indra Surya more Goddesses Adi parashakti Devi Saraswati Lakshmi Sati Parvati Durga Shakti Kali Sita Radha Mahavidya Navadurga Matrikas more Texts Vedas Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita more Hinduism Hindu mythology

Suki Sivam (சுகி சிவம்)
Occupation	Motivational / Religious / Philosophical Speaker
Nationality	India
Ethnicity	Tamil
Notable award(s)	Kalaimamani - கலைமாமணி

Suki (suhi / sugi) Sivam (Tamil: சுகி சிவம்) is a popular scholar in Tamil. His religious, motivational and philosophical speeches are famous among Tamil Hindus.^[1] He hosts a TV show Indha naal iniya naal on Sun TV. He has also written numerous novels and is highly regarded in India and neighboring countries.

He was awarded the Kalaimamani award by the Indian state government for his contributions towards Tamil literature.

His book, such as Vaazhthal Oru Kalai ("Living is an art"), deal with the suchjuect of how to lead a better life, retaining our own ideologies and principles. The book Vaazhthal Oru Kalai may be similar to The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tole, though not as different and subjective as the later.

Works[link]

Motivational Books[link]

1. எப்போதும் சந்தோஷமே. (Eppodum Santhosamv)
2. வெற்றி நிச்சயம் (Vetri Nichayam)
3. சிந்தனை முத்துக்கள் (Sindanai Muthukal)
4. படிக்க ஜெயிக்க (Padika Jeika)
5. சொன்னார்கள் சொன்னார்கள் பகுதி - I (Sonnargal Sonnargal Volume I)
6. சொன்னார்கள் சொன்னார்கள் பகுதி - II (Sonnargal Sonnargal Volume II)
7. வாழ்ந்து பார்க்கலாம் வா (Vazhndhu Parkalam Vaa)
8. என் கேள்விக்கு என்ன பதில்.(En Kelviku Enna Badhil)
9. சுகி சிவம் கேள்வி பதில்கள் (SukiSivam Kelvi Badhilkal)
10. வெற்றி மீது வெற்றி வந்து (Vetri Medhu Vetri Vandhu)
11. கனவு மேம்படும் (Kanavu Meypadum)
12. நல்ல குடும்பம் நமது லட்சியம் (Nalla Kudumbam Namadhu Latchiyam)
13. இந்த நாள் இனிய நாள் (Indha Nal Eniya Nal)
14. ஏமாற்றாதே ஏமாறாதே (Ematradhey Emaradhey)
15. உணவே உயிரே (Unave Uyire)
16. பெண்ணே நீ வாழ்க (Penney Nee Vazhga)
17. ஊருக்கு நல்லது சொல்வேன் (Uruku Nalladhu Solven)
18. வாழ்க்கை ஒரு கலை Vazhthal (Oru Kalai)
19. நல்ல வண்ணம் வாழலாம் (Nalla Vannam Vazhalam)
20. நினைப்பதும் நடப்பதும் (Ninaypadhum Nadapadhum)
21. அச்சம் தவிர் (Aacham Thavir)
22. மனசே நீ ஒரு மந்திரச்சாவி (Manasay Nee Oru Mandirasavi)
23. வாழ பழகுவோம் வாருங்கள் (Vazha Pazhguvom Varungal)
24. வாழ்க வாழ்க வாழ்க ஜீசஸ் (vazha vazha vazha Jesus)

Literary and Religious Books[link]

1. ஆனந்தம் பரமானந்தம் (Anandam Paramandam)
2. கிரியா யோகா (Kriya Yoga)
3. மகாபாரதம் (Mahabaratham (Mp3))
4. கம்பராமாயணம் (Kambaramayanam)
5. திருச்செந்தூர் ஸ்தல வரலாறு (Tiruchendur Sthala Varalaru)

Motivational Videos[link]

1. தந்தை சொல்மிக்க மந்திரமில்லை (Thandhai Sol Mikka Mandiramillai)
2. சவாலே சமாளி (Savale Samali (VCD))
3. உன்னை அறிந்தால் (Unnai Arindal (VCD))
4. மனம் ஒரு மந்திரசாவி (Manam Oru Mandhira Savi (VCD))
5. நல்ல குடும்பம் நல்ல பிள்ளை (Nalla Kudumbam Nalla Pillai (VCD))
6. சிரிக்க சிரிக்க (Sirika Sirika (VCD))
7. நீங்கள் சிறந்த பெற்றோரா..? (Nengal Sirantha Petrora (DVD))
8. உறவுகள் மேம்பட (Uravugal Mempada (DVD))
9. நாளும் உயர்க (Nalum Uyarga)
10. இந்தநாள் இனியநாள் பகுதி - II (Indha Nal Eniya Nal Part 1 (DVD)))
11. இந்தநாள் இனியநாள் பகுதி - II (Indha Nal Eniya Nal Part 2 (DVD))
12. இந்தநாள் இனியநாள் பகுதி - III (Indha Nal Eniya Nal Part 3 (DVD))
13. ஆனந்தமாக வாழுங்கள் (Anandamaga Vazhungal)

Literary and Religious Videos[link]

1. ஒன்றே பல உருவே (Ornre Pala Uruve)
2. ஞானம் வளர்த்த மாமணிகள் (Gnanam Valartha Mamanigal)
3. திருச்செந்தூர் தல வரலாறு (Thiruchendur Thalavaralaru (VCD))
4. நல்வழி காட்டிய நால்வர் (Nalvazhi Katiya Nalvar)
5. புத்தர் வாழ்வும் வாக்கும் (Buddar Vazhvum Vaakum (DVD))
6. முருக தரிசனம் (Muruga Darisanam (VCD))
7. பகவான் ஸ்ரீ இராமகிருஷ்ணர் (Bhagavan sri Ramakrishnar (DVD))
8. திருவாசகத்தேன் (Thiruvasagathen)
9. வடலூர் வள்ளல் (Vadalur Vallal (DVD))
10. கண்ணப்ப நாயனார் (Kannapa Nayanar)
11. சிறுதொண்டர் / இயர்பாகையார் (Siruthondar / Eyarpagayar)
12. கிருஷ்ணா கிருஷ்ணா (Krishna Krishna)
13. கிரியா பாபாஜி (Kriya Babaji)
14. ஆதிசங்கரர் (Aadisankarar)
15. லலிதா சரஸ்ரானமம் (Lalitha Sarasranamam)
16. தாயுமான சுவாமிகள் (Thayumana Swamigal)
17. கவியரசர் கண்ணதாசன் (Kaviyarasar Kannadasan)

^[2]

Footnotes[link]

1. ^ With use of hand gestures and captivating analogies, his speeches strike an instant rapport with listeners.
2. ^ "Suki Sivam - His glory grows with time". The Hindu. December 19 2003. http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/12/19/stories/2003121902160800.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-15. 

External links[link]

• http://www.sukisivam.com/
• http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/12/19/stories/2003121902160800.htm
• http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/06/26/stories/2009062651180400.htm