Suváhu

Suváhu is a demon identified as one of the agents sent under Rávaṇ’s command to obstruct a sacred rite. The text places him among a pair of powerful, shape-changing fiends, but the available account does not distinguish his individual actions from those of his companion, Márícha.

Identity and Position

Suváhu appears in the account of a threatened ritual as one of two demons whose interference is directed by Rávaṇ, described as the king of the giant hosts. The narrative names both Suváhu and Márícha and characterizes the pair as formidable; it does not provide further information about Suváhu’s origins, rank, or personal history.

Role in the Ritual Conflict

The rite is presented as a holy undertaking, and its officiant explains that two fiends who can change their forms at will impede it, particularly when the work is nearly complete. Suváhu is named in the ensuing identification of the demons commanded by Rávaṇ. This connects him to the ritual’s repeated danger, though the passage attributes the obstruction to the pair collectively rather than describing a separate deed by Suváhu.

Characterization and Limits of the Account

Suváhu’s brief appearance defines him through service to Rávaṇ and participation in opposition to sacred ritual. His association with shape-changing demons gives the threat a capacity for concealment and disruption, while the description of the pair as mighty establishes their force. The account supplied here does not say what becomes of Suváhu or specify his fate after the threatened rite.