Spouse(s) Hema (Apsara) | Children Mandodari | |
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In Hindu mythology, Maya (Sanskrit: मय), or Mayāsura (मयासुर) was a great ancient king of the asura, daitya and rākṣasa races.
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In the Mahabharat
Mayasura had befriended a snake named Takshaka and lived with him in the area of Khandavprastha and Kurukshetra. But when the Pandavas came there after the partition of Hastinapur, Arjun burnt the entire forest, forcing Takshaka to flee away. So, Mayasura decided to surrender to the Pandavas. Krishna was ready to forgive him and for this act, Mayasura built a very grand palace named Maya-Mahal, where the Pandavas would perform the Rajsuya Yagna.
In the Ramāyana
He built his capital and called it Maya Rashtra. MayaAsura is mentioned in Uttar-kãņḍa of Rāmāyaṇa and here he is said to be the son of Diti (wife of Kashyapa, a SaptaRisi), He is the father of Mandodari, the beautiful wife of Ravana, the king of Lanka.