Ayomukhī

Ayomukhī was a rākṣasī, a female rākṣasa. She met Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in the Krauñca forest. They were travelling south in search of Sītā after her abduction.

The meeting

In the Krauñca forest, Ayomukhī came up to Lakṣmaṇa. She told him she wanted him as her husband and asked him to live with her in the forest. Lakṣmaṇa refused. She would not stop, and she became threatening. Lakṣmaṇa then drew his sword and cut off her nose, ears and breasts. This punishment was like the one he had given Śūrpaṇakhā at Pañcavaṭī.

The meeting was short. Ayomukhī withdrew, and the brothers went on with their journey. On the way south, Kabandha and then Śabarī were still ahead of them.

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa, Chapter 69