Ugrabāhu

Ugrabāhu was the king of Avantī. Avantī is the great inland city associated with Ujjayinī, in the western part of Bhāratavarṣa (the land of Bhārata). He ruled in the days of Rāma-rājya, the reign of Bhagavān Rāma. He appears in two episodes of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa. His name means “one with fierce arms” (ugra, fierce; bāhu, arm).

At Sumatī’s svayaṃvara

Bhūrikīrti Mahārāja arranged the svayaṃvara (the ceremony where a princess chooses her own husband) of Sumatī at Vaṭapura. Many kings gathered there. The dādi Sunandā described each king to Sumatī, and she named Ugrabāhu among them as a worthy choice. Sumatī passed him over with respect and chose Lava.

At Hema’s svayaṃvara

In Chapter 17 of the Rājya Khaṇḍa, Ugrabāhu appears again, at the svayaṃvara of Hema. He and King Citrāṅgada came into conflict over Hema’s choice of husband. The dispute grew into a military clash.

Bhagavān Rāma was the sovereign of the saptadvīpa (the seven continents). He sent Lava to settle the matter. The episode shows that even quarrels between kingdoms came under the rule of Rāma-rājya.

Sources

• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 3
• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 17