Meenakshi

## Meenakshi

### Relatives

Unnamed parentsRavana (brother)
Unnamed brothers
Unnamed husband

### Affiliation

Hindu mythology (The *Ramayana*)The Otherworld
The Sleeper

## Appearance

###  Appears in

*Aru Shah and the Song of Death*

**Meenakshi**, or **Surpankha**, is a figure from the *Ramayana*. In the Pandava Quintet, she was the main antagonist in *Aru Shah and the Song of Death*. Her goal was to turn men around the world into Heartless zombies with Kamadeva's bow and arrow so they could steal the nectar of immortality. She was stopped by Aru Shah, who killed her by plunging an arrow into her heart.

## History

### **Early Life**

When Meenakshi was born, she was named Meenakshi, which meant the girl with the fish-shaped eyes. She grew up happily with her brothers, and was later married. Meenakshi was content with her life, but her husband was a greedy rakshasa, so Meenakshi's brother, Ravana, killed him. Devastated, Meenakshi searched the world for a cure for her sorrow.

### **Meeting Rama**

One day in the forest, Meenakshi encountered King Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Laxmana. Meenakshi soon became attracted to Rama and Laxmana. She later believed she was too forthcoming in her affection, but she had never been shy about things she wanted and saw no reason to start then. Meenakshi wished to marry one of the men, to protect them from Ravana, but while Rama kindly rejected her, Laxmana ridiculed Meenakshi for even thinking she could be one of their brides. Meenakshi was filled with wounded pride and grief; she attempted to attack Sita as an outlet for her feelings, but Laxmana cut her nose off, and she ran away.

#### **The Aftermath**

Meenakshi went to Ravana to complain, but he became fascinated by Sita and kidnapped her, causing a war. Eventually, Rama sent the pregnant Sita away, as his people thought she was impure despite her faithfulness -- he believed but did not defend her, even when Sita walked across open flames to prove her fidelity.

Later, Meenakshi and Sita made up for their actions against each other, and became good friends.

Overtime, Meenakshi’s tale was changed to the point where she was only remembered for starting the war in the Ramayana. Although her brother was never punished for killing her husband, Meenakshi was remembered as the person who started a war, and all of her triumphs and joys in life were forgotten.

## The Pandava Quintet

### **Meenakshi's Plot**

After the Sleeper was released from the Diya of Bharata, he gave Meenakshi the idea of using the amrita of the gods to make their stories immortal, so that people would remember their true tales instead of stories that did not resemble the truth. However, the amrita could only be found in a golden dome within a labyrinth in the Ocean of Milk, which contained serpent guards whose fire killed anything with a heartbeat. As Meenakshi had heard of the bow and arrow of Kamadeva, she decided to steal it from the naga treasury to create an army of Heartless zombies that were capable of stealing the amrita without being found out. She knew the Pandavas would try to stop her, so she got Takshaka, who harbored his own grudge against the Pandavas, to help her. When Meenakshi stole the bow and arrow, she left her soul song in the naga treasury, and then had the weapon placed on the sidewalk near Brynne Rao’s house to frame her for the theft.

## Appearance

In her normal state, Meenakshi was a very beautiful woman. She had shining dark ringlets studded with small jewels, red nails polished to a high gloss, gleaming golden-brown skin, and almond-shaped eyes tapered to a point. She dressed in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved golden silk blouse. Her only demonic features were her bottom canines, which were longer and sharper than most, and her red irises, which looked like warmed-up cherries drizzled in chocolate. Her nose was on her face, with the only remnant of her fight with Laxmana being a faint scar across her cheek.

In her monstrous state, Meenakshi had rough, gray skin, sharp nails, as well as bottom canines that jutted against her top lip. Her nose was missing.

## Personality

Meenakshi appeared to be a very patient person, taking time to explain her past to the Pandavas so that they would learn about her true story. Despite her patience, Meenakshi was very set in her ways. She often got slightly annoyed at Aru, as she kept trying to dissuade Meenakshi and questioned her judgement. Meenakshi was vengeful, but not to an extreme extent.

## Relationships

### **TAKSHAKA** (recruit/friend)

Meenakshi recruits Takshaka to her side, empathizing with him as he had also been slighted by the Otherworld. He follows her orders but seems to be respected by her, and in turn respects her as well.

## Powers

### **Rakshashi Abilities**

#### **Shapeshifting**

Meenakshi was able to change her form at will and turn into any type of demon, god, or human.

### **Kamadeva’s Bow and Arrow**

With Kamadeva's bow and arrow, Meenakshi had the ability to turn men into heartless zombies and control them.

## Trivia

* Meenakshi means "the girl with the fish-shaped eyes"