(Painting by Sri K V Bhima Rao)

Fierce demoness mother of Maricha and Subahu; wife of Sunda. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

There was, in the past, a Yaksha named Suketu. He was as rich in virtues as in prowess. He had no child to succeed him and so, he practiced severe austerities to propitiate the Gods and receive their blessings. At last, Brahma was pleased with his austerity. He appeared before him. He blessed him that He will get a daughter, with extraordinary strength, cleverness and skill. Suketu was elated at this boon, though it was to be a daughter, not a son.

‘Suketu returned and a daughter was born to him, as anticipated. The child grew fast and strong. Though it was of the weaker sex, through the grace of Brahma, it had the might of a thousand elephants. She was moving about, with no law or limit, as if she owned all she saw! She was a very charming girl and so, Suketu, sought far and wide for an equally charming groom. Finally, he secured one. His name was Sunda, and Suketu gave her in marriage to him. Three years later, she gave birth to a son. He is Maricha, about whom I told you. Mother and son have become invincible in combat. Sunda started off on his demonic adventures and attempted to ruin the Yajnas of sages and so, he incurred the wrath of the great Agastya. He hurled a curse on the vile fellow, which killed him and saved the sages from further grief. In revenge, Tataki took her son along, and fell upon the hermitage of Agastya. Agastya had forewarning of this attack. So, he cursed them both to be reduced to the status of ogres. This enraged them more.

They roared abuses and advanced frightfully with blood red eyes against Agastya! Agastya felt that delay would be dangerous. He cursed Tataki that she should lose her charm and become an ugly fright! He willed that she become a cannibal! She was not subdued by the curse, but she continued the attack with renewed ferocity. So, Agastya escaped from the ravage and went to a safer place. Angered by this disappointment, Tataki spent her ire on this region (Malada and Karosa) destroying crops and gardens and reducing it to a big jungle.’ (RKRV Part I, p.103-105)

Tataki Killed:

Rama held the bow in his hand, and tested the tightness of the string, producing a sound that echoed and re-echoed from the ten directions. The entire jungle was awakened.  Wild animals fled far and wide. Tataki was shocked by the unusually loud and awesome sound. She was inflamed with rage at this disturbing phenomenon. She rushed towards the place wherefrom it emanated! Rama saw the monster moving towards him like a mountain lurching or   a huge wild elephant charging. He smiled and told Lakshmana, ‘Brother! Look at this mass of ugliness! Can common man survive the sight of this devilish personality? The very appearance is terrible! What are we then to say of its might? And it is a woman! My mind does not fully cooperate with me when I resolve to kill it! I believe this monster will die if its hands and legs are cut apart, that may be enough to destroy it.’

Tataki was rushing towards Rama with outstretched arms, so that she could grasp him and put him into her mouth like a piece of cake! She was roaring wildly and in terror striking excitement. Vishwamitra was praying, with eyes closed, that the brothers may not suffer harm in this combat. Tataki moved nearer and nearer to Rama, but with greater and greater reluctance, for, in his presence, she felt a strange kind of shock. Once or twice, she went near Rama, but she had to retreat fast. She jumped about in fury, angry at herself! The dust kicked up by her rendered the area dark and suffocating. Rama, Lakshmana and Vishwamitra stood silent and inactive for a while. Tataki was an adept in the art of delusion and destruction. She created a heavy rain of rocks. Rama now decided that the ogress should no longer be allowed to live on earth. She cannot be pardoned on the score of femininity! So, he drew his bow and shot an arrow at the body of the invisible Tataki identifying where exactly it was at the time. At this, she rushed once again at Rama. Her two arms were cut down by his arrows. She fell on the ground, crying in agony and pain. Lakshmana cut off her limbs, one by one. But, Tataki could adopt form after form, as she liked. So, she gave up one form and assumed another quickly and reappeared fresh and furious before them! She pretended to be dead, but soon came up alive! She adopted a variety of forms at the same time and started her old trick of the shower of rocks. She exhibited her wicked talents and evil tricks. Rama and Lakshmana received a few injuries, however watchful they were. Seeing this, Vishwamitra felt that there should be no more delay, and that she must be killed straightaway. He said, ‘Rama! Do not hesitate. This is not the moment to consider her womanhood and show concessions. Removal of her limbs will not benefit. So long as there is life these Rakshasas can adopt any number of forms. Therefore, kill her! When evening approaches, her dark rage will swell even more. After sunset, it becomes impossible to encounter Rakshasas, whoever might attempt to do so. She must be destroyed within the hour.’ Saying this, Vishwamitra uttered some sacred Mantras that ensure protection and great safety.

Rama too directed his own thoughts and through his power of guiding arrows in the direction from where the sound emanates he recognised where Tataki was and shot an arrow fast at that target. The arrow had the effect of binding her limbs and preventing her from making the slightest movement. At this, Tataki shrieked most ferociously, and putting out her terrible tongue, attempted to fall upon Rama and Lakshmana and crush them under her weight. On this, Rama decided that delay will invite worse consequences. He shot a fatally sharp arrow right into the chest. With that, she rolled on the ground and gave up her life. (RKRV Part I p.109-110)

The earth showed a huge crater where she fell. Trees were uprooted by the impact of the gigantic mass, when she rolled in agony. Her last gasp of breath was so weird and loud that the wild beasts of the forest fled. Herds of animals ran helter skelter. When the awful demoness fell dead, Vishwamitra called Rama near, and stroking his hair lovingly, said, ‘Son, were you afraid? No! No! How can the saviour of all the worlds be afraid? This feat is the foundation stone. It ensures the stability of the mansion. Come, you are tired. The sun too has set. Perform the evening worship and rest awhile. Come with me.’ He took them to the river, and later, he told them, ‘Children! We shall rest here for the night and we can proceed to our hermitage at dawn.’ They spent the night listening to the stories that Vishwamitra related. The Master also revealed to them their own faculties and latent majesty.

Vishwamitra said: ‘Rama! I am delighted at your heroism! When you were overcoming that demoness Tataki, I comprehended the truth of your being the Absolute. Really, I am very fortunate.’ (RKRV Part I, p.111)

Tataki described as an ogress is also a Rajasika Mahatma

In killing an ogress, Rama is accused of committing Strihatya (the sin of killing a woman). But it is not so. He was destroying the Tamo guna which she symbolised. (SSS Vol.23, p.47)