In the Hindu epic the Ramayana, Maricha (Sanskrit: मारीच, mārīcha) was a rakshasa who played a small but very important part. He was thrown into a remote island by the arrow of Lord Rama when he tried to interrupt Sage Vishwamitra's yagna. After that he became very afraid of the very mention of the name Rama. (Rama is described as Maareechaadini paataka Ram in the Nama Ramayana, a Sanskrit verse eulogising Rama )
Later in the epic, Ravana wants to kidnap Sita and so asks for Maricha's help, who then turns himself into a golden deer. The golden lustre of the deer lures Sita so much that she wishes to have the deer for herself. While Rama understands that the deer is unnatural, and hence potentially dangerous, Sita insists on having it. Rama asks Lakshmana to take care of Sita while he goes for hunting the deer.
While chasing the deer, Rama concludes from its behaviour that it is indeed unnatural and evil. Therefore he decides to kill it rather than capture it alive for Sita. After a long chase, he shoots it down with an arrow; but in its death-throes the deer cries out to Sita and Lakshmana for help, mimicking Rama's voice. Sita falls prey to the ruse and asks Lakshmana to go on a search for Rama. When Lakshmana insists that no one can harm Rama, Sita, still very much worried, implores and then orders Lakshmana to go. When Lakshmana leaves very reluctantly to look for Rama, Ravana succeeds in kidnapping Sita.
Maricha was the son of Suketu in Valmiki's version. He also had a sister named Tadaka. In some versions, he was said to be Tadaka's son.
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