Word

Dandakaranya

Sanskrit

दण्डकारण्य

IAST

daṇḍakāraṇya

In General

Dandakaranya is the dreaded forest south of Narmada River where Kaikeyi (step mother) sent Sri Rama to have an exile life. Rama spends 13 years in this forest killing many Rakshasas and helping Munis to do tapa and yaga without fear.

Purana

Iksvaku begot three sons, Danda, Vikuksi and Nimi. After the demise of Iksvaku, Danda became king of the country between the Vindhya and the Himalayas. In the course of a hunting expedition once Danda saw and was immediately attracted by the charms of Arajas, the daughter of Sukra Maharsi. Danda was not good mannered, he committed rape on the innocent girl and she told her father about the incidence. The Maharsi advised his daughter to do tapas to avenge the wrong done to her and he himself cursed the kingdom. As a consequence Danda’s kingdom was destroyed by a rain of fire. Afterwards this place became a terrible forest where even birds and animals feared to live, and came to be known as Dandakaranya.

Reference

Uttara Ramayana