Draft:Sukesha

Sukesha, a significant figure in Hindu mythology, was a Rakshasa in Valmiki's Ramayana. Bestowed with a floating city by Shiva, the God of Destruction, he played a pivotal role as the great-grandfather of Ravana.

Genealogy
He was descended from Vishnu in the following way: Vishnu-Brahma-Heti-Vidyutkesa-Sukesha.

Birth
Once, Brahma was reading the Vedas when he suddenly felt hungry. This led to his anger at himself. From his hunger came the Yaksha, Praheti, and from his anger came the Rakshasa, Heti.

Heti married Bhaya, Yama's sister. She gave birth to Vidyutkesa. Vidyutkesa married Salantaka. When she gave birth to a son, she left him in a valley near Mount Mandara as she wanted to spend all her time with her husband.

Shiva and Parvati were passing by the mountain and saw the baby. Parvati turned him into an adult and blessed all Rakshas to become adults after birth to protect themselves. Shiva gave him a floating city to rule.

Sukesha's city falls
Sukesha invited all fellow Rakshasas to live in his city and taught them to live with piety and righteousness. Once, while travelling in the forests of Magadha, he saw a hermitage of the sages. They taught him about the Dharmic way of life.

He returned to his city and taught his subjects about the sages' teachings. The entire city became so righteous that it started to glow. It outshone the Sun and Moon, confusing all living beings.

Jealous, Surya cast an angry look at the city, ridding it of all its merits. As the city fell, Sukesha prayed to Shiva. Shiva stopped the town from falling and cast a look at Surya, making him fall.

As Surya fell, the sages advised him to fall at Harikshetra, an area in Varanasi from Yogaśāyī to Keśavadarśana. He prayed to Shiva and begged forgiveness when he fell in this area. Brahma also asked Shiva to restore the Sun.

Shiva cupped Surya in his hands and put him back in the sky, restoring the status quo.

Children
He married Devavati, the daughter of the Gandharva, Gramini. They had three children: Mali, Sumali and Malyavan. Sumali's daughter, Kaikesi married the sage, Vishrava and gave birth to Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana and Shurpanakha.