Surpanakha, also called Shurpanakha or Meenakshi, is the sister of Lanka's demon king Ravana. Born to the sage Vishrava and the rakshasi Kaikesi, her siblings include Vibhishana and Kumbhakarna. Her name means "she whose fingernails are like winnowing fans." Defying Ravana's wishes due to the ancient enmity between Danavas and Rakshasas, Surpanakha married Vidyutjihva, a Danava prince. Ravana later killed Vidyutjihva for plotting against him, leaving Surpanakha a widow and fostering deep resentment toward her brother. She subsequently divided her time between Lanka and the forests of Southern India, sometimes residing with her relatives Khara and Dushana. While dwelling in the Panchavati forest, Surpanakha encountered Rama, the exiled prince of Ayodhya, and was captivated by him. She assumed a beautiful guise to approach him and proposed marriage. Rama refused, citing his fidelity to his wife Sita, and redirected her to his brother Lakshmana. Lakshmana also rejected her advances mockingly. Humiliated by their dismissive treatment, Surpanakha reverted to her demonic form and attacked Sita. In response, Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears, causing permanent disfigurement. Seeking vengeance, Surpanakha incited her brother Khara to attack Rama, leading to Khara and his army's destruction. She then journeyed to Lanka to inform Ravana of her mutilation. She praised Sita's beauty and urged Ravana to abduct her. Persuaded by Surpanakha and his general Akampana, Ravana kidnapped Sita despite his brother Vibhishana's objections. This act triggered the war between Rama and Ravana, culminating in Ravana's defeat and death. Some traditions interpret Surpanakha's actions as a calculated scheme to avenge her husband's death by manipulating Ravana into confronting Rama, knowing it would lead to Ravana's destruction. Her prior knowledge of Rama's power—having defeated her grandmother Tataka and uncle Subahu—supported this strategy. Post-war accounts place Surpanakha remaining in Lanka under Vibhishana's rule. She and her half-sister Kumbini eventually perished at sea, though the circumstances are unspecified. A Puranic tradition claims she was later reborn as Kubja and became a wife of Krishna. Descriptions of Surpanakha's appearance vary. Valmiki's Ramayana portrays her as physically unattractive, while other versions, like Kamban's, depict her as inherently beautiful with shape-shifting abilities. Her story embodies themes of vengeance, agency, and the consequences of rejection.