Ashma: The City of the Kalakeyas in the Underworld Conquered by Ravana
The vast cosmic realms described in Hindu scriptures are not limited to the Earthly domain alone. They extend far beyond, encompassing heavens (Svarga), hells (Naraka), intermediary planes, and subterranean worlds known as the Patala Lokas. Among these mysterious subterranean realms lies a formidable city—Ashma, the ancient stronghold of the Kalakeyas, a fearsome race of asuras. Mentioned in the Uttarakanda of the Ramayana (7.23.17–19), Ashma is depicted as a city that once stood invincible in the lower worlds until it was conquered by none other than Ravana, the rakshasa king of Lanka.
The Kalakeyas: The Asuras of Dread
The Kalakeyas are a distinct class of asuras (powerful beings opposed to the devas), often portrayed as fierce warriors known for their might and indomitable spirit. Unlike other asuras who frequently battled the devas in the upper worlds, the Kalakeyas resided deep in the nether realms, particularly within the fortified city of Ashma.
According to ancient texts, the Kalakeyas were born of Kashyapa, one of the progenitors of many divine and demonic races. These beings thrived in the Patala, a lower region of existence rich in natural and supernatural resources, ruled by serpents (nagas) and asuras alike. The Kalakeyas were known for their rebellious nature, seeking to challenge cosmic order and divine authority, not through deceit but through sheer force and courage.
Their city, Ashma, was a bastion of their power—fortified with dark enchantments, guarded by legions of asuras, and sustained by the mystic energies of the underworld.
Ashma: The City Beneath the Earth
The name Ashma, which translates to “stone” or “rock” in Sanskrit, evokes the imagery of a fortress built upon and carved out of unyielding rock. In the symbolic language of the scriptures, it may also represent a hardened and resistant consciousness—a city that stood as a stronghold against divine rule, a metaphor for ego and defiance entrenched deep within existence.
Located in the Patala Loka, Ashma was more than a geographical location; it represented the last bastion of a proud race that had survived cosmic deluges, wars between devas and asuras, and internal strife. The descriptions of Patala Lokas in texts such as the Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana present these subterranean realms not as gloomy hells but as places of great wealth, beauty, and technological advancement. Jewels embedded in the walls, rivers of liquid crystal, and palaces that rivaled Indra’s Amaravati—all are part of the underworld’s grandeur.
Ashma thus stood in stark contrast to the cities of the upper worlds—not ruled by divine law but by power, passion, and pride.
Ravana’s Conquest of the Underworld
Ravana, the ten-headed sovereign of Lanka and one of the most complex figures in Hindu religious history, is often misunderstood solely as the villain of the Ramayana. In truth, he was a scholar, devotee of Shiva, master of the Vedas, and a powerful emperor who conquered not just the Earth but extended his dominion into the depths of the cosmos.
The Uttarakanda of the Ramayana recounts how Ravana embarked on a campaign to assert his supremacy over all realms. In this divine expansion of his kingdom, he descended into the Patala Lokas and encountered the mighty Kalakeyas. Rather than being deterred by their terrifying strength or the enchanted fortifications of Ashma, Ravana led a fierce assault upon their city.
The conquest of Ashma was not merely a physical victory but a symbolic one. Ravana, through this act, demonstrated his capacity to defeat even the most reclusive and obstinate forces in the universe. The fall of Ashma under Ravana’s control symbolized the subjugation of the primal, unrefined forces of ego and aggression that the Kalakeyas embodied.
Symbolism and Spiritual Insights
The story of Ashma and the Kalakeyas carries profound spiritual implications. In the cosmic narrative of Hinduism, asuras are not inherently evil but represent the material and passionate aspects of consciousness that must be disciplined or transformed. The devas (gods), by contrast, represent higher faculties, clarity, and spiritual alignment.
The Kalakeyas, hidden deep within the subterranean realms, symbolize latent inner forces—untamed desires, aggressive impulses, and the darker shadows of the psyche. Ashma, their stone-built citadel, becomes a metaphor for the hardened self that resists transformation.
Ravana’s conquest of Ashma can be viewed as the assertion of higher will over the lower instincts. Although Ravana himself ultimately succumbs to his unchecked ambition and ego, his earlier victories, such as this one, reflect his spiritual might and potential.
The Underworld in Hindu Cosmology
The Patala Lokas are often misunderstood as hellish domains. In truth, they are described as realms of hidden wisdom, mystic beings, and deep power. They house not just asuras but also nagas, daityas, and other ancient beings who hold secrets of the universe.
Ashma’s location within Patala is important. It suggests that beneath the surface of spiritual consciousness, beneath even the subconscious, lie realms yet unexplored by the seeker—realms that hold both danger and potential.
The conquest of such a realm is akin to a yogi mastering the deeper layers of his mind and instincts. It requires immense discipline, courage, and inner strength.
Conclusion: Ashma’s Place in Sacred Memory
Ashma, the city of the Kalakeyas, may not be widely spoken of in the mainstream telling of the Ramayana, but its mention in the Uttarakanda offers a glimpse into the vast and complex universe of Hindu spiritual history. It is a symbol of resistance, primal force, and the deep, often overlooked corners of existence. The fall of Ashma to Ravana serves as a reminder that no realm, however dark or fortified, is beyond the reach of will, discipline, and cosmic purpose.
In Hindu thought, every story is layered with moral, cosmic, and spiritual significance. Ashma is one such gem, hidden deep in the underworld—its tale waiting to be rediscovered and understood by those who dare to descend and rise again.
