Pulastya

Pulastya is a sage in Hinduism, traditionally counted among the seven great sages (Saptarishi) and regarded as one of the mind-born sons of Brahma. In various texts he is described as a revered rishi associated with the transmission of Vedic knowledge and cosmic wisdom.

Pulastya is best known for his role in the Ramayana lineage: he is the father of Vishrava, and through Vishrava’s union with Kaikesi, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana are born. Consequently, Pulastya is Ravana’s grandfather and the ancestor of Lanka’s prominent demon dynasty. This genealogical connection makes Pulastya a significant, though not central, figure within the epic’s mythic framework.

In addition to his place in epic genealogies, Pulastya appears in Puranic literature and is referenced as a venerable rishi within the broader tradition. Some lineages also designate a Pulastya gotra, an eponymous lineage name used by certain Hindu communities to trace descent from this revered sage.

Iconographically, Pulastya is depicted as a traditional ascetic sage, often shown in meditation with typical veneration accorded to rishis—staff, rudraksha or rosary, and simple robes—emphasizing his role as a transmitter of spiritual knowledge and sage-hood rather than as a protagonist in mythic action.