A sage, who was the cause of Rama’s and Lakshmana’s death. After the war with Ravana, Rama returned to Ayodhya to rule. After sending Sita away, he lived in the palace with his brothers and their wives and children.

During that time, Brahma called Yama and said that since Rama was an avatar of Vishnu and his duties had been fulfilled, it was time to bring him back to Vaikuntha. Yama took the form of a sage called Atibala, reached Rama’s court and said that he wished to tell Rama something in private. Rama cleared the court of others and asked Lakshmana to stand guard by the door. He also said that if someone managed to get in, Lakshmana would be punished by death. In a while, Durvasa appeared at the door with his disciples. He said that he had been meditating for a thousand years and wanted a feast from the king. Lakshmana asked him to wait a while, but Durvasa refused and threatened to burn everyone into ash. Left with no choice, Lakshmana went in and apprised Rama. Though Durvasa got his meal, Lakshmana had to die because he didn’t fulfill his duty. Rama was heartbroken, as Lakshmana went to a deep part of the Sarayu river and committed suicide. According to Uttararamayana, in a short while, Rama divided the kingdom’s responsibilities and ended his life the same way, in the presence of his subjects.

An evil king. As soon as he started ruling his kingdom, he started performing evil deeds. According to Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 59 verse 92, he was the son of Ananga.

According to Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 45 verse 44, Atibala was the name of a retainer gifted to Skanda by Vayu.

A mantra. Vishwamitra taught Rama and Lakshmana two mantras – Bala and Atibala, to help them keep away hunger and thirst, according to Ramayana Balakanda sarga 22.

A king mentioned in the Rigveda. He was also known as Divodasa. He fought many wars with the asuras, with the help of Indra. According to Rigveda Mandala 1 Anuvaka 10 Sukta 53 and Anuvaka 16 Sukta 112, he once hid underwater to escape from the asuras.

Guest. In ancient India a welcome for athithis was as important as a yajna. All good karma that a  person earned would disappear if a brahmin guest was not given rice, as per Manusmriti Chapter 100 verse 3.

According to Manu, a person who visits once in a while is a guest. Anyone who stays in the same region and uses this as an excuse to visit daily need not be deemed as a guest. Irrespective of whether a guest comes in before or after dinner, he should be given a meal. Even if a vaishya or a shudra arrived at a brahmin’s place as a guest, he should offer them meals along with his servants.

A son of Ravana.

After Brahma created the universe, he felt quite proud and decided to rest for a while. To teach him a lesson, Vishnu released earwax which became two rakshasas called Madhukaidabhas. On hearing their raucous laughter, Brahma was frightened and approached Vishnu for help. Since his ploy was succesful, Vishnu called the Madhukaidabhas and told them he would give them a boon. They countered that they would give Vishnu a boon. So Vishnu said that he would like the permission to kill them, as a boon. They said that they would not go back on their word, but since their lust for battle had not been quenched, Vishnu should take care of that. Vishnu agreed, but said that the boon he got needed to be done with first. Vishnu told them that later, they would be born as Khara and Atikaya in the Tretayuga, and that he would himself kill Khara in the form of Rama, and Atikaya would be killed by Lakshmana, an incarnation of Anantha. Thus each would fight a battle that would quench his thirst. So saying, he placed each rakshasa on a thigh, and killed them with them with the sudarshan chakra, according to Kambaramayana Yudhakanda.

The Kambaramayana Yudhakanda further describes his birth and other details. When Ravana was returning in the Pushpakavimana after defeating Kuber, he saw a few gandharva women in the foothills of Mayuragiri. Their leader was Chitrangi, wife of Chitrangada. Ravana managed to seduce her and have a child with her. She left the child with Ravana and returned to the heavens. Ravana placed the child in the Pushpakavimana and resumed his journey. But the vehicle struck Girishringa and the child was thrown into the jungle. When Ravana searched for the child, he found that it had landed on a rock, but remained unhurt. Ravana tried to lift the baby but couldn’t do so in spite of using ten of his hands. Meanwhile the baby started growing. Ravana used twenty hands and the baby grew further. Finally it got into the pushpakavimana by itself. Ravana named him Atikaya and placed him under the care of Dhanyamala, in Lanka.

Atikaya began praying to Brahma in Gokarna. Brahma appeared, but Atikaya was so lost in meditation that he didn’t realise Brahma’s presence. He had even stopped breathing. Brahma used his power to force air into Atikaya, and rejuvenate him. Following that he gave Atikaya three blessings – the brahmastra which could annihilate anyone, a jacket which nothing could pierce, and the absence of thirst and desire.

Atikaya trained under Shiva in Kailash. After completing his education, Atikaya asked Shiva what he’d like as gurudakshina. Shiva asked Atikaya to promise that he would never use maya as a weapon. Atikaya did so, and Shiva was pleased enough to give him the Pashupatastra.

Atikaya had an uncle named Chandra, who once lost to Indra. He was brooding over that when Atikaya arrived in Lanka with the pashupatastra. He asked Atikaya to capture Indra. Atikaya fought with Indra but Vishnu arrived there and helped Indra with the sudarshan chakra. Atikaya countered that with the pashupatastra. Vishnu learned who Atikaya was and withdrew himself from the fight. Indra agreed that he had been defeated.

During Rama’s war with Ravana, Lakshmana killed Atikaya after a long fight.

One of the seven divisions of the netherworld – Patala, Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, and Rasatala. This is the first world in the netherworld. It is ruled by Bala, the strong, arrogant magician, son of Maya. He has created ninety six mayas who are capable of granting any wish. From his yawns emerge three types of women – Pumshchalis, Kaminis, Swairinis. Bala is supposed to have a potion called Hataka, which can entice all those who enter Atala and convert them into able bodied men who he then uses for carnal purposes, according to Devibhagavata Ashtamaskanda.

The brahmand consisting of fourteen worlds is called Andakadaha. The worlds are Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Suvarloka, Maharloka, Janarloka, Tapoloka, Satyaloka, Patala, Rasatala, Mahatala, Talatala, Sutala, Vitala, Atala.

According to Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 1 verse 28, when Soota, disciple of Vyasa,  was speaking to the sages in Naimisharanya, he told them that in the beginning, from the all encompassing darkness, emerged a seed named anda.