Maricha and Subahu are two demons mentioned in the Hindu epic Ramayana. They are both associates of the demon king Ravana and play a small but important role in the story.
Maricha is a shape-shifting demon who appears in the story of Rama’s exile. Ravana sends Maricha to create a distraction and lure Rama and his brother Lakshmana away from their hermitage so that Ravana can kidnap Rama’s wife, Sita. Maricha transforms himself into a golden deer and tricks Sita into asking Rama to capture the deer for her. Rama chases after the deer, leaving Sita alone, and Maricha leads him deep into the forest, far away from Sita. Eventually, Rama catches on to the deception and shoots Maricha with an arrow, causing him to cry out in pain.
Subahu is another demon who serves under Ravana. He appears briefly in the story when Rama and Lakshmana are searching for Sita after she has been kidnapped. Subahu attacks the brothers with a powerful weapon, but they manage to defeat him in battle.
Although they are minor characters, Maricha and Subahu play important roles in the overall narrative of the Ramayana.