Mayasura visited Svarga (heaven), where the apsara Hema was given to him by the gods. They had two sons, Mayavi and Dundubhi, and a daughter, Mandodari. Later, Hema returned to heaven; Mandodari and her siblings were left with their father.

There are varying accounts of Mandodari's birth. The Telugu text Uttara Ramayana mentions that Mayasura