Kumbhakarna- Hindu DemonDemon · Monster"The Sleeping Giant"

The Cursed Boon

Kumbhakarna was the younger brother of Ravana and the elder brother of Vibhishana, all three sons of the sage Vishravas and the rakshasi Kaikesi. Like his brothers, Kumbhakarna performed severe austerities to obtain a boon from Brahma. His tapas was so powerful and his appetite so vast that the gods feared he would devour the three worlds. Sarasvati, goddess of speech, intervened at the gods' request and twisted Kumbhakarna's tongue at the moment of asking. Instead of requesting Indrasana, the throne of Indra, he asked for Nidrasana, a bed for sleeping. Brahma granted it. Kumbhakarna would sleep for six months at a time and remain awake for only a single day.

Awakening for War

When Rama's vanara army besieged Lanka and the rakshasa forces suffered heavy losses, Ravana ordered Kumbhakarna awakened. Drums were beaten and elephants trampled over his body. Mountains of food and wine were heaped before him. When Kumbhakarna finally woke and learned of the situation, he rebuked Ravana for abducting Sita and provoking war with an avatar of Vishnu. Yet his loyalty to his brother was absolute. He donned his armor, took up his spear, and strode onto the battlefield.

Battle and Death

Kumbhakarna's enormous form towered over the field. He crushed vanaras by the thousands underfoot and swallowed some whole. He wounded Sugriva and scattered the vanara army. Hanuman attacked but could not bring him down. Rama confronted Kumbhakarna directly. Using divine arrows, Rama severed his arms and legs, then beheaded the giant with an arrow empowered by Indra. Kumbhakarna's body crashed into the sea.