Kumbhakarna

Kumbhakarna
Kumbhakarna yawns as he is roused from sleep.
Information
Children Kumbha
Nikumbha
Bhimasura

Kumbhakarna (Sanskrit: कुम्भकर्ण, lit. pot-eared) is a named rakshasa and younger brother of Ravana in the famous Indian epic Ramayana. Despite his monstrous size and great appetite, he was described to be of good character and great warrior in those times, though he killed and ate many monkeys only to show his power.

He was considered so pious, intelligent and unchallenged warrior in battle that Indra, the king of gods, was worried and jealous of him and his strength. Along with his brothers, Ravana and Vibhishana, Kumbhkarna performed a major yajna and penance to please Lord Brahma. When the time came for asking a boon from Brahma, his tongue was tied by goddess Saraswati, who was acting on Indra's request; because of which, instead of asking Indraasana (seat of Indra), he asked for Nidraasana (bed for sleeping). It is also said he intended to ask for Nirdevatvam (annihilation of Devas) and instead asked for Nidravatvam (sleep). His request was granted. However, his brother Ravana asked Brahma to undo this boon as it was in reality a curse. Kumbhakarna slept for six months and when he awoke, he ate everything in the vicinity, including humans.

Origin

In the Bhagavata_Purana, Kumbhakarna is said to be the incarnation of the gatekeeper deity Vijaya, who was punished by the Four Puramas for impiety while they guarded the sacred realm of Vishnu. Vijaya was initially sentenced to mortality, but after appealing to the deity Vishnu for assistance, Vishnu agreed to reduce their sentence to just three lifetimes as his enemies before allowing them to return to the sacred realm Vaikuntha (place of eternal bliss). While his brother Jaya became Ravana, Vijaya became the goodly demon Kumbhakarna during their second incarnation of three on Earth.

War

Kumbhakarna Enters Warfront, Painting by Balasaheb Pandit Pant Pratinidhi

During the war, Ravana went into battle and was humiliated by Rama and his army. He decided he needed the help of his brother Kumbhakarna, who was awakened with great difficulty. He woke up only after one thousand elephants walked over him(Rāmāyaṇa 6.48.47).

When he was informed of the circumstances of Ravana's war with Rama, he tried to convince Ravana that what he was doing was wrong. However, he chose to fight in the battle due to his loyalty to his brother. After becoming drunk, Kumbhakarna went into battle and devastated Rama's army. He knocked Sugriva unconscious, took him prisoner, but was ultimately killed by Rama. When Ravana heard of his brother's death, he fainted and proclaimed that he was truly doomed.

Death of Kumbhakarna

Kumbhakarna had two sons, Kumbha and Nikumbha, from his wife Vajramala, who too fought in the war against Rama and were killed. He had another son named Bhimasura from another wife Karkati[1] who was the princess of sayadri. Later when she heard about her husband's death, rather than to take avenge from Lord Rama, she ordered her son to perform harsh penance of Lord Bramha and take a boon to remain invincible. But Bhimasura was later killed by Lord Shiva.

Jain tradition

Kumbhakarna attained Moksha from Barwani.[2]

See also


Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.gloriousindia.com/scriptures/puranas/shiva_purana/the_origin_of_bhima_shankar.php
  2. ↑ Barwani - Census of India (PDF)
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