Week 4 Story: The Fall of Kumbhakarna
As the war between Ravana and Rama waged on, the Rakshasas were unable to defeat the godly archer Rama. The man-eating demons felt their only choice was to awaken the sleeping giant Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna is considered the mightiest of the demons and was even powerful enough to defeat Indra. Many years ago, Kumbhakarna devoured many humans. In order to protect man, Brahma cursed Kumbhakarna into a deep slumber. He decreed that Kumbhakarna would sleep for six months at a time, awakening for only a day. During this one day, Kumbhakarna would devour as big of a meal as he could before going back to sleep. After much struggling, the Rakshsas were able to awaken the sleeping giant. Once he awoke, Kumbhakarna learned of the troubles the demons were having, and devoured many deer, pig, and humans alike. Then he asked the demons where the army of apes were so that he may go and devour them as well. He called forth his chariot and rode into battle. Terror struck the apes when they saw the demon.
Kumbhakarna defeated Sugriva and Hanuman and devoured them as though they were snacks. Kumbhakarna felt victory was easy in his grasp. However, he was not prepared for Rama’s skill in combat. The battle between the demon and the Avatar of Vishnu waged on for days. Rama seemed to have an endless supply of flaming arrows and each one of them easily pierced the demon’s body. Finally beginning to feel fatigue, kumbhakarna dropped to his knees before the archer. With one final arrow of flame, Rama took the demon’s head clean off his shoulders. The battle was lost. Kumbhakarna was defeated. As he fee to the ground, the earth opened up and swallowed the demons body, and kumbhakarna was never to be seen again.
Author's Notes: I chose to keep the details of the main story so that the readers would understand just how desperate the demons (Rakshasas) were to defeat the army of apes and Rama. They knew that awakening Kumbhakarna before he was supposed to be awoken could be dangerous, he could have easily eaten them, but they needed him because they believed he could defeat Rama. I chose to write that the battle was lost at the end because this story itself is about Kumbhakarna, not Rama, therefore from that view point, the battle was indeed lost. In the original story, Kumbhakarna fell backwards into the depths of the ocean, however, because I had him kneel before Rama at the end, I felt having the earth swallow him instead fit better.
Bibliography: Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie
Kumbhakarna defeated Sugriva and Hanuman and devoured them as though they were snacks. Kumbhakarna felt victory was easy in his grasp. However, he was not prepared for Rama’s skill in combat. The battle between the demon and the Avatar of Vishnu waged on for days. Rama seemed to have an endless supply of flaming arrows and each one of them easily pierced the demon’s body. Finally beginning to feel fatigue, kumbhakarna dropped to his knees before the archer. With one final arrow of flame, Rama took the demon’s head clean off his shoulders. The battle was lost. Kumbhakarna was defeated. As he fee to the ground, the earth opened up and swallowed the demons body, and kumbhakarna was never to be seen again.
Kumbhakarna
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Author's Notes: I chose to keep the details of the main story so that the readers would understand just how desperate the demons (Rakshasas) were to defeat the army of apes and Rama. They knew that awakening Kumbhakarna before he was supposed to be awoken could be dangerous, he could have easily eaten them, but they needed him because they believed he could defeat Rama. I chose to write that the battle was lost at the end because this story itself is about Kumbhakarna, not Rama, therefore from that view point, the battle was indeed lost. In the original story, Kumbhakarna fell backwards into the depths of the ocean, however, because I had him kneel before Rama at the end, I felt having the earth swallow him instead fit better.
Bibliography: Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie
Nice story, Jake! I too was interested in the part of the Ramayana about Kumbhakarna. He's a unique character! I think you did a really good job of taking the story and putting your own spin on it. I liked how he bowed down to Rama at the end and was swallowed up by the earth. Maybe you can turn this into your semester long project!
ReplyDeleteHi Jake! I like the way you ended this story especially how Kumbhakarna dies in a way that reflects the way Sita is swallowed by the earth later on when she decides to depart her mortal life. I also like the way it contrasts how a virtuous character like Sita can peacefully choose her time with how an evil character like Kumbhakarna is killed. The way that Kumbhakarna kneels before Rama also nicely reflects the godly nature of Rama and the total defeat of the demon.
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