Reading Notes: Ramayana Part D

Kumbhakarna

A demon that is hard to wake. I've met some of those. This story feels more relatable than it really should but that's what I like about it. He eats. He sleeps. He sleeps. Sounds like a potential case of narcolepsy to me. Have the rakshasas tried Adderall? I'm thinking this could be a funny story in present day

Plot Summary:

• The rakshasas decide to make the mightiest demon, Kumbhakarna.
• Brahma intervened so that the human devouring, Indra defeating warrior would sleep for six months and wake for only one day. During the day he would eat a great meal and fall back asleep.
• Thousands of men danced, shouted and blew trumpets to try and wake Kumbhakarna.
• Elephants ran over Kumbhakarna's body.
• A beautiful women caresses Kumbhakarna and manages to wake him.
• Kumbhakarna is upset that he has been woken before his time.
• The rakshasas tell Kumbhkarna about the monkey army circling the city. They bring him a feast of swine, deer, humans, and rivers of wine.
• Still hungry, Kumbhakarna asks where are the apes.
• Kumbhakarna mounts his chariot and heads to battle.
• Sugriva rallies the monkeys and the fling trees and boulders at Kumbhakarna that shatter against his limbs.
• Kumbakarna defeats Hanuman, captures Sugriva and devours several thousand apes.
• Rama uses flaming arrows to sever Kumbhakarna's head from his body.
• Kumbhakarna falls into the sea.

Waking Kumbhakarna (British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).