Ajay Kumar at 18:00, 18 September 2023

2023-09-18T18:00:55Z

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{{Short description|Demon in Hindu mythology}}
[[File:Kabandha1.jpg|thumb|275px|Rama and Lakshmana seated on Kabandha's arms, about to sever them. Kabandha is depicted with a big mouth on his stomach and no head or neck; though depicted with two eyes, the ''Ramayana'' describes him as one-eyed. (Painting on the ceiling of a temple in Ayodhyapattinam near [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], probably 16th-century.)]]

In [[Hinduism]], '''Kabandha''' ({{lang|sa|कबन्ध}}, {{IAST|Kabandha}}, lit. "headless torso") is a [[Rakshasa]] (demon) who is killed and freed from a curse by the god [[Rama]] – an [[Avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] – and his brother [[Lakshmana]]. Kabandha's legend appears in the [[Hindu epic]]s ''[[Ramayana]]'' and ''[[Mahabharata]]'', as well as in later Ramayana adaptations.

Kabandha was a [[gandharva]] (celestial musician) named ''' Vishvavasu''' or '''Danu''', who was cursed and made into an ugly, carnivorous demon by [[Indra]], the king of heaven, and/or a sage named Ashtavakra. In an encounter with Rama and Lakshmana, the brothers sever his arms and proceed to cremate his corpse. Upon his death, Kabandha resumes his Gandharva form and directs Rama to the Rishyamukha mountain, where the exiled monkey-chief [[Sugriva]] is hiding. Kabandha advises Rama to form an alliance with Sugriva, who would be of assistance in the search for Rama's wife [[Sita]], who had been kidnapped by [[Ravana]], the demon-king of [[Lanka]]. Following Kabandha's advice, Rama befriends Sugriva and rescues Sita with his help.

==Literary sources==
The most detailed account of Kabandha appears in the third book, ''Aranya kanda'', of the epic ''Ramayana'', ''Sarga''s (cantos) 69-73.<ref name="swami"/> However, Kabandha first appears in canto one of the first book ''Bala kanda'' of the ''Ramayana'', in which the entire story is summarized.<ref>{{cite book|last=Goldman|first=Robert P.|title=The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India: Balakanda|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=1990|pages=34–37, also p. 124|isbn=978-0-691-01485-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DWX43jnbOngC&pg=PA34}}</ref>

The account of Kabandha also appears in the ''[[Ramopakhyana]]'' – the retelling of Rama's story in the ''[[Vana Parva|Aranya Parva]]'' – the third book of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'',<ref name="mbh">{{cite book|last= Peter M. Scharf|title=Rāmopākhyāna: the story of Rāma in the Mahābhārata|publisher=Routledge|year=2003|pages=313–333|chapter=Mahabharata 3.263.25 – 3.263.42|isbn= 0-7007-1391-3}}</ref> and its appendix ''[[Harivamsa]]'',<ref name = "Monier"/><ref name = "Mani"/> as well as in later adaptations of the Ramayana such as [[Kalidasa]]'s ''[[Raghuvamsa]]'' (composed between 4th to 6th century CE),<ref name = "Monier"/> Bhatti's 7th century work ''[[Bhattikavya]]'', [[Bhavabhuti]]'s 8th century play ''[[Mahaviracharita]]'', Murari Mishra's 10th century drama ''[[Anargharāghava|Anargharaghava]]'', [[Kambar (poet)|Kamban]]'s 12th century book ''[[Ramavataram|Kamba Ramayana]]'', ''[[Adhyatma Ramayana]]'' (chapter 9 of ''Aranya kanda'', dated between late 14th to early 15th century)<ref name = "adhyatma"/> from ''[[Brahmanda Purana]]'' and [[Tulsidas]]'s 16th century work ''[[Ramacharitamanas]]''.

==Early life and curse==
[[File:Apsara Gandharva Dancer Pedestal Tra Kieu.jpg|thumb|Kabandha was born as a [[Gandharva]] – a celestial musician (right) here pictured with an [[Apsara]], celestial dancer. (10th-century [[Art of Champa|Cham]] "Dancers' Pedestal" of the Tra Kieu style.)]]

The ''Ramayana'' narrates that Kabandha was born as a [[gandharva]] (celestial musician) named Vishvavasu. He was the son of the Gandharva Sri Vishvavasu or Sri and was also known as Danu (दनु). Vishvavasu performed penance and got the boon of immortality from the creator-god [[Brahma]]. He became arrogant due to his boon and attacked [[Indra]], the god-king of heaven. Indra used his celestial weapon the [[Vajra]] (thunderbolt) and drove Vishvavasu's head and thighs into his body. Vishvavasu pleaded that he be given a way to find and eat food. Upon Vishvavasu's beseeching, Indra gave him two long arms and a mouth on his belly. Indra also decreed that Kabandha would regain his original form when Rama severs his arms.<ref name = "Mani">{{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 0-8426-0822-2|pages = [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/361 361–2]}}</ref><ref name = "williams">{{cite book|last=Williams|first=George Mason|title=Handbook of Hindu mythology|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2003|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068/page/166 166]–7|chapter=Kabandha|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068|url-access=registration|quote=Kabandha.|isbn=978-1-57607-106-9}}</ref>

The ''Ramayana'' further adds: Kabandha spent his days near the hermitage of the sage Matanga in the Krauncha forest. There, he spent his time scaring sages. Once, Kabandha attacked the sage Stulashira, who cursed him to remain in his hideous form for eternity. Upon Kabandha's pleading, the sage reduced his curse and said that Kabandha would be freed of his form, once Rama and Lakshmana sever his arms. So Kabandha waited in that forest for Rama's arrival.<ref name="swami"/><ref name = "Mani"/> Growse suspected the tale to be a later interpolation arguing that it does not appear in all versions/translations of the original Ramayana.<ref name="Tulsidas" />

The ''Adhyatma Ramayana'' tells that Kabandha (the name Vishvavasu is not used) was a Gandharva chief, who was blessed by Brahma with immortality. He was "drunk with the wine of youth and beauty" and used to roam the universe's enchanting beautiful maidens. Once, he laughed at the sage [[Ashtavakra]] ("one who was eight deformities"), who cursed him to become a Rakshasa, though the sage assured him that Rama would free him of the curse.<ref name="arkabandha">{{cite book | last=Munilal | title=अध्यात्मरामायण - हिन्दी अनुवादसहित |trans-title=Adhyatma Ramayana, with Hindi translation | language=sa, hi | isbn=978-81-293-0014-0 | year=2008 | publisher=[[Gita Press]] | location=Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India | page=136}}</ref> Still arrogant, Kabandha once chased Indra. The rest of the Indra episode mirrors the Ramayana telling.<ref name = "adhyatma"/>

The ''Mahabharata'' tells that Kabandha was a Gandharva named Vishvavasu in his previous life and was cursed by Brahma to be born "from a Rakshasa womb".<ref name="mbh"/> The ''Mahavira-Charita'' calls Kabandha's real form Danu, son of Sri.<ref name = "bhavabhuti"/> The ''Bhattikavya'' does not explicitly name Kabandha. He is introduced as "a dreadful demon that was always hungry and being endowed with long arms". Later, he is identified as Sri's son, who was cursed by an ascetic.<ref name="Bhatti">{{cite book|last=Bhaṭṭi, G. G. Leonardi|title=Bhaṭṭikāvyam|publisher=BRILL|year=1972|pages=46–8|chapter=Canto 1: 45-58}}</ref> The ''Ramacharitamanas'' tells that Kabandha was cursed by the sage [[Durvasa]], who is known for his hot temper in Hindu mythology.<ref name = "Tulsidas">{{cite book|last=Tulasīdāsa, Frederic Salmon Growse|title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Tulasīdāsa|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|year=1998|edition=2|pages=451, 453|chapter=Caupai 31}}</ref>

==Etymology and description of the demonic form==
[[File:Kabandha rakshasa.jpg|thumb|Rama (left) and Lakshamana seated on the arms of Kabandha, about to sever his arms, a 19th-century painting from [[Tiruchchirappalli]].]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' describes him thus: Kabandha was "as big as a mountain, dark as a black cloud, with pointed hairs all over his body and looked fierce with a voice as loud as thunder. He had an eye on his stomach, round and yellow, emitting a glare like a fire-flame. Looking wicked he thrust his big tongue out of his huge mouth licking the sides."<ref name = "Mani"/> The ''Ramayana'' presents a similar description of Kabandha. Kabandha had a broad chest and was without a head or neck. He had only one eye on his chest and a mouth on his belly. He used his long arms to draw his prey closer.<ref name="swami"/> Kabandha is often depicted as a tree.<ref name = "williams"/>

Since Vishvavasu now did not have a head, but just two arms and a mouth on his stomach, he came to be known as the [[Rakshasa]] (demon) Kabandha, the "headless torso".<ref name = "Mani"/> The word Kabandha is often used to describe a large big-bellied barrel or a headless trunk, shaped like a barrel, which retains its vitality.<ref name = "Monier">{{cite web|url=http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0251-kapilagItA.jpg|title=Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary|last=Monier-Williams|year=2008|page=251|access-date=19 April 2010|orig-year = 1899}}</ref>

Adhyatma Ramayana tells that Kabandha was a fierce cannibal and his arms were eight miles long. His huge face – which had no eyes or ears – was at his chest. He had no head or legs.<ref name = "adhyatma">{{cite book|last=Chandan Lal Dhody|title=The Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇa: concise English version|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|year=1995|pages=99–101|chapter=Redemption of Kabandha}}</ref>

==Encounter with Rama==
[[File:Killing of Kabandha.jpg|thumb|left|The exiled princes Rama and Lakshamana were caught by Kabandha, whose arms they severed.]]
The ''Ramayana'' narrates: Rama, his consort [[Sita]] and his brother [[Lakshmana]] were exiled to the forest for a 14-year period. While in the forest, Sita was kidnapped by the demon-king [[Ravana]]. Rama was informed of Sita's fate by the dying vulture [[Jatayu]], who had been mortally wounded in trying to save her. Searching for Sita, Rama and Lakshmana reached the Krauncha forest, where Kabandha dwelt.<ref name = "Mani"/>

[[File:Kabandha tells Rama and Laksmana how he came to have his hideous form.jpg|thumb|Kabandha tells Rama and Laksmana how he came to have his hideous form]]
Suddenly, Kabandha appeared before them. The demon blocked the path of the brothers, who tried to escape by taking a different route, but was finally caught by Kabandha.<ref name="swami">{{cite book|last=[[Valmiki]], Swami Venkatesananda |title=The concise Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki|publisher=SUNY Press|year=1988|pages=170–2|chapter=Aranya Kanda 69 – 73|isbn=0-88706-863-4}}</ref> The demon grabbed Rama in his right arm and Lakshmana in his left. Finding themselves helpless in Kabandha's clutches, Lakshmana appeals to Rama to escape and find Sita, leaving him behind as a sacrifice to the demon. Rama consoled him. Kabandha declared that he was extremely hungry and asked them who they were who had come to sate his hunger. At this time, Lakshmana realized that the strength of the demon lay in his hands and suggested that they cut off the demon's hands. Annoyed by the brothers' conversation, Kabandha decided to eat them at once and drew them closer to his mouth. The brothers drew their swords and quickly cut off the arms of the demon, who fell down with a mighty roar.<ref name="swami"/><ref name = "Mani"/>

The fallen Kabandha again asked for the names of his vanquishers. Lakshmana introduced himself and Rama and asked the demon who he was. Kabandha narrated his story to the brothers and declared that he recognized Rama by the very fact that Rama had severed his arms. Kabandha requested that Rama perform his cremation rites, offered him what information he could, and died.<ref name="swami"/><ref name = "Mani"/>

While other adaptations tell a tale about the encounter similar to ''Ramayana'', ''Mahavira-Charita'' is a notable exception. A woman called Shramana is caught in the clutches of Kabandha and calls for help. While roaming in the Dandaka forest, Rama hears her call and sends Lakshmana to check. Lakshmana kills Kabandha and leads Shramana to Rama. Shramana turns out to be a messenger of [[Vibhishana]] (Bibhishana) – brother of Ravana – who has joined forces with Sugriva against Ravana.<ref name = "bhavabhuti">{{cite book|last=Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi|title=Bhavabhūti: his date, life, and works |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|year=1996|page=139|chapter=The Mahavira-charita}}</ref> ''Anargharaghava'' mirrors the ''Mahavira-Charita'', replacing Shramana with Guha, a forest chief who leads them to Sugriva.<ref name = "Murari">{{cite book|last=Arthur Berriedale Keith|title=The Sanskrit drama in its origin, development, theory & practice|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|year=1992|page=228|chapter=Anargharaghava}}</ref>

==Counsel to Rama==
The ''Ramayana'' narrates: the brothers burnt Kabandha's corpse on a funeral pyre. As the pyre was lit, Kabandha's demon form melted and from the flames Vishvavasu rose up in the air in his celestial form, dressed in spotless garments and finery as a chariot from heaven appears to get him. Vishvavasu told the brothers that to fight calamity there are six ways, one of which to nurture a friendship with someone, who is in trouble. He advised the brothers to find the monkey ([[vanara]]) king [[Sugriva]], who would guide them in the quest for Sita. Vishvavasu informed Rama that Sugriva was driven out of his kingdom by his own brother [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vali]] and that Rama should help Sugriva regain his kingdom. The deposed Sugriva dwelt at Rsyamukha hill. Vishvavasu then described in detail the route to Rsyamukha hill. He advised Rama to travel in the western direction till he reached the Pampa lake in the region called Matangavana where sage Matanga's hermitage once stood. Ram would meet vanaras at this lake and also sage Matanga's aged female disciple [[Shabari]], who is waiting for him and after Rama's visit, would ascend to heaven. To east of Matangavana is the Rsyamukha hill, which has an arduous path up. Kabandha revealed that one who ascends to the top of this hill, his dreams come true. Kabandha also assured Rama that his sorrows would end after reaching this hill, where Sugriva dwelt in a cave on the side on the hill. Kabandha then disappears.<ref name="swami"/><ref name = "Mani"/>

[[File:Vanaras search sita.jpg|thumb|left|300px|As per the advice of Kabandha, Rama forms an alliance with Sugriva. Rama seated with Sugriva as the vanaras look for Sita in all directions. (17th-century painting from manuscripts commissioned by Rana Jagat Singh.)]]
The ''Mahabharata'' corroborates the Ramayana account. Vishvavasu tells Rama to seek the help of Sugriva, who would know where Ravana stays. Kabandha also assured Rama that he would definitely meet Sita again.<ref name="mbh"/> In the ''Mahavira-Charita'', the divine person that leaves the funeral pyre informs Rama that he is Danu and a curse had turned him in a demon, who was manipulated by [[Malyavan]] – Ravana's chief adviser – to create havoc in the region. He expresses his gratitude to Rama and cautions him that Malyavan has also set Vali against him.<ref name = "bhavabhuti"/>

In ''Bhattikavya'', Jatayu dies in the arms of Rama without revealing that Sita is in the clutches of Ravana. After his arms are chopped, the unnamed demon – identified with Kabandha – falls and starts his counsel. The funeral pyre scene is dropped here. The demon tells Rama that Ravana abducted Sita and has taken her to [[Lanka]]. He advises Rama to form an alliance with Sugriva, without which Ravana will not be overcome. He advises Rama to negotiate a deal with Sugriva as per which Rama will kill Vali and end Sugriva's sorrows and in return, Sugriva would mobilize his forces to defeat Ravana. The demon praises Rama, who purified the demon by his sword. The demon urges Rama to believe him as he is telling the truth. At last, the demon transforms into a radiant divine being as he was telling the truth and plunges into the sky.<ref name="Bhatti"/>

''Kamba Ramayana'' concurs with the Ramayana account about the counsel, but adds a panegyric on Rama by the celestial Danu. Danu exalts Rama as an incarnation of Vishnu and even compares him to baby [[Krishna]], another incarnation of Vishnu.<ref name="kamban">{{cite book|last= K. S. Srinivasan|title=Rāmāyaṇam as told by Vālmīki and Kamban|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=1994|pages=135–137}}</ref> ''Raghuvamsa'', which is a summary of the lives of ancestors of Rama and his own, does not mention the details of the killing of Kabandha, however, it acknowledges the counsel. In a passing reference, it notes: "At the advice of Kabandha, who by death escaped from curse, there grew up a friendship between Rama and the monkey-chief (Sugriva)".<ref>{{cite book|last= Kālidāsa, C.R. Devadhar|title=Raghuvamśa of Kālidāsa|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|year=1997|chapter=Verse 57, Canto 12|page = 229}}</ref>

Rama and Lakshmana took Kabandha's advice and reached Pampa Lake.<ref name="swami"/> There, as per Kabandha's prophecy, they met Shabari and then Sugriva. An alliance with Sugriva would finally help Rama defeat Ravana and save Sita.

The ''Adhyatma Ramayana'', the ''Mahavira-charita'', the ''Anargharaghava'' and the ''Ramacharitamanas'' do not discuss the counsel at all and credit Shabari or Shramana or Guha as the one who leads Rama to Sugriva.<ref name = "adhyatma"/><ref name="Tulsidas" /><ref name = "bhavabhuti"/><ref name = "Murari"/> In the ''Adhyatma Ramayana'', Kabandha appears from the pyre as a divine being and reveals his true identity as a cursed Gandharva. He further extols Rama in a hymn stating that various worlds and deities are embedded in parts of his body and Rama is the Supreme being and then disappears.<ref name = "adhyatma"/>

==See also==
* [[Blemmyes (legendary creatures)]]
* [[Xing Tian]]
* [[Humbaba]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kabandha.htm Kabandha on Mythfolklore]

{{Ramayana}}

{{Good article}}

[[Category:Rakshasa in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Mythological monsters]]
[[Category:Gandharvas]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]

Kabandha - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 18:00, 18 September 2023