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{{short description|Younger brother of Ravana in the Ramayana}}
{{about|the brother of demon king Ravana|the mountain in Nepal|Kumbhakarna Mountain}}
{{Distinguish|Kumbha of Mewar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = hindu
| consort = {{ubl|Vajrajvala|Karkati|Taritamala|Aswani}}
| children = [[Kumbha]] and [[Nikumbha]] (from Vajrajvala) Bhimasura (from Karkati) Mulakasura (from Taritamala Aswanikumbha (from Aswani) Devabhi (Stepson from Karkati and Anuloma)
| relatives =
| affiliation = [[Rakshasa]]
| parents = [[Vishrava]] (father) [[Kaikashi]] (mother)
| siblings = [[Ravana]], [[Vibhishana]] (brothers) [[Shurpanakha]] (sister)
| texts = [[Ramayana]] and its versions
| name = Kumbhakarna
| image = The Demon Kumbhkaran finally wakes up and eats (6125069010).jpg
| caption = Depiction of Kumbhakarna
}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}

'''Kumbhakarna''' ([[Sanskrit]]: कुम्भकर्ण, lit. ''pot-eared'') is a powerful [[rakshasa]] and younger brother of [[Ravana]] from the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] epic ''[[Ramayana]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Valmiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&dq=kumbhakarna+rakshasa&pg=PT3691 |title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated) |last2=Vyasa |date=2018-05-19 |publisher=Delphi Classics |isbn=978-1-78656-128-2 |language=en}}</ref> Despite his gigantic size and appetite, he is described as a virtuous character and a great warrior in [[Hindu texts]]. He is said to have slaughtered 8,000 [[vanara]]s over the course of [[Rama]]'s mission to rescue [[Sita]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Valmiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkSzznK3VuEC&dq=kumbhakarna+vanara&pg=PA309 |title=The Concise Ramayana of Valmiki |last2=Venkatesananda |first2=Swami |date=1988-01-01 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-88706-862-1 |language=English}}</ref>

[[Vibhishana]] narrated that Kumbhakarna had been born with immense strength, having subdued both [[Indra]] and [[Yama]], striking the former in the chest with the broken tusk of [[Airavata]]. At the bequest of [[Indra]], [[Brahma]] cursed the rakshasa to "sleep like he is dead". On Ravana's request, he commuted the curse to have the rakshasa sleep for six months at a time, and wake up for other six months to wreak havoc and devour to his heart's content.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parameswaran |first=Mangalam R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzjsDwAAQBAJ&dq=kumbhakarna+indra&pg=PA223 |title=The Ramayana of Valmiki (A condensed version of Valmiki's epic): , published by Manipal Universal Press |date=2013-04-19 |publisher=Manipal Universal Press |isbn=978-93-82460-08-4 |language=en}}</ref>

In a popular retelling of this tale, Kumbhakarna, accompanied by his brothers Ravana and [[Vibhishana]], performed a major [[yajna]] to please [[Lord Brahma|Brahma]]. Indra was worried and jealous of his strength so he went to Brahma before Kumbhakarna's boon could come to fruition.

When Kumbhakarna asked for his boon, his tongue was tied by the goddess [[Saraswati]], who acted on Indra's request. Instead of asking for ''Indrāsana'' (the throne of Indra), he asked for ''Nidrāsana'' (a bed for sleeping).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murty |first=Sudha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e2puDwAAQBAJ&dq=indrasana+nidrasana&pg=PT62 |title=The Upside-Down King: Unusual Tales about Rama and Krishna |date=2018-09-25 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-81-8475-417-9 |language=en}}</ref> It is also said that he intended to ask for ''Nirdevatvam'' (annihilation of the devas) and instead asked for ''Nidravatvam'' (sleep). His request was instantly granted. However, his brother Ravana requested Brahma to undo this curse as a boon and Brahma reduced it to sleeping for six months, after which he would sleep again as soon as his appetite was satisfied.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto|pages=439|isbn=978-0-8426-0822-0 }}</ref>

== Life ==

=== Origin ===
In the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Kumbhakarna is said to be the incarnation of the gatekeeper deity [[Jaya-Vijaya|Vijaya]]. Vijaya, along with his brother and fellow gatekeeper [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya]], was punished by the [[Four Kumaras]] for impiety while they guarded the sacred realm of [[Vishnu]]. Vijaya was initially sentenced to mortality, but after appealing to Vishnu, their sentences were reduced to just three lifetimes, allowing them to return to [[Vaikuntha]]. While his brother Jaya became Ravana, Vijaya became Kumbhakarna during their second of three incarnations on Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Srimad Bhagavatam |url=https://bhagavata.org/downloads/bhagavata-compl.html |access-date=November 2, 2022 |website=Bhagavata}}</ref>

=== Personality ===
[[File: Waking up Kumbhakarna.jpg|thumb|The demons try to rouse the giant Kumbhakarna by hitting him with weapons and clubs and shouting in his ear, 17th century, [[British Museum]]]]Kumbhakarna is portrayed as a loyal, powerful, and fearless character who fought to defend his brother and land out of obligation and affection.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalachari |title=RAMAYANA retold by C. Rajagopalachari |publisher= |pages=168–169}}</ref> He had a great appetite and slept for six months at a time.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lakhani |first1=Om |last2=Lakhani |first2=Jitendra |date=May 2015 |title=Kumbhakarna: Did he suffer from the disorder of the hypothalamus? |journal=Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=433–434 |doi=10.4103/2230-8210.152795 |doi-access=free |pmid=25932405 |pmc=4366788 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalachari |title=RAMAYANA retold by C. Rajagopalachari |pages=186–188}}</ref>

=== Family ===

Kumbhakarna's father is [[Vishrava]], and his siblings are [[Ravana]], [[Vibhishana]], and [[Shurpanakha]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalachari |title=RAMAYANA retold by C. Rajagopalachari |pages=83}}</ref> He has two sons, Kumbha and [[Nikumbha]], with his wife Vajrajwala, the daughter of Bali and granddaughter of [[Virochana]], who also fought in the war against Rama and was killed.<ref>M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao (1964), pp. 149, 367</ref>
==In the war==
[[File:Depiction of Raavan in Ramayan book by legendary Bengali writer and painter Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury.png|thumb|left| Giant Warrior Kumbhakarna fighting Vanara Army]]
In defense of his kingdom, Ravana charged into battle and was humiliated by [[Rama]] and his army after underestimating his enemy. He decided he needed the help of his brother Kumbhakarna, who woke up only after 1,000 elephants walked over him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Venkataraman |first=M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P85yEAAAQBAJ&dq=Kumbakarna+elephants+walked&pg=PA52 |title=A few gods and goddesses of Hinduism |date=2022-06-03 |publisher=Venkataraman M |language=en}}</ref>

When informed of Ravana's war with Rama, Kumbhakarna tried to convince Ravana that what he was doing was wrong, that Rama is the [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]], and that [[Sita]] is an avatar of [[Lakshmi]]. However, Ravana was deaf to these words and Kumbhakarna chose to fight in the battle due to loyalty and affection for his brother and homeland.<ref name=":1" /> He joined the battle and devastated Rama's army. After a battle against [[Hanuman]] and [[Sugriva]], he knocked the latter unconscious and took him prisoner.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Swaminathan |first=L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A47vDwAAQBAJ&dq=kumbakarna+battle&pg=PA85 |title=Vaalmeeki Raamaayan: A Revelation |date=2018-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-4216-8 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Lakshmana]] and Kumbhakarna dueled for a long period, leaving both of them exhausted.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maharajan |first=S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=axrNqdyguSQC&dq=kumbakarna+hanuman+battle&pg=PA74 |title=Kamban |date=1996 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-7201-244-1 |language=en}}</ref> In his battle against Rama, Kumbhakarna had one arm cut off by the ''Vayuastra'' and the other mutilated by the Indrastra. Still, he raged towards Rama, opening his mouth to swallow him whole, and was met with a volley of arrows. In the [[Kamba Ramayanam]], Kumbhakarna acknowledges the divinity of Rama, but informs him of his [[dharma]] to fight for his brother, and only urges the prince to keep Vibhishana safe from harm.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tampi |first=Pa Patmanāpan̲ |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N2oJAAAAIAAJ&q=Kumbakarna+prays+to+Rama |title=Ramayanas of Kampan and Eluttacchan |date=1996 |publisher=O. Padmakumari |language=en}}</ref> With his desire granted, he charged against Rama with his feet severed by crescent arrows. He was slain only when the [[Indrastra]] was deployed by Rama. Kumbakarna's head was decapitated, and is described to have smashed several buildings and fortifications before descending towards the sea.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Aravamudan |first=Krishnan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJe9BAAAQBAJ&dq=vayuastra+kumbakarna&pg=PA569 |title=Pure Gems of Ramayanam |date=2014-09-22 |publisher=Partridge |isbn=978-1-4828-3720-9 |language=en}}</ref> When Ravana heard of his brother's death, he fainted and later proclaimed that he was doomed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto|pages=450|isbn=978-0-8426-0822-0 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ravana]]
* [[Ramayana]]
* [[Rama]]
* [[Sita]]
* [[Rakshasa]]

== Literature ==
* "Kumbhakarna" in M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi''), Pune 1964, pp. 149-151

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category}}
* [http://www.lankalibrary.com/myths/kumbha.htm Sri Lanka, Virtual Library. KUMBHAKARNA]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=KRxHAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA22 Pot-Ear's Awakening]. From the Ramayana, as translated by [[Arthur W. Ryder]]

{{Ramayana}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category: Rakshasa in the Ramayana]]
[[Category: Characters in the Ramayana]]

Kumbhakarna - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:41, 22 March 2026