Boons for the brothers

Nikasha remained in the ashrama of her husband living a life like humans. One day Ravana was sitting on the lap of his mother, when Kubera came to see his father. Pointing to him, Nikasha said This is your step brother, the lord of wealth. He lives in Lanka which was ours. If you can win him and get Lanka, I will be happy.
Ravana said he would grab Lanka back. For that, he said, he needed to perform penance, please the Gods and get boons.
Along with his brothers, Ravana went and started praying. They chose the forest of Gokarna to pray. Kumbhakarna prayed standing upside down.In the summers, they stood near fire and prayed. In winters, they stood in cold waters and prayed. They forgot sleep and hunger. Soon their hair became matted and they were reduced to skin and bones. For five thousand years they prayed. The Gods were afraid. What did the rakshasas need? They went to Brahma and asked him to do something.
Brahma went to the brothers and asked them to ask for a boon. Ravana said he wanted to be immortal. Brahma said that would not be possible. Ravana said then he did not want anything else. Brahma went away and Ravana resumed his worship. Ravana then started cutting off and sacrificing his heads one by one. After nine heads were cut off, Ravana was about to cut off the last head with his sword when Brahma appeared before him and asked him to stop. Ravana asked for immortality which Brahma refused. Ravana then said if immortality was not possible, then he should be victorious when he fought Gods, Asuras, Yakshas. Brahma said So be it. Brahma said there were the humans and the vanaras left. Ravana said he did not fear them. Ravana then asked for his cut heads to be restored. Brahma said If your heads are cut off, you will not die.
Brahma then went to Vibhishana who asked that he should not sway from the path of truth. Brahma blessed Vibhishana with immortality.
Brahma then went to Kumbhakarna. The Gods were afraid seeing this. Kumbhakarna was ferocious even without any boons. What he asked for something. They asked Saraswati to intervene. They asked her to sit on Kumbhakarna's tongue. When Brahma asked him what he wanted, he was to say he wanted to sleep. The goddess entered his throat. When Brahma asked him what he wanted, he said he wanted to sleep for ever. Brahma said So be it. Saraswati left.
When Ravana heard this he appealed to Brahma to do something. Brahma said You brother will sleep for six months, wake for a day, then go back to sleep.. He will have immense strength and appetite. If he is woken untimely, he will meet his end. Brahma left and Ravana and Vibhishana then carried Kumbhakarna back home, on their shoulders.

Ravana's grief

The rakshashas who managed to escape alive rushed to inform  Ravana about the fall of Kumbhakarna.
In Lanka, Ravana was anxious since he had sent Kumbhakarna for war. He felt sure that Kumbhakarna would come back victorious and a messenger would soon come with the news of his brother's victory.
He started thinking of what all he would do, once Kumbhakarna returned.
While he was thus thinking, he heard some noises. This was the noise coming from the Gods and sages  celebrating. This had never happened with his brother being alive. What had happened?

A messenger then arrived there. Hesitating he told Ravana that Kumbhakarna had fallen.

Ravana fell down on the ground hearing this. Some of the rakshasas rushed and lifted Ravana and made him sit on a throne
Coming to his senses, Ravana started crying and grieving over the death of his brother. He said - I am the killer of my brother. I sent him to war. All were afraid of you, O brother. Where have you gone? Today Lanka has become empty. I will now have to die.

Kumbhakarna falls

Sugriva had been unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he saw himself in the arms of Kumbhakarna, being carried around in Lanka. He saw golden houses all around and not a single vanara in sight. Something had to done done quickly. Sugriva grabbed onto Kumbhakarna's ears and nose. With bites and scratches, Sugriva clawed off the ears. Kumbhakarna, in terrible pain, let go off Sugriva. Taking the ears and part of the nose, Sugriva fled till he reached back the camp of Rama.

Kumbhakarna was angry and frustrated. In rage, he rushed back to the battlefield. He went and started swallowing vanaras, who again started escaping from the holes in his head, where his ears and nose were.

Lakshmana seeing this came to face Kumbhakarna. The demon said Call your borther Rama. Let me fight him.
Rama came and smiled and said Finally you have called your death. I will kill you and then I will kill your brother Ravana.
Kumbhakarna said - I am not Khara or Dushana, nor am I Trishira, Kabandha or Maricha. I have a body strong like rock. I am Kumbhakarna. Try all your weapons on me and let me see what you can do.

Rama shot an arrow which pricked Kumbhakarna like a pin. Kumbhakarna said Is this what you can do?

Kumbhakarna then started flinging his mace around. Many vanaras fell. The rest started fleeing. Seeing this, Lakshmana said to the vanaras - Instead of running, climb up on Kumbhakarna's back and push him to the ground. Once he is on the ground, start hitting him.

When the vanaras climbked up on Kumbhakarna, the demon brushed them aside.

Rama then invoking the weapon of Brahma, cut off Kumbhakarna's right hand. When the hand fell, many vanaras got crushed under that hand. Uprooting a tree with his left hand, Kumbhakarna resumed his fight. Rama, with asharp arrow cut off the left hand. Invoking the weapon of Indra, Rama cut off Kumbhakarna's legs.

Falling, he dragged himself to swallow Rama. Rama then invoked the weapon of Brahma again. Kumbhakarna's head rolled off his shoulder. 

Kumbhakarna captures Sugriva

Kumbhakarna went to get ready when Mahodara came to him. He said - Now that you are awake, you r wives want to see you. Do visit them once.

Kumbhakarna said - This was not the time, when the enemy had attacked. If all goes well, I will come back and spend time with them.

Ravana came to decorate Kumbhakarna himself, to get him ready for war.

With his head nearly touching the skies, Kumbhakarna stepped out. He let out a loud roar.

The vanaras were scared and started fleeing. Seeing this Angada shouted at them. he asked to fight and die and not flee. The vanaras then started showering rocks and trees at Kumbhakarna.

Angry and Irritated, Kumbhakarna took his spear and hurled that at the vanaras. Many vanaras lost their lives, pierced by the spear.

He then caught hold of a few vanaras, and started swallowing them.

In fear, the vanaras started fleeing.

The brave vanara, Nila, saw this. He uprooted a tall sal tree and flung that at the demon. The tree struck Kumbhakarna and broke into pieces.

Some vanaras climbed onto his body but Kumbhakarna started catching them gulping them. The vanaras then started escaping through his nose and ears.

Kumbhakarna then started striking out with his mace. Angada and Hanumana fell on the ground, getting hit. Hanumana rose up in the sky and big rocks, broke the mace of Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna then hit Hanumana who feel down on the ground.

Sugriva saw this and decided to attack. He uprooted trees and went attacked Kumbhakarna. the trees broke. Kumbhakarna flung weapons of Sugriva, who dodged them and then hurled some at the demon. Kumbhakarna then took a mountain and hurled that at Sugriva. Sugriva was crushed under the mountain. Seeing this as his chance, Kumbhakarna grabbed Sugriva and decided to take him as a prize to Ravana.

Kumbhakarna meets Ravana

Ravana greeted Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna said - Whom do you fear? Let me know and I will kill your enemy.
Ravana said What do you know of the problems that Lanka has been facing, while you kept sleeping. We are three brothers and one sister. When our sister was widowed, she wanted to live independently in the forests and I let her. I had kept her in a forest on the other side of the ocean, and had sent Khara and Dushana to be with her, for her protection and safety.
In Ayodhya, Dashratha had four sons, of whom the eldest was Rama. Dashratha gave the throne to Bharata and drove away Rama.
When Rama and Lakshmana saw Surpanakha plucking flowers, they cut off her nose and ears. Rama killed Khara and Dushana when they came to help Surpanakha.
When Surpanakha came cried in front of me, I did not know what to do. I went and brought over Rama's wife.

Rama got help from Sugriva, brother of Vali and has come and attacked Lanka. There is an old bear with them who keeps telling them what to do.

They have built a bridge over the ocean using trees and rocks.

On the western gate, they have setup came and many great rakshasha warriors have been killed.

Kumbhakarna said - I do not think Rama and Lakshmana are ordinary people. I feel that they are Narayana, in the guise of humans.

Ravana said - If this was Narayana, why were they roaming in the forests?

Kumbhakarna said - Maybe they are ascetics.

Ravana said - Then why are they are here and not in a pilgrimage?

Kumbhakarna said - Maybe because they are born in a royal family.

Ravana said - Then why the matted hair of their heads?

Kumbhakarna said - Maybe Rama is hunting.

Ravana said - Then does Rama have the sacred thread around his shoulder.

Kumbhakarna said - Maybe he is a celibate.

Ravana said - Then does Rama have a woman with him?

Ravana said - What is Rama's greatness? He goes to a low caste person, if he is called. He created his matted hair, by applying sap of trees in his hair. What Indra and other Gods did not dare, Rama did. He entered Lanka. He crossed the mighty ocean, bridging it.

Vibhishana went joined Rama. All told me to return Sita. If I do that, all will laugh.

Kumbhakarna said - You do not have able ministers in your court. Sugriva is no less in strength, than Vali. You have been misguided and have acted in a manner which is not correct.

Ravana was furious when he heard this. He said - All you do is sleep, while I fight my wars. You can give me advice, but can you fight my battle for me?

Kumbhakarna said - Vibhishana had advised you well, but you did not listen. I am there. I will fight for you. I will kill Rama for you and get you his head.

Saying this, Kumbhakarna went to get ready for battle.

Kumbhakarna

Kumbhakarna said - I think I know why I awakened. It must be Indra, who has attacked again. Every time he comes, he suffers defeat and goes away. He does not learn from that. Even if Yama comes, I will swallow Yama.

A rakshasha called Virupaksha, with folded hands, said to Kumbhakarna - Do not get angry on the Gods. Indra has not done anything. It is men and vanaras who have attacked. Surpanakha's nose and ears were cut by Lakshmana. Ravana brought over Rama's Sita. Hanumana jumped across the ocean and burnt Lanka.

Kumbhakarna said Let me go and win the battle with Rama and the I will meet Ravana.

A rakshahsa, Mahodara, said the king had not ordered for the battle. Kumbhakarna felt hungry again. Food was got for him.

Kumbhakarna came out. He stood watching out for the fighting armies. So big was his size, that he was visible, when he stood near the walls of Lanka.

Kumbhakarna stepped over the wall and marched towards the vanaras, who seeing the size of Kumbhakarna, fled.

Rama asked Vibhishana, where this great warrior hiding till now?

Vibhishana said He is my brother Kumbhakarna. If he fights with his mace in his hand, he can win over the three worlds. When he was born, he started eating up all who were near him. When Indra had attacked him with his thunderbolt, Kumbhakarna had swallowed the thunderbolt. Seeing Indra's elephant, Airavata, he had pulled one of the tusks of the elephant and had hurled that at Indra.
When we three brothers had sat at the pilgrimage, Gokarna, and had prayed to Brahma, Brahma had appeared and had asked us to ask for boons.
Brahma had blessed Ravana saying he would be victorious over all except men and vanaras. I was blessed with immortality.
When it was time for Kumbhakarna, Indra and the other Gods were scared. Without any boon, Kumbhakarna was fercious. Any boons and he would destroy the world. They asked Saraswati for help.
The Goddess went and sat on Kumbhakarna's tongue. When Brahma asked Kumbhakarna what he wanted, he said he just wanted to sleep. Brahma said so be it - sleep for ever.

Ravana was shocked to hear this. He went to Brahma and asked him to change the boon. Brahma said For six months, Kumbhakarna would sleep. He would get up for one day, and then go back to sleep.
If he was woken untimely, it would be the end of him.

So saying, Brahma had vanished.

Kumbhakarna went off to sleep and we had to carry him on our shoulders.

Today he had been woken untimely, which means he will die in your hands, Rama.



--------


Kumbhakarna steeped back into Lanka and went to meet Ravana. 

Kumbhakarna awakened

Ravana felt very insulated, having had to return back from the battlefield, defeated. He realized Nandi's words were coming true.
After having defeated Kubera, when Ravana was returning home, he had stopped at Mount Kailasha. There he had met Nandi, who was guarding the door of Shiva. Ravana had said he wanted to meet Shiva and Durga but Nandi had not allowed him. Ravana had then insulted the monkey faced Nandi. Nandi had cursed him saying the monkey that he had taunted would result in his end. Ravana had a boon to return victorious in battle in all except man and monkey, and that was coming true now. Ravana realized it was time to wake up Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna, who slept for six months.Five months were over, one more month was left. But there was no time, he had to be woken up.

Ravana asked people to gather food for Kumbhakarna. Various types of meat and drink were arranged.

It was huge long room where Kumbhakarna was sleeping. So big was it, that it was impossible to see the complete room standing in one place. On a big gem studded cot lay the sleeping demon.

The rakshashas who had come to wake up Kumbhakarna were flying around in the room, being dragged around by Kumbhakarna's inhaling and exhaling.

The clever ones carefully stepped int the room with barrels of drink. Countless musical instruments were played. Cold sandalwood paste on Kumbhakarna's body to wake him. Goats and sheep were brought in, who went inside his nose but never came out. When smell of food and drink did not wake him, the rakshashas started hitting Kumbhakarna with rocks and trees. The huge demon was injured but did not wake.

What to do? A demon suggested getting women to lie next to Kumbhakarna. All the demon did was turn on his side, and the women fled in fear. Now that Kumbhakarna had turned, food was brought closer to his nose. With a big yawn he sat. 'Why was I woken up, untime;y' He asked.

Ravana was informed that Kumbhakarna was awake. Ravana wanted to meet him. This was conveyed to Kumbhakarna. The demon washed his face and finished all the food in front of him.