Kumbhakarna Awakens

In the heart of the great war of Lanka, Ravana found his forces dwindling against the might of Lord Rama and his vanara army. In desperation, he turned to his younger brother, the giant Kumbhakarna, who was cursed by Brahma to sleep for six months at a time. Waking him was no small feat. Thousands of rakshasas gathered, blowing conchs, beating massive drums, and shouting with all their might. They brought mountains of meat and rivers of wine to tempt his senses. They even drove herds of elephants over his massive body. Finally, the earth-shaking giant stirred and awoke. Though Kumbhakarna reprimanded Ravana for kidnapping Sita and ignored his brother’s folly, his sense of kinship was absolute. He knew the path led to death, yet out of loyalty, he marched onto the battlefield. Towering over the armies, he caused havoc until he finally met Lord Rama. Despite his incredible power, Kumbhakarna was eventually slain by Rama’s divine arrows, attaining liberation in his final moments while fulfilling his duty to his brother.