SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(Some interesting information is being shared about Kumbhakarna and Vibheeshana in this episode. Please read, comment and share.SDN)

KUMBHAKARNA:  Kumbhakarna did a fierce penance to appease Lord Brahma for thirty-six lakh years. Before doing the penance, he had swallowed seven female Apsaras, ten servants of Devendra and innumerable Rishis and human beings. As his past life was so horrible, the gods and goddesses feared that with the power of a boon, he might swallow all the three worlds. They met Lord Brahma and appealed to him not to grant any boon. Even if a boon were to be given, it should be such that it should not be of any use to him and that it should be in the interest of the universe. Lord Brahma too summoned his consort Goddess Saraswati. He told her to stay on the tongue of Kumbhakarna and make him seek a boon as being mentioned by the deities. Kumbhakarna opened his mouth to seek “NirdEvatwam dEhi”, which would have meant “No deities should be there”. When he was about to spell what he wanted to tell, Goddess Saraswati made his tongue aver “NidrAvatwam dEhi”, which meant “Give me an eternal sleep”. As a result, he had to be asleep always. He was three lakh yojana tall and his physical width was appropriate to his height. He contracted his body to live in Lanka. He slept in a cave that Ravana arranged for him. He married Vidyujjihwa, who was the daughter of one of the daughters of Emperor Bali.

VIBHEESHANA: Vibheeshana did penance for eighteen lakh years by standing on a single leg to appease Lord Sri Hari. Again, he impressed Lord Sri Hari by studying the Vedas for eighteen lakh years by staying beside Lord Sun and keeping his both hands joined above the head. Impressed with his penance, Lord Brahma blessed him by stating “May your faith and interest in Dharma remain unaltered under the most trying situations and your devotion to Lord Sri Hari increase.”  He married Sarama, a daughter of a Gandharva king called Shailusha. Sarama was born on the shores of Manas Sarovar. At the time of her birth, the Sarovar swelled.  Therefore, her mother said “SarO mA” that meant “Oh Sarovar, do not swell” and her name became “SaramA”.