SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S
SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI
(ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ
ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ)
Kabandha’s background/ಕಬಂಧನ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ
Kabandha, before leaving this Earth in the divine Air
Plane that was waiting to take him to the heavens, told Lakshmana: “My name is
Danu and I am a servant of Lord Indra. I was so charming that it is beyond
imagination. I was very proud of my beauty. As I could assume any shape or form
at will, I used to assume horrible forms of demon and frighten Rishis and
ascetics for fun. Once, I assumed my present form to frighten a Muni called
“SthUlaShirA”, who immediately cursed me to remain in the same form forever. I realized
my mistake, fell at his feet and appealed to pardon me. Then, the Muni said ‘Srirama
will come to the forest along with Lakshmana and cut your shoulders. He would
also burn your demonic body. You will then regain your original form.’ As
directed by him, I took birth in a female demon called Trijate and did penance
to ensure that I do not get killed or defeated by anybody. Empowered with that
boon and the confidence that I cannot be killed or defeated by anyone, I attacked
Devendra. Enraged by my attack, Devendra hit on my head with his Vajrayudha by which
I was neither killed nor defeated. It pushed my head and the thighs into the
stomach. Since then I came tobe called as Kabandha, which means a person
without head. But, in that form, I lost my desire to live. I fell on the feet
of Indra and requested him to kill me. He said ‘since you have the power of a
boon from Lord Brahma, I cannot kill you.’ Then I told Indra: ‘Food is
essential for survival. You have pushed my face into the stomach and I cannot
consume anything. How can I live without food?’ Indra gave me a boon by which I
could stretch my hands to as long as one Yojana. He provided me with two
additional tuskers and widened my mouth so that I could consume any animal that
my long hand could catch. I used to swing my long hand and catch any animal
quite easily. I used to kill them and bring them into a convenient shape while
drawing them towards my mouth. I was also praying that Rama comes soon and
relieves me from this curse. I kept catching animals and killing them with the
sole aim of finding Rama as early as possible.”
Lakshmana created a huge pit, arranged the pyre and
cremated the body of Kabandha, which was burnt into ashes. From the ashes
emerged the charming figure of Danu, adorned with various jewels and ornaments.
Danu got into the Air Plane and requested Rama: “Being the Supreme Lord of this
universe, you do not need any assistance or help from some friend. However, to
show to the world the significance of friendship and camaraderie, to make that
friend avail benefits from you, please go to Mount Rushymuka, which is very
close by. In that mountain on the banks of Pampasarovar lives a monkey king
called Sugreeva. He has been banished by his brother Vali. Sugreeva will help
you in finding out the place where Seetha has been taken to.”
Although Kabandha had killed thousands of animals,
acted deliriously with several Munis, Indra and created havoc in the forest, he
never deviated from his devotion to Lord Hari. Even as a demon, he kept on
thinking about Lord Hari and focused on how soon he could find Rama and get
himself relieved from the curse. That is why, Srirama relieved Kabandha from
the curse, pardoned all his sins and granted the original form of Danu.
Please read, comment and share. SDN
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