Encounter with Kabandh - Chapter 14

In the previous chapter, we saw Rama in distress. , Now we'll see Encounter with Kabandh.

Ramayana Book
Rama and Lakshmana then went in search of Sita. They first went west and then took a path through a very dense and dark forest to the south. Then they reached Dandakaranya forest and then Krowncha forest. They did not see any trace of Sita and were dejected and continued their search and reached a dark forest full of wild animals and birds and saw a cave. They came upon a rakshasi with a very cruel face with sharp pointed teeth. She caught hold of Lakshmana and said that she was Ayomukhi and she wanted to spend the rest of her days with him. Lakshmana got wild and cut off her breasts and she ran shouting in pain. He told Rama that he was seeing ill omens and he was afraid that something bad was going to happen to them. As they were proceeding they heard a very loud noise and before they could find out what it was there appeared before them a very huge and fearful figure. He was dark one-eyed and had his mouth in his stomach. He spread his hands which reached miles and was carrying several dead wild animals. His name was Kabandha. He caught the brothers in his tight grip. Lakshmana asked Rama to leave him there as the prey and escape to search for Sita. The huge rakshasa asked the brothers who they were and why they came there. He said that they could not escape from being his food and approached them with mouths wide open.

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Lakshmana began to lose hope then Rama told him that they should fight and kill. Then they cut off both his hands and Kabandha cried aloud in pain and fell down in a pool of blood. He asked them in pain who they were. Rama introduced himself and his brother. He also told him that they were in search of Sita who was carried away by Ravana. Then Rama asked him to tell them about him.

Kabandha said that he was fortunate to have met Rama and Lakshmana and he told his story. He was once handsome looking. He was troubling the rishis and destroying their Yajnya. He was then cursed by a rishi called ‘Sthoolashiras’ and got that ugly form. But he finally took pity on him and said that he would regain his original form when Rama would come that way and cut off his hands and cremate him. Kabandha also had fought with Indra who had smashed his legs. So in order that he could find his food Indra had given him very long hands by which he could catch his prey easily. So he requested Rama to kill him and burn his body. He also said that the only way to kill him was to bury him in a huge pit. He told Rama that he would give them important tips which would help them find Sita if they would bury him. He said he would indicate the whereabouts of someone who knew well Ravana. So Rama agreed to do the cremation of Kabandha and asked Lakshmana to prepare the necessary things. Lakshmana said that first, they cremated Jatayu then the second was Kabandha. He wondered who would be the third and where he was.

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So the brothers dug a very huge pit and pushed Kabandha into it. They piled up huge logs of wood and set fire to the pyre. Then there rose from the fire, Kabandha with a handsome form wearing garlands, and addressed Rama. He said “Rama, listen to me carefully and I will tell you the sure way of finding Sita. There is a Vanara (Vanara is not exactly a monkey) called Sugreeva who is Indra’s son. He is being chased by his evil brother Vali and hence he is hiding in the mountains called ‘Rishyamooka’. It is on the banks of the beautiful river Pampa. He is living there with four other Vanaras. Sugreeva is very strong and courageous. He will help you in your search for Sita. You should make him your friend and make a vow of allegiance to each other. This is very important. He would send the Vanaras in search of Sita and also find her in Ravana’s palace”. Then he described in detail how to reach the place. There is a detailed description of the forest with very huge and lofty trees and fruit trees with branches bent with the weight of the fruits that were delicious. The forest also abounded with various kinds of animals and birds and some of them would make delicious food for the brothers. He told “Rama you could even catch fat fish on a trident, roast it in fire and eat. (The barbecue seems to have been already known then in ancient India and is not a new idea, which came from the Middle East!). There are rivers with pure water for you brothers to drink”.

Kabandha suggested that they could drink water out of a cup made out of lotus leaves, which we still use (called Donnai) in some feasts to drink payasam. Kabandha made a special reference to a place that they would be crossing where the flowers remained always fresh. He said this was so because at that place rishi Matanga was doing penance and his disciples served him so hard and their sweat drops, which fell on the ground, had turned into flowers. That was the reason they never faded. He said that all these sights would bring some relief to Rama’s distress. Kabandha said that there they would meet the great Sanyasini Shabari who had done penance for many long years. He said that she was waiting to see Rama before ending her life. This place called Matanga Vana (Matanga forest) was on the banks of the river Pampa and the mountain Risyamooka was just near Pampa too. Kabandha says that it was a very old mountain created by Brahma.

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We know that there are several hills in India, which are older than the Himalayas, and they were probably once volcanoes. Some of the examples found in south India are the Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai and the small hillock in Trichy where the Ganesha temple is located. This temple is popularly known as ‘Uchchi Pillayar temple.

Kabandha thus explained to Rama all the details and asked him again to make friends with Sugreeva and then he rose to the heavens. Then the brothers started walking towards the west. After resting for a night they reached the west bank of the river Pampa. Rama pointed out to Lakshmana that both wild animals and deer were moving about side by side so peacefully. So he said that some saintly person should be living there and doing penance. Rama said that they must have reached Matanga Vana. There they saw the beautiful ashram of Shabari, entered the ashram, and found Shabari.

It is perhaps of interest to mention here that what is referred to here as the Pampa river is not the one that is so well known nowadays and which exists in southern Kerala. Shabarimala and the river Pampa are only too well known to the devotees of Lord Iyyappan. Rama and Lakshmana are still further up in the north closer to the Vindhya mountains.



In the next chapter, We'll see Rama blessing Shabari.

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