Ramayana Wonders 7:
Medical Evidence for Kumbhakarna’s Long Sleep
Did Kumbha karna suffer from Sleeping Beauty Syndrome, a rare medical condition? Was it a rare sleeping disease? Is there any parallel in medical history?
Yes, there is medical evidence. Read further……
Kumbhakarna, brother of Ravana and son of Visravas and Kaikasi, is a very interesting character in the great Hindu epic Ramayana. He is a 50-50 character. Good and bad qualities mixed together. He slept for six months and was wide awake for another six months. He gave proper advice to Ravana and Vibheeshana. His character was the model for Gulliver’s Travels of Jonathan Swift. If a Hindu child reads Gulliver’s Travels today it will feel it is copied from Kumbhakarna character( I have already written in another post that even the smallest shape of Gulliver is taken from an Indian folk tale).
The interesting aspect of Kumbhakarna’s life is his sleeping pattern. There is a story behind it. He prayed to Brahma for Indra Asana (seat of Indra) but when Brahma actually appeared before him his tongue twisted and asked for Nidra Asana (ever sleeping place/seat).Brahma granted it. There is another version as well. Kumbhakarna wanted Nirdevatvam (annihilation of Devas), but ended with Nidratvam (permanent sleep). Whatever the boon may be, we know for sure he slept for a longer period.
Picture of Kumbhakarna statue in Indonesia.
Hinduism is based on Truth. Even Gods obey the rutham/truth (Rhythm, Truth etc came from Sanskrit rutham). Once a boon is given it cannot be taken back. There is an in built exit strategy. When Kumbhakarna prayed to Brahma to change it he changed it to six month sleep, six month no -sleep period.
Rip Van Winkle of Washington Irving’s story slept for 20 years and woke up. He missed the American Revolution, the death of his wife, marriage of his daughter and the birth of his grandson. Rabbi Honi slept for 100 years according to Jewish scriptures. Kumbhakarna was very different from these characters. His sleep fell in to a pattern. He became violent if his sleep was disturbed. Enormous efforts were needed to wake him up. They need to bring army of musicians, battalions of elephants, truck loads of food and weapons to get him out of the slumber.
Ravana wanted his help because all his lieutenants were routed. First he chided Ravana for keeping Rama’s wife Sita in custody, but later promised to fight on his side. He killed many on Rama’s side but ultimately got killed by Rama’s arrow. He died as a hero.
Sleeping Beauty Syndrome
What was his medical condition? It is not coma, because there was a pattern in his sleep. Was it a syndrome? May be something like the Sleeping Beauty Syndrome reported in London News papers:
A rare sleep disorder made Lois Wood sleep for 44 days at a time. 14 year old Lois of Stevenage near London suffers from Sleeping Beauty Syndrome and Kleine- Levin Syndrome, which affects just 65 people in Britain. Lois can fall asleep anytime. Such sleeping episodes make her violent. She suffers also from zombie like trances where she bangs her head on walls and attacks her family. Once a promising basket ball player, Lois, now needs constant care as she can sleep at any time—but no memory of her attacks.
Anyone who reads this will sympathise with Lois and Kumbhakarna. Who knows? Kumbhakarna might have suffered from similar syndrome. Had the western medical men knew Kumbhakarna’s condition, they would have named this condition ‘Kumhakarna Syndrome’.
Read my earlier posts:
(1). Ramayana Wonders Part-1 (2). Ramayana Wonders Part 2 :How many miles did Rama walk? (3) Ramayana Wonders Part 3: Rama and Sanskrit G’ramma’r (4) Part 4: Who can read all 300 Ramayanas? (5) Ramayana Wonders part 5: Indus Valley Cities in Ramayana (6) Ramayana Wonders 6: Aladdin’s magic in Valmiki Ramayana (7) Largest Story Collection in the World.
Contact London Swaminathan at: [email protected]
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