Kabandha
Kabandha In Hindu mythology, an evil goblin slain by Rama. Originally, Kabandha was a good spirit or Gandharva, in the service of the storm god Indra. One day, however, Indra cast a thunderbolt at Kabandha, driving his head and thighs into his body. Kabandha was then “covered with hair, vast as a mountain, without head or neck, having a mouth armed with immense teeth in the middle of his belly, arms a league long, and one enormous eye in his breast.” In his new form Kabandha became an evil goblin who fought against the hero Rama. When Rama defeated Kabandha the goblin asked the hero to have his body burned. When this was done, Kabandha came out of the fire restored to his original shape as a Gandharva before Indra’s thunderbolt had struck him. He then aided Rama in his war against the Demon king Ravana. Kabandha is sometimes called Danu.
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow-Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante