Kumbhakarna and Lakshmana, brothers each to the two protagonists of the Ramayana, are connected by boons that dramatically alter their cycles of sleep and wakefulness. Kumbhakarna, along with his brothers Ravana and Vibhishana, performed a major yajna and penance for Lord Brahma. When it was time to ask Brahma for a boon, his tongue was tied by goddess Saraswati (acting on Indra's request). So instead of asking for nirdevatvam (annihilation of the Devas) he asked for nidravathwam (sleep) and his request was granted. Lakshmana, however, was allowed to give up his sleep completely and bequeath it to his wife, Urmila, for the fourteen years of his exile. In the course of time both boons seem to acquire the dimensions of a curse, as they each have an uncomfortable outcome.

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