Word

Nidravatvam

Sanskrit

निद्रावत्वमं

IAST

nidrāvatvam

In General

Kumbhakarna performed penance in the forest on one foot for a thousand years. But, Brahma did not appear. He continued the penance without eating any food. Khara and Surpanakha stayed there serving Kumbhakarna and their elder brother Ravana, who was also doing tapa. Even after the second thousand years Brahma did not appear. The penance becomes self inflicting and at last Brahma appeared before Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna wanted the boon that he would not be killed by anybody but a man. The Devas shuddered at the gift to Ravana, and feared about the future in case Kumbhakarna too got such a boon. At their request Sarasvati danced on his tongue at the time of Kumbhakarna's request for a boon. Kumbhakarna wanted Nirdevatvam (Absence of all Devas) . But by a slip of the tongue (caused by Sarasvati) what he asked for was Nidravatvam (sleep). Brahma granted him Nidravatvam ; accordingly Kumbhakarna was forced to sleep for six months of a year continuously.