Khara (Ramayana)

Khara
Rama strikes down Khara with an arrow

Khara (Tamil: Karan, Thai: Khon) was a man-eating rakshasa in the Indian Ramayana epic. He was a younger male cousin of Ravana and the son of Kaikesi's sister Raka. He was killed by Rama, along with his brother Dushana when he attacked Rama after Shurpanakha's humiliation. After Lakshmana cut off Shurpanakha's nose, breasts and ears, Khara fought against Lakshmana and Rama. During this fight, Khara lost. He was the ruler of the Danda Kingdom, roughly equivalent to the Nashik district, with Janasthana (Nashik city) as its capital. He protected the northern kingdom of Lanka in the mainland and his kingdom bordered with the Kosala Kingdom, the kingdom of Rama. He was well known for his superior skills in warfare.