Khara

Family: Rákshases · Role: giant · First appears: Book I, Canto 1 · Nárad

In Book II, Canto 116, after Ráma settled at Janasthán, Khara’s fiends intensified their attacks on the hermits. In Book III, Canto 17, he is named among the siblings of Rávaṇ, Śúrpaṇakhá, Kumbhakarṇa, Vibhishaṇ, and Dúshaṇ. After Śúrpaṇakhá reported the deaths of her champions, Khara ordered Dúshaṇ to summon his warriors and prepare for battle, then led his forces from Janasthán against Ráma.

Khara’s army was defeated, but he survived and continued the fight. After sending Triśirás against Ráma, he attacked himself; Ráma destroyed his chariot and bow, then killed him with the arrow of Brahmá’s staff in Book III, Cantos 27–30. In Book VI, Rávaṇ sends Khara’s son Makaráksha into battle.