A rakshasa who battled Rama and Lakshmana on the southern part of Dandakaranya after Ravana took Sita away.

Once there was a gandharva king named Sri. He had a son named Danu, also known as Vishwavasu, who prayed to Brahma for long life. Brahma granted him immortality and that made Danu vain. He then fought with Indra, who used the vajra on him. That strike caused Danu’s head and thighs to withdraw into his body. But he didn’t die thanks to Brahma’s blessings. He appealed to Indra to find him away to eat. Indra gave his hands a 100 yojanas length and a mouth placed on his stomach. From then, he began living as Kabandha in the Matangashrama near the Krauncha mountains. Indra blessed that he would regain his old form when Rama and Lakshmana cut away his hands, as per Ramayana Aranyakanda Chapter 71 Sarga 8, Mahabharata Aranyaparva Chapter 279 verse 42.

Scaring sages was a pastime for Kabandha. He once attacked a sage named Sthulashiras, who cursed that he would continue to retain his grotesque shape. Kabandha begged for forgiveness and was told that Rama would free him. From then on, Kabandha waited for Rama as per Ramayana Aranyakanda Sarga 70.

Jatayu, who was fatally wounded after the fight with Ravana, breathed his last after passing on information to Rama and Lakshmana. After conducting the final rites for Jatayu, Rama and Lakshmana traveled west and entered Krauncharanya. They then reached Matangavana and there, saw a large cave. They were then accosted by a sorceress who wanted them to make love to her. Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears. After that, they proceeded to Durgavipina and experienced a series of ill omens. Then, suddenly, Kabandha rushed towards them and took Rama in his right hand and Lakshmana in his left. Lakshmana asked Rama to escape, but Rama advised him to chop off the rakshasa’s hands. Kabandha asked them who they were and narrated his tale to them. He died thereafter and Rama and Lakshmana  cremated him. Kabandha rose up from the pyre in his gandharva form and after telling Rama and Lakshmana to seek help from Sugriva for finding Sita, he left for devaloka, as per Ramayana Aranyakanda Sargas 70-73.