rakshasa, twin of Dushana in the Ramayana
Khara
Khara is a rakshasa, a man-eating demon, in the Ramayana, one of the two great Sanskrit epics of Hindu literature. He ruled the Dandaka Forest alongside his twin Dushana and is one of the foes Rama defeats in the story.
The myth
Khara was the twin brother of Dushana, the younger male cousin of Ravana and a son of Raka, sister of Kaikasi. Together the two brothers ruled the Dandaka Forest, where they spread terror among the ascetics.
The conflict began when Lakshmana, after Shurpanakha tried to attack him, cut off her nose and ears. Furious, Khara sent his forces against Rama and Lakshmana, but Rama defeated him and also killed Dushana and Trishiras, another of his brothers. The defeat of the Dandaka rakshasas paved the way for the abduction of Sita, since the survivor Akampana urged Ravana to kidnap her.
Ancient sources: The Ramayana, attributed to the sage Valmiki, is the main ancient source that recounts him.