Who Viradha is
Viradha was a fearsome rakshasa of the Dandaka forest who seized Sita as the exiles first entered it. By a boon of Brahma no weapon could kill him, so Rama and Lakshmana broke his arms and buried him in a pit. As he died he told them he was the gandharva Tumburu, cursed by Kubera to live as a rakshasa until Rama freed him, and directed them on to the hermitage of the sage Sharabhanga.
“No blade can end me. You will have to find another way.”
How Viradha plays chess
Grabs whatever he can reach with strange flank openings — but his boon makes him hard to finish off.
The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.
Opening repertoire: Bird's Opening · Sokolsky Opening · Grob Opening
Defeat Viradha in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement The Curse Lifted and open the way to the next guardian.
Sources
- Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kanda
Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.