Alamvuṣa is a rākṣasa (rakshasa; monster), brother of Vaka rākṣasa. Since Bhīma (Bhima) killed Vaka, his brother had been at odds with the Pāṇḍava(s) (Pandava).So in the war of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra), we see Alamvuṣa (Alamvusha)fighting on the side of the Kaurava(s). In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Alamvuṣa is referred to as Ārṣaśṛṅgi (Arshasringi). So it appears that he was the son of some rākṣasa called Ṛṣyaśṛṅga (Rishyasringa). Alamvuṣa fought against several warriors of the side of the Pāṇḍava(s). He struck Sātyaki (Satyaki) with an arrow, and cut the bow of Sātyaki with ardhacandra vāṇa (an arrow shaped like the half-moon) Sātyaki , too cast arrows at Alamvuṣa, and the later started using his monstrous magical power, and attacked Sātyaki with arrows. Injured by his arrows, when Sātyaki applied the Aindra weapon, Alamvuṣa fled, leaving the battleground.

After this, Alamvuṣa got engaged in fighting against Irāvāna (Iravana). When Irāvāna killed the brothers of Śakuni (Sakuni) and many other warriors on the Kaurava side, Duryodhana sent Alamvuṣa to kill Irāvāna. A terrible fight ensued between them. Alamvuṣa used his monstrous power. Irāvāna found that several Nāga(s)(Naga; Snake) from his mother’s side had been present there. Irāvāna then assumed a great shape, and surrounded Alamvuṣa with those Nāga(s). Alamvuṣa then assumed the form of Garuḍa (Garuda), and started devouring the snakes. Seeing that, Irāvāna got upset, In this opportunity, Alamvuṣa cut his head off with a sword. Irāvāna was dead.

In Droṇaparva (Dronaparva), we see Alamvuṣa as fighting against Droṇa (Drona). It is said that there was a ferocious battle between Alamvuṣa and Bhīmasena, like the battle between Rāma (Rama)and Rāvaṇa (Ravana). When Bhīma struck Alamvuṣa with arrows, the rākṣasa started roaring, and killed three hundred associates of Bhīma, casting arrows at him, too. Bhīma was unconsious for some time. After that, regaining consciousness , he again attacked Alamvuṣa.
At that moment, Alamvuṣa remembered that Bhīma killed his brother. “You killed my brother when I was not around. Now see my power today” — saying this, he rose to the sky and started casting such weapons as śūla (sula), paṭṭiśa (pattisa), khaḍga (khadga), tomara , vajra and so on. The soldiers under Bhīma got killed. Alamvuṣa killed many of them, crushing under his feet. Bhīmasena then cast the ‘tvāṣṭra’ weapon. At this, Alamvuṣa’s magical spell got destroyed, and he retreated into the army under Droṇa.

From the Pāṇḍava side, Ghaṭotkaca (Ghatotkacha) attacked Alamvuṣa, there was a terrible fight between the two rākṣasa(s). At first Ghaṭotkaca struck Alamvuṣa with weapons. Then he lifted Alamvuṣa up with his arms, moved him around and threw him away. Alamvuṣa thus got killed by Ghaṭotkaca.