My Thapas to Brahma:
I did Thapas to Brahma, my great grandfather and the creator of Mankind for years together. On the day when Brahma was convinced of my dedication and offered a boon, I asked for immortality. Immortality was not to be mine, said Brahma. So I fine-tuned my boon to this: I said I wished to not die out of ageing or any other form of natural death; I wished that I not die of any kind of health reason or due to an attack or otherwise by any animal, bird or insect; I should not be killed by an accident or Gods’ decree or by Demons or even by extra-terrestrial beings. As I fine-tuned my boon, I managed to mention almost everything in this universe except you, mankind. And thus Brahma granted me my boon that death will not afflict me by all the varied ways I had mentioned.
I had covered every way it was possible to die. Yet, I left a minute gap. I had left death by man. Everyone including my great grandfather felt that I forgot to mention humans or considered them as negligible. If I had remembered to mention even insects, why would I forget you my dear mankind? You were very much in my mind but it was for a reason I did so.
The purpose of my coming to earth was to teach the eternal lesson that Bad will always be defeated by Good. I took the role of Bad and my Lord Vishnu took the role of Good. We wanted to show you that even humans like you reading or listening to me now, can triumph over an infinity of Bad if you stand for Good and Satya (Truth). Now with this boon, I can only be killed by human and if Sri Hari had to kill me, then he would have to come on to earth in the form of a normal human. At this point I felt that this would show you how powerful you can be when you stand for Good and Truth.
So, my dear human, were you able to understand something here? Have you understood that I took on these exceptional penances (Tapas) not to garner power for myself. I did it actually for you my dear mankind. I endured terrible pain through penance for your race to experience the pride that Akhilanda Brahmanda Nayaka, Sri Maha Vishnu took the life of a human on this tiny planet.
My Tapas to Siva:
I knew that Siva is the Lord of War and Death. Therefore, I knew that me taking boon from Brahma, the creator was not just enough. I also needed to continually keep trying to impress Siva, the Destroyer, as well. Only then I would be the master of the war field where technology emerges every day. Only when I ruled over the battlefield, my final battle with Maha Vishnu would be the Maha Yudha (Ultimate Battle).
Thus, I worshipped lord Siva and my penance to Him was throughout my life as Ravana. I might miss my sleep but never missed my worship to Siva.
Now, I am the most powerful on earth. All I now need is the kingdom and great army to prepare myself for the Maha Yudha, the actual lesson to mankind.
TRANSFORMING AS LANKADHEESWARA
With a boon from Brahma and Maheshwara I was invincible; the most powerful on earth. The most powerful man on earth should have the most powerful kingdom, shouldn’t he? For any materialistic opportunity on earth, wealth is required. The richest kingdom on earth belonged to my step brother Kubera. Kubera’s Kingdom is Lanka. With the knowledge I have I can tactfully earn all the riches in the world. But in the process of earning it, I want to test myself by giving a glimpse of Bad to Kubera.
I went to Lanka and admired the people there. I mesmerised them with my music and civil engineering. I helped them with my medicines. Then, through my immense knowledge of economics and politics, I finally took the throne of Lanka from Kubera.
Lanka was beautiful and powerful. I decided to make it even more so. To start with I needed to establish a kingdom with citizens that loved and supported me during the foreseen Maha Yudha with Maha Vishnu. I needed my people to love me as much as a mother loves her child. It should be nothing less than unconditional love: they should support, excuse and continue loving me even if they knew that I was doing something wrong. I should be able to rule this Lanka by commanding great respect. Everyone born on this holy land is going to help me and thus helping the entire world in understanding ‘What is Good and What is Bad’. They are going share my purpose and I will reach my Sri Hari soon. This land will be the most holy place on the earth by retaining the memories of Me, My Lord and the divine purpose for as long as the mankind survives on this planet.
MY KINGDOM
One day I am going to fight with the Ultimate. ne represents Goodness and Truth. That means I am going to fight against Good and against Truth. No doubt, Truth will sustain and I am going to die. Of course this is my fate and is already pre-written. I have to face it and I will. But how will my kingdom and my people assimilate it? After me who would take over the care of Lanka? It was my duty to find the answers for these, too.
Kumbakarna (Vijaya) is also going to die in the battle against Truth. Therefore, I was left with Vibhishana as my only light and potential answer to my challenge. I decided to involve him in all the developmental and administrational works that I took up. Vibhishana, by his nature is a quick learner, a decision maker and has all the qualities to handle and rule a kingdom wisely.
It is time, I decided, to make my citizens happy. What is the one thing that can sustain happiness? I realized it is pride. Pride in who they were and where they lived. It was time to re-build Lanka. Under Kubera’s rule, this land had all the needs of most citizens taken care of. Yet providing services would not be enough attract them to me. I needed to do things that made them feel pride in who they were, I needed to do things that not only upped their happiness quotient, but also make them feel amazed.
So I started. I made buildings with walls and pillars coated in gold, steps with quartz and their borders embedded with gems. All that while, people used ropes to draw water from wells... I added stairs that let them into the wells. I made underground tunnel network that connected all major cities in the island. I hunted out the best designers and saw to it that eye-pleasing landscapes were conjured. My streets now had light on both the sides; every house had a luxurious platform grooved with cat’s eye gems projected toward streets for social gathering, inlaid with diamonds, crystals and pearls; houses had elephant and peacock entrances with spotless shimmering silver; every house had a backyard where the kitchen garden grew all the vegetables needed for a home; women were given diamonds to accessorise their cloths; every three homes now had parks for children to play; in each of these parks were props and playing tools embedded with gems; at dusk and dawn music of clarinets and drums were played.
I pulled out all stops and saw to it that Lanka was better than heaven. Every inch of Lanka was re-built with passion. The people of Lanka, my people, who had lived happily, were only more delighted.
In the whole process, though people identified me as the best, I had involved Vibhishana for all the implementations and thus he was more accessible for the general public, than me. Even this was deliberate.
This great empire had a stellar army, of course. The island thus was guarded 24 x 7 and on all fronts by its mighty army. The army, of course, had the most powerful weapons and ammunition. My army is so powerful, that my son Meghanatha defeated Indra, the god of heaven and thus got his new name Indrajith—the one who defeated Indra.
I was relieved. I had envisioned something and set the ball rolling. Seeing that everything was going smoothly, I was happy and calm. The land sparkled; I had the best people at the helm and each of them knew their duties and the impeccable standards I expected—I expected nothing less than perfection. Now I could relax.
I started spending more time in penances and meditation, preparing myself for the final combat and waiting for Sri nari to come on to earth. I was unsure if he had already come. But I knew that if he had arrived I would get the information or at least a clue. And then things would move.
IDENTIFYING RAMA AND SITA
One day, while I was doing my regular meditation, my sister Surpanaka, who was exploring the countryside and geography ahead of our own lands, ran in to meet me. Even before she spoke I sensed depression, disappointment and fear in her face. Surpanaka is an impulsive, joyful person. Yet here she wa
s standing little away from me, rubbing her hands together nervously. I instinctively knew something was wrong. Before I could say a word Vibhishana joined us.
He must have also noticed her demeanour. Making her sit comfortably, we asked her “What is the matter?” She burst out crying and said that the great warriors of our army, Kara and Dushanas along with 14,000 soldiers were dead. Both of us were shocked. Kara and Dushanas!? How was that possible? There were among the bravest in our army. Yet I tried consoling her. Soothing her down we asked her after a while, “What happened?”
Surpanaka recounted:
“I found two male humans and one female in the woods near Panchavati. Their names-. Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. The men were so handsome that I could not take my eyes off them and I wanted to marry any one of them. I approached Rama and expressed my desire. He calmly smiled and said that he was happy with his wife Sita and was not interested in me. I looked at Sita and knew what he said was the truth. Their pair looked awesome. I then approached Lakshmana and expressed the same. He too rejected me softly. However, they found my approach of proposing to a stranger and offering husbandship weird and funny. I couldn’t process their rejection and felt very disturbed at their amusement. This was me and my feelings. I was not anyone to be rejected. I was a princess. In a rage I jumped on Sita to hurt her. From no where Lakshmana jumped on me and I found myself flung hard. Landing on my rear end with a thud, I was stunned then furious. The three were chuckling when I ran back and summoned Kara, Dushanas to take battalion of 14,000 soldiers and teach the trio a lesson. After all, they had insulted not just any woman in the forest but the most powerful Ravana’s sister.
Kara and Dushanas went as instructed and tried explaining to those men who I was, my greatness and suggested that either of the men marry me. Marrying me, they told the duo would mean staying in the royal courtyard instead of these woods.
Yet the duo refused. I was stunned and angered. Our men who never heard rejection to their offers felt insulted deeply. In order to take it a step up, they challenged them to war. Two men against an army of 14,000. Anybody would quake. Yet the duo did not flinch. They said they would fight. Who would have thought brothers that two men could fight an entire battalion and kill all of them?
I need your support brothers. These two have the arrogance to take on thousands. I need to teach them a lesson. I need Rama. Now. I want you to abduct the lady Sita as well. I am unable to bear this insult. I cannot live, if you don’t help me in this case.”
Vibhishana and I listened to her story with growing wonder. My brother, being the fair and righteous one that he always was, started convincing her saying that the mistake is obviously on our side and is not correct to forcefully marry a person or to abduct a woman. Surpanaka wailed at his response. Then wiping her tears, she argued fiercely with Vibhishana. The two sat in front of me fully engaged in a debate—one trying to calm her down with reason and the other needing validation for the insult heaped upon her.
As for me, I was silent. How can anyone, on this earth, kill Kara and Dushana? How can just two men fight and kill the entire battalion of 14,000 soldiers and that too of my army? And all this by humans? How is it possible? Could one of them be Sri Hari! Is that lady my goddess Sri Devi?
I immediately, ordered the most intelligent and trustworthy, Maricha, my follower to come. Turning toward Surpanaka I placed my hand over her head and gently told her, “I am going now. If what you said is true I will bring that lady here.” Vibhishana opened his mouth to protest, but I raised my hand and he stood silent. I walked away, still pensive.
I thought about it for a bit and made my decision. I would take Maricha with me, to test these men and their capabilities. If they get through my test, undoubtedly, Rama is Sri Hari and Sita is Sri Devi. And, in that case, I will get the opportunity to accomplish my mission.
We went to the place and observed them from a distance. I asked Maricha to execute the plan. Maricha took the form of a deer with golden fur. Sita saw the deer and was surprised with joy. She asked her husband for it. That is how I identified Rama among the two men. Rama has that divine look. I asked Maricha to kill Rama. Maricha was surprised and said that it is not fair. I just repeated my instruction and said that it’s my command. I also said, in case you happen to die in Rama’s hand, I wanted you to scream “Sita... Lakshmana...” in Rama’s voice. Maricha, couldn’t understand my inner thought and just followed the command.
I was tense. In another few minutes I would know if Rama was Sri Hari or not. If Maricha kills Rama, then this Rama is just like any other human. But if Maricha gets killed, I would know without doubt that it is Sri Hari in the form of Rama, a human.
In no time I heard the screaming “Sita. Lakshmana...” I felt sorry for Maricha’s death but my heart filled with joy that Sri Hari had come to earth to take me back to Vaikuntam.
Sita, hearing the scream panicked and instructed Lakshmana to go in help to Rama. Though Lakshmana, knew that no harm could come to Rama, respecting Sita’s words and her feelings was his duty. He immediately went into the woods to search Rama.
TIME TO TURN BAD
This day is the most painful day in my life as Ravana. I knew that mankind would never forgive me if I went on to do this. This attempt of mine would satisfy only Surpanaka and no one else in this world. I knew if I did this, Mandodhari will start hating me, Vibhishana will not be able to digest and my people would undergo great shock.
Yet. Yet I had to. I was the one guarding Vaikuntam and my only deific duty was to safeguard Sri Hari and Sri Devi. So now I had to forcefully take Sita (the Goddess) to Lanka in an act of abduction. In the process, I would be hurting my mother, my family, my people. Should I do it...? Should I go back and think this out for a while for a better work plan? Oh my God.... why was my mind blank? What should I do now?
I closed my eyes and thought for a while. The smiling face of Sri Hari, Kumaras and our discussion flashed in my mind. It reminded me, that I would have to show the world the height of Bad. Only then my Lord will have the opportunity to show mankind the ultimate Good: Satya Meva Jayate (Truth will always win). The truth is that Good wins over Bad. That means Rama wins over Ravana.
I opened my eyes. The decision was made. I would take on the role of Bad. In the process I would wound my mother; but it was my fate and it was written. So be it. There was no question of turning back. This was my opportunity to exhibit a magnitude of evilness. If I turn back, hesitate, the great opportunity may not offer itself again. My princes, my people and my army in Lanka did not know about Kara, Dushana and the battalions in death. If I abducted Sita now, everyone in Lanka would naturally assume that I abducted her in revenge; to take avenge my sister for her humiliation by Rama and thus satisfy her. Yes. I would have to go with it. No second thought. Revenge with Rama is War with Rama. War with Rama is my way to Vaikuntam.
I started immediately, there could be no delay. I turned myself into a Saadhu (Saint) and went walking to where the duo had built a hut in the forest. Sita would be alone, I knew. And she was. She stood at the doorway, looking anxiously into the woods for Rama and Lakshmana. I needed to distract her. I also had to play my part as the mendicant. I shouted “Bhavathee bhiksaam dehi!” (Mother, give some food). Sita saw me, invited me (Saadhu) with great respect, and served me food to eat. While having food, I inquired about her and her family. She briefly spoke about her parents and Rama’s parents. Like any other woman she blushed with pride when she spoke of her husband.
I finished my food and while washing my hand, she asked about me and the purpose of me in this deep forest. My eyes turned red with pain. To cover it I stretched out to my full length and roared like a lion. “I have come to abduct you,” I shouted. “I am the one who sent the magic deer. My name is Ravana, Lankaadeeshwara.”
With great fear, Sita bolted, shouting for help to Rama and Lakshmana. My vimana (aircraft) was ready. Bellowing a terrifying roar, I leapt after her and in one lunge gathered her hair in my fist. With her hair
in my hands, I dragged and lifted her into vimana and we headed towards Lanka.
If I thought Sita would realise that there was no way out and would remain quiet, I was wrong. She screamed and fought me as much as she could, calling for help after every outburst. A bird in the forest by name Jataayu (an eagle roc bird) tried to come to her rescue. I was shocked seeing a bird coming to help a human but had no time to think any further. My aim was to flee with Sita to Lanka, before Rama or Lakshmana saw and attacked me. I was not prepared to war with them at the moment. I had to hurry. I brought my vimana down, fought with Jataayu with my sword. Jatayu fought well, but in the end I chopped his wing. Jataayu fell down in a pool of his own blood. I took Sita and continued flying.
As I steered my vehicle through the clouds, Sita tore a piece from her saree, wrapped her jewellery and threw it down. I think she hoped that Ram would find it and be able to follow the clue. One should appreciate her presence of mind and her efforts here. I knew that those efforts of hers were not enough in bringing Rama to my capital Lanka. I too had to do my bit.
On my way I found Supaarva, son of Sampaathi who was the elder brother of Jataayu in the forest on Mount Mahendra blocking the animal path with an intention of hunting them. I purposely took that path, veering close to him so that he could see me and Sita. With red and angry eyes, yet in very polite manner, I requested him to give me way to move forward. Beholding a person with hot red eyes talking unusually politely, must have surprised him and he let me through. To be fair, I knew he did not know who I was. However I observed few munis (saints), who knew me watching us from nearby distance. I was sure they would discuss my identity with Supaarva, as soon as I left the place.
My Name Is Ravana Page 2