My Name Is Ravana

by Bala Sankuratri

  I dwelled on this potential problem for a while and then decided to test my men. I went to Ashoka Vanam in pretend rage. Everyone seeing me, including Sita, felt that I was going to tear her to pieces. But then Suparvu stopped me saying, “My Lord, forgive me for stopping you. The war against Rama may be Good or Bad. But that isn’t the problem at all. Once you win the war, everything will be forgotten and only the victory will be remembered. But now, if you kill Sita and return victorious in the war, it will defeat the purpose. You will be defamed for killing a woman for lust and that would be a black mark on you forever.” I listened to him, smiling internally. I had found the person I was looking for. These words of Suparvu gave me confidence that Sita will be safely handed over to Rama after my final departure. I instructed the women guards to shift Sita to Stripura where the women population was high till the completion of the war, as safety precaution. I just tapped Suparvu’s shoulder and went back to my palace.

  My only focus now was to prepare myself for the war. The war with Rama, the war that would go down in history as the greatest war of all times; the war that will be talked about till the end of the Universe and—more importantly—the war that would go to prove that Good always wins.

  There was too much of negativity around me as many of my men and my sons were dead. Everyone at home was crying seeing the lifeless bodies of their own family members. I needed to take a small break, I need to buy some time. I sent a message to the soldiers to keep fighting with the vanaras so that I can perform meditation and prayers to Siva. I also asked the three remaining commanders to stay back till I complete my prayers.

  I then went and had a head bath with warm water, changed into new and fresh clothes and started my prayer to Siva. I wanted a fresh, positive mind. The most ferocious war needed the most peaceful mind. I performed my prayers and sang a song written by me to the Lord of technology, war and meditation.

  Well, since the topic has come up, I would like to share some information about this song as well. I named this song as ‘Siva Thandava Stotram’ and it is sung in the prayers to Siva, even today in the Siva temples and poojas. My writings were so powerful that the song has been transferred from one generation to the other for millenniums together. The memories of the song, makes me feel singing it now. I am sure your modern internet will have it... you will easily find it. Sit in a peaceful and silent location, close our eyes and listen to ‘Siva Thandava Stotram’. When you do, you will feel the power of Siva and the depth of my literature. Do you want to learn it? Here it goes.

  Meaning: From your hair woven like that of inter woven trees in the dense forest came out the pure Ganga onto this earth to make it Holy. You are dancing on that very Holy earth. Hanging around your neck are the beautiful garlands of ferocious snakes. The whole land is vibrating from the Dhama, Dhama, Dhama rhythm of your Damarukam. In such an environment you are mesmerised and dancing with unexplainable grace. Oh Parameswara! Similarly dance in our souls as well.

  Meaning: Siva, your dense forest like hair is swirling just like the whirlpool in the river Ganga. Even Ganga flowing out of you is revolving at similar great magnitude. The untied loose hair left below like creepers resemble the ocean waves as a result to your mesmerising dance. Your fire burning third eye lights up your forehead where the burning light made the sound Bhagh... Bhagh. The crescent moon is glowing in your head. Oh Parameswara! Your Joyful dance is churning up the merry tides deep within me.

  Meaning: Inspired with your irresistible glorious dance, joined Parvathi, the queen of nature earth and the princess of mounts. She gracefully accompanied you through every moment of the dance. That strong form of dance slowly penetrates into the minds and souls of every being, generating waves of joy and happiness. The diagonal side glance of dancing Siva holds the power to neutralise any kind of calamity. Siva, dressed in sky, detached from everything, forming an interest in dancing once a while is surprising.

  Meaning: The reddish brown coloured snakes in his hair are hissing with their hoods wide open. Those hissing spread the saffron ting in all directing and sky looks like a blushing red bride. The elephant skin around his waist flying in the air resembles a ferocious living elephant. I am able to feel the pleasure and happiness of the glorious happy dance. I am carried away with the breathtaking dance of the one who takes care of the entire life on this earth.

  Meaning: The thousand-eyed Indra and all the other god and people with divinity have come to see Siva dancing. It is only their heads seen all around. All the faces of Gods added a thin layer of makeup with the ash dust that rise due to his unstoppable accelerating dance. His toes and legs take the colour of rising dust and this land becomes Holy. Bright coloured snakes are like flowers in his hair. The crescent moon is in his head, glowing more bright and spreading his light.

  Meaning: His third eye on the forehead is like a fireball, spreading its light in all directions. It is not a normal fire; it is the fire that kills all lust. On his head is the pleasant crescent moon. The qualities like the pleasantness of that moon and maturity to defeat lustful feelings within one selves should spread to all of us.

  Meaning: The fire on his forehead is roaring the sounds Bhagh Bhagh. That fire that can burn lust into ash. His dance created number of artistic illustrations on the land that gets enfolded into beautiful landscapes on this earth. How great an artist is He! This Siva Thandavam has brought me a great joy within.

  Meaning: All the dark clouds got attracted to his dance of great magnitude to form a scarf on the neck. Oh Lord who has Ganga, Elephant Skin and Crescent Moon as ornament and Oh Lord who carries this world and all of us, share with us that inside wealth you obtain through your dance.

  Meaning: All the darkness in the world is compressed and held inside his neck as Haalahalam, giving a blue stain to his neck. The blueness on his neck looks like the blue blossoming lotus. Oh my Lord, you destroyed Daksha, Tripura, Andhaka and many more. You have control on life and death. Now destroy my materialistic attachments.

  Meaning: I am worshiping the Lord who can spread endless glory to this world and who is blended with every knowledge that exists. Sweet like honey is his intention and is spreading like Amrutha to this world through his dance. Oh my Lord you turned Manmadha into ash. Oh my Lord you brought Gajasura to an end. Oh my Lord you brought Andhaka to an end. Oh my Lord now you bring my materialistic relations and attachment to an end.

  Meaning: His eyebrows moving vertically up and down continuously number of times and each movement symbolising his grip on a world and thus he is the master of all worlds. He is dancing at a great magnitude. Snakes around his neck are hissing. Fire on his forehead is rhythmically increasing and decreasing. His drums are singing, dhimi dhimi. My Lord is dancing, dancing and dancing.

  Meaning: Oh my Lord, when can I consider this hard land as the luxurious soft bed? Oh my Lord, when will I consider these snakes as a pearl chain in my neck? When will I see jewels and sand equally? When will I see both friend and enemy equally? When will I see a hay and lotus equally? When will I see a common man and the emperor equally? When will I get the vision of equality? And when will I see you my Lord? Bless me with this equality, my Lord.

  Meaning: When will I do penance sitting in a cave in thick woods on the banks of Ganga? When will I get rid of all these myth and artificiality? When will I have the holy ash on my forehead and when will I do penance for you? When will I be immersed in spelling your name and in getting eternal happiness?

  Meaning: You have read and understood the most sacred Siva Thandava Stotram. With selfless and peaceful mind, when you chant this Stotram regularly with sense of divinity, you will soon be blessed by Siva, the teacher. You need not go around for help when needy. Through this meditation, you will get out of all myths and negativity.

  Meaning: Add this Stotra to your daily prayers or read the Stotra written by me, the one considered ten-headed Ravana, during the sunset. By reading this Stotra firmly and regularly, you will be blessed with Lakshmi (prosperity) and you will get a
ll you wish. Parameswara will surely shower you this boon.

  Meaning: Thus ends the Siva-Tandava Stotra written by Sri ‘Ravana’.

  Isn’t that impressive? It is.

  Meanwhile, I got the news from my men that on seeing the great bloodshed and with the fear of seeing my death, my mom too worshipped the same Siva and left her body permanently to reach Eternity. This adds yet another important task of completing her final rituals in proper way. For me to finish the rituals in great respect to the mother who gave birth to me on this holy land as Ravana, I need the waters of seven different rivers. The difficulty here is that all the rivers around have waters mixed with flesh and blood, rendering them useless for the ritual. I then used my holy powers to make seven special wells that sprinkled out waters equivalent to the waters of holy rivers. These waters are hot to date. These well are still visible to naked eyes in the Island. Some civilians in the island have now made it a custom to start using these wells for various rituals in their life.

  THE FINAL COMBAT PART 9

  I am ready...

  My duties on this earth are all fulfilled.

  I am set for the clash with the Titan.

  I received an update that my soldiers are being killed by vanaras. I immediately signaled, summoning my golden chariot and was off in my special chariot full of deadly missiles, horses with shields and highflying flag. Mahaparsvu, Mahodara and Virupaksha along with their team joined me on to the battle ground with great amount of drums sound and sirens.

  The way we entered, gave a jolt to vanaras. We looked so strong and powerful. When I made my grand entry into the battlefield, my soldiers and Rama’s soldiers were fighting, fighting and fighting. It looked like a never-ending fight. Everyone was fighting, but no one was falling down. It sent a clear message to everyone in the battle ground that this is not going to stop for at least another couple of days. I used my deadly weapons and killed many vanaras and started moving towards Rama. Sugreeva saw his men dying and started throwing huge rocks on my men. With this shower of rocks Sugreeva managed killing many of my men.

  Virupaksha, shifted from the chariot on to an elephant and started fighting with Sugreeva. Virupaksha’s team and Sugreeva’s team fought for quite some time and then Sugreeva finally killed both the elephant and Virupaksha. Mahodara followed Virupaksha and the result repeated.

  Mahaparsvu jumped on to Angadha. Their clash went for a long time and with great difficulty Angadha knocked Mahaparsvu. Now all the commanders were dead.

  I started fighting with my loving enemy. Rama was releasing many arrows and missiles on to me and I was countering all of them. Likewise, all my missiles were countered by Rama. It was like thunder and lightning in the sky. None of our arrow reached the other side. All of them were countered in the middle itself. While our fight was in progress, the vanaras killed my horses and Lakshma shot my bow and the flag. I got down from the chariot and started fighting with Rama. As I combated Lakshmana I realised that he was as great a warrior as Rama. I had to notch up the power of the missiles one after the other. Lakshmana was able to successfully counter all my missiles. It was quite a long time and the Sun was about to set down. I was fed-up of fighting with Lakshmana as my target was his brother. I took out powerful arrow; something Lakshmana was not expecting me to use. That is it. My arrow shot out and plunged into Lakshmanas chest. He collapsed.

  Seeing his brother dying, Rama turned ferocious and started releasing arrows at lightning speed. Neither me nor anyone there were able to see Rama’s hands. His hands were moving so fast that we sensed only the arrow coming out from Rama. It became difficult for me to counter all of them. Rama was so furious! Though I was ready to die I was not ready to give in so quickly. Countering Rama’s arrows for some time, I eventually turned back to my palace.

  The sun was down and great silence ensued in Rama’s camp. Lakshmana was dying. Then Susena from Rama’s team observed Lakshmana’s pulse and eyes, turned towards Rama and said, “Rama, Lakshmana has lost consciousness. But getting him back to life is tough as he was hurt grievously. We need Mrutha Sanjeevini plant from the Aushadhi Parvat immediately. That is the only hope. But we do not have much time to apply it. It has to be here before the sun rises.

  Listening to Susena, Hanuman quickly flew into the air and reached Aushadhi Parvath in Himalayas. Once again he found it difficult to identify the required plant and so he again uprooted the mount and flew back to Lanka with it.

  Time was running short. Lakshmana was becoming colder and colder. His body was starting to turn blue. As Hanuman found it difficult to place the mount down, Susena flew up and took the medicine he wanted and brought Lakshmana out of danger. Rama hugged Lakshnama and said, “You were almost dead. It was Hanuman and Susena who brought you back to life. How would I have lived with myself if I lost you?” Lakshmana replied, “Brother, forget all of that. See there? The Sun is about to rise. It is time for the war to continue. Stop thinking all of that, concentrate on Ravana. Victory is ours and we need to show our power to Ravana. We need Sita to be freed immediately.”

  The Sun rose up and Hanuma did not have much time to return the mount back in the original place. As he couldn’t place it anywhere, he broke the mount into pieces and dropped each piece of it carefully wherever possible without hurting any living thing on the island.

  THE FINAL COMBAT PART 10

  The minute the Sun shone on the battle ground, sirens on both sides rang. This time it was not two armies but it was Rama and me alone fighting with each other. I was on my golden chariot and Rama was standing on the ground. Indra who had been defeated by my family before, sent his chariot, horses, shield, special weapons, bow, arrows and his personal charioteer, Maathali to Rama and with great humility and respect Maathali explained his arrival with these words: “Dear Rama, your fight against Ravana is not just your personal. It is a fight for justice and is for the establishment of Good on this earth. Kindly accept these offerings from Indra and I shall feel honoured to be your charioteer if you so consent.” Rama with great respect accepted Indra’s offer and allowed Maathali to be his charioteer.

  Now both of us were matched and looked equally strong. Both of us had the mighty chariots and well-trained charioteers, horses and weapons—all clear signs of a mega battle.

  Rama started using a combination of his weapons and Indra’s and I countered them. Likewise, Rama too countered the weapons discharged by me.

  After a while Rama started releasing huge number of arrows continuously without any break. I countered them but somehow the force and the numbers he sent, had me confused and dazed. My charioteer observed my tension and tried helping me by taking the chariot out of the battlefield for a break. I refused and said it is all fine and continued the fight.

  Rama and I continued fighting with arrows and missiles all day. When the Sun went down, neither of us were willing to turn back or halt. So in the end, despite fighting all day, we continued to fight in the night as well. The missiles became stronger and stronger on both the sides. The news of our fight reached all the Lokas. Many sages and Gods turned up as spectators to witness our fight. There was Agasthya, there was Indra, there was Siva, there was my grandfather Brahma and many more.

  We continued our fight but both of us were tired. Agasthya observed Rama getting tired and helped him with Adhitya Hrudayam Stotra that boosted his energy. Rama with boosted energy instructed Maathali to handle the chariot more tactfully. Maathali moved the chariot in the circular direction raising the sand dust onto me and my horses.

  Both of us continued our fight trying all the missile and as many missile combinations as possible. While both of us were fighting so hard, Rama released a special weapon that straight away chopped my head. The vanaras jumped in joy but that couldn’t stand for a long time. Rama and the vanaras were dependent on the Audhadhi parvat in their critical situations and this was on my this side. I thus had more advanced medical technology, with which I got a new head in no time. For you to understand more convincing, it was
like how a tail cut-lizard grows back its tail. Close to this medical technology is what your mankind is working and researching hard now in stem cell therapy and stem cell banking.

  The war continued for seven nights and seven days without interruption. Rama tried chopping my head over one hundred times and it was of no use. This advance medical science of mine took Rama and all the vanaras by surprise. Rama couldn’t understand which weapon to use against me. Maithali in the end asked Rama to use Brahma Asthram. Rama took out a great snake-shaped Brahma Asthram. I didn’t have a counter for it. The Brahma Asthram just penetrated my chest and came out the other side. It took away most of my body parts and my medical science could not sustain. I fell down. I released my last breath as Ravana.

  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

  My Mission Accomplished... I departed joyfully as Jaya on my way to Heaven.

  Vibhishana wept. He was my brother and yet he fought for what was right. And yet... despite winning he was dull. Rama said to Vibhishana, “Winning or losing is never in our hands, what is in our hands is to stand for what we believe: justice, goodness and truth. We need to leave the rest to the ultimate. Your brother Ravana was not a normal man. He is on his way to heaven. He battled fearlessly. He died like a warrior and he deserved a great send-off.” With that he sent him to perform rituals for my dead body. Later Rama through Lakshmana made Vibhishana the King of Lanka.