Ravana - The Antagonist?

…contd…

He is seen as an antagonist of the Epic Ramayana. By ‘labeling’ him that way we are missing out on he purpose of his existence and his creation – be it real, mythical or imaginary. So, don’t ‘label’ him as the ‘villain’ of Rama’s life. He is not. In fact, don’t label anyone for that matter. 

Please refer posts dt: Friday, July 31, 2009,also refer topic dt:3/5/09 and 12/3/09, Tuesday, October 28, 2014, Thursday, October 23, 2014 to understand why?

Forget about wanting to know if he really existed or not. Forget about knowing his intentions. Forget about justifying, analysing or condemning his act. Just look at his life, his actions and observe with a blank mind the cause and effect of one’s actions. What are the observations that we can make from all the above given information:

·         He was greatest of Shiva Bhakthas certified so by none less than Lord Shiva himself.

·         He had nature at his beck and call. He was so powerful.

·         He was artist par excellence.

·         He was knowledge personified. Ultimate in knowledge is Vedas and he was exponent in all four Vedas.

·         His lineage was one of the best. His father Visvaran, was one of the greatest of Brahmin Rishis, whose father was Rishi Pulatsya – one of the 10 Prajapathis (mind born sons of Lord Brahma) and one of the Sapta-rishis directly created at the start of creation.

That means he was grandson of a ‘Prajapathi’ and one of the Sapta-rishi on paternal side. With regards to his maternal side, his mother was a Daitya – an asura princess Kaikesi – daughter of Daitya king (Asuras or demons were called Daityas) who was very powerful.

...contd....

Ravan - know him in toto!

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With so much of power, strength, knowledge and opportunity too, he did not force himself on Sita after abducting her. He kept pleading her, threatening her, cajoling her, enticing her and wooing her to marry him but he did not force himself on her. With such power and such strong passionate desire for a woman who was his captive, he had self-restraint beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. There in lies his greatness. Inspite of his devilish intentions and nature he had his great qualities too! Some  state that it was because of a curse that he would be reduced to ashes if he touches a woman against her will while others give credit to Sita’s purity. All said and done, we can not forget that he was an asura king and he had magical powers which he could’ve easily used to fulfill his desire. Don’t underestimate his capabilities. Yet he choose to win her over was something commendable. 

Every man can learn from him with regards to this quality. Men who are of no good by way of looks, achievements, abilities, knowledge, power or having just a little of it molest woman at will and justify that the woman provoked them to by her looks, dress, life-style, character etc. a truly strong man doesn’t use his strength on woman – whether at home or outside. Infact, he is no man who does it. He is devil incarnate only in the garb of a human. His lack of good brought-up, circumstancs, frustrations, being drunk – nothing can justify his actions. When the Lord of three worlds – Ravana did not use his power, position and opportunity to molest a woman who was his captive – no one can find or give an excuse of circumstances to justify his actions. So real asuras are these men who use their strength on women and they cannot be pardoned for their sin – be them a juvenile or old person. They have to be punished severely whatever be their office and shame on people who support these people in the guise of their profession or in the name of ‘human rights’. These people are more sick and dangerous than the actual culprits. Those who justify the acts of rapists and finds fault with the girl who’s been raped are bigger culprits and they have to be ‘counseled’ and treated for ‘mental problem’.

 

Indrajit flying over golden lanka

Ravana was just and able ruler. His subjects just loved him and his rule was so efficient that Hanuman found precious jems and gold everywhere in Lanka. Just the description of Lanka and the palace of Ravana is so poetically grand done by Sri Valmiki in his Ramayan that it mesmerizes the reader and transports him into a world of beauty and grandeur. Hanuman was surprised at the richness of Lanka and he even mentions that the whole city was artistic beyond belief. There was no poor person in the kingdom and people knew no sorrow. They were very happy and that’s why two rakshasas after his demise decide to avenge his death and in the guise of washerman and woman bad mouth about Sita.

He was brother par excellence and that’s why they loved him so much and were ready to give up their life him. His son, Meghdooth, himself a great achiever and very powerful hero -worshipped him. That proves that he was a very good father to his children.

...contd....

Ravana - The highly talented

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Hearing this shloka Lord Shiva, the Lover of music lifted his toe and Ravana came out from under the mountain. That shows how great a poet he was!

This not only shows that he was a great devotee but also throws light on his literary prowess.

He was born ‘Dasakanta’ but was named ‘Ravana’ by his dear Lord, Shiva and hence that name stuck with him.

He was an author of ‘Ravana Samhita” an authority on astrology. Infact when his son Meghadoot alias Indrajeet was born, he commanded all the ‘navagrahas’ (planets) to be in excellent position so that his son could become immortal though that didn’t happen, it goes to prove his knowledge and authority on astrology.

 He possessed thorough knowledge on ayurveda and even today a mountain in Srilanka named after him has rare and very special ayurvedic herbs and plants on it. He was an expert in political science (statescraft) and that’s why Rama sent Lakshmana to learn it from the dying king of Lanka – Ravana.

He was well versed in Vedas and hence called Ravana Brahma – an exponent on all the four Vedas next only to Brahma. Till date we don’t have other person of that caliber. That’s the knowledge he had.

(most of these points I’ve already discussed and explained in the class though).

He was an expert musician and Lord Shiva was pleased mainly by his music. He is the father of veena called ‘Ravana Veena’. This proves his mastery over arts too!

He was so powerful that he vanquished all devas and took control of ‘Indralok’ too and took ‘Pushpak vimana’ (celestrial aircraft) of Lord Kubera. He had nature at his beck and call and sun would rise and set at his whim and fancy.

But what a pity! Man who could control and who had won whole of nature couldn’t have control over his own and that made all the difference. This is one lesson we need to learn from him. One who had whole world in his hand had to go empty handed at death. So, instead of spending all energy and life-time, in desiring, amassing and protecting things of this world and its inmates, work on self and win over your nature to become immortal. Self-restraint is the key to owing it all! Sounds paradoxical but true! He possesseth it all who owns none! 

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Shiva Thandava Strotam

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Once to prove his strength he lifted Mount Kailash along with Lord Shiva and his followers. Lord to teach him a lesson pressed the mountain with just his toe and Raavan was stuck under the mountain. All the worlds shook with his cry of pain. Realizing his folly, to appease his Lord he in that intense pain sang one of the most beautiful and excellent piece of poetry in Sanskrit called “Raavana kruth Shiva Tandava Strotam” It reads as :

Jatatavee gala jjala pravaha pavitha sthale,
Gale avalabhya lambithaam bhujanga thunga malikaam,
Dama ddama dama ddama ninnadava damarvayam,
Chakara chanda thandavam thanothu na shiva shivam.

From the forest of his matted lock, water flows and wets his neck,
On which hangs the greatest of snake like a garland,
And his drum incessantly plays damat, damat, damat, damat,
And Shiva is engaged in the very vigorous manly dance,
To bless and shower, prosperity on all of us.

Jata kataha sambhramabrama nillimpa nirjari,
Vilola veechi vallari viraja mana moordhani,
Dhaga dhaga daga jjwala lalata patta pavake,
Kishora Chandra shekare rathi prathi kshanam mama.

The celestial river agitatedly moving through his matted hair,
Which makes his head shine with those soft waves,
And his forehead shining like a brilliant fire-daga daga,
And the crescent of moon which is an ornament to his head,
Makes my mind love him each and every second.

Dara darendra nandini vilasa bhandhu bhandura,
Sphuradigantha santhathi pramodha mana manase,
Krupa kadaksha dhorani niruddha durdharapadi,
Kwachi digambare mano vinodhamethu vasthuni.

The consort of the ever sportive daughter of the mountain,
Whose mind rejoices at her side long glances,
With the stream of merciful look which removes hardships,
Makes my mind take pleasure in him who wears the directions as apparel.

Jada bhujanga pingala sphurath phana mani prabha,
Kadamba kumkuma drava praliptha digwadhu mukhe,
Madhandha sindhura sphurathwagu utthariya medhure,
Mano vinodhamadhbutham bibarthu bhootha bharthari. 

He, with the shining lustrous gem on the hood
Of the serpent entwining his matted locks,
He, who is with his bride whose face is decorated
By the melting of red saffron Kumkum,
And He who wears on his shoulder the hide
Of the elephant which was blind with ferociousness,
Makes my mind happy and contented,
In him who is the leader of Bhoothas*.
* can be taken to mean as souls or mythical beings guarding Kailasa.

Sahasra lochana prabhoothyasesha lekha shekhara,
Prasoona dhooli dhorani vidhu sarangri peedabhu,
Bhujangaraja Malaya nibhadha jada jhootaka,
Sriyai chiraya jayatham chakora bandhu shekhara.

May he whose foot stool is decorated
By the ever flowing flower dust.
Falling the bent head of Indra and other Gods,
And may He, whose matted locks are tied by the king of serpents,
And may he, whose head is decorated
By the crescent moon who a friend of Chakora*
Shower prosperity for ever on me.
* A mythical bird which lives by drinking moon light.

Lalata chathwara jwaladhanam jaya sphulingabha,
Nipeetha pancha sayagam saman nilimpanayakam,
Sudha mayookha lekhaya virajamana shekharam,
Maha kapali sampade, siro jadalamasthu na. 6

May he with the raging fire
In his forehead, who burnt the God of love,
May He who is forever being saluted by king of devas,
And may he who has collected
The cool ambrosia like crescent moon on his head,
And may he who wears the collection of skulls,
Bless us to create wealth for us.

Karala bhala pattika dhagadhaga jjwala,
Ddhanam jayahuthi krutha prachanda pancha sayage ,
Dharadharendra nandhini kuchagra chithrapathraka,
Prakalpanaika shilpini, trilochane rather mama. 7

May He in whose dreadful forehead, fire burns "Dhahaga", "Dhaga,"
May He who burnt the one with five arrows* as an offering to fire,
May He who is the only one who can write decorative lines,
On the tip of the breasts of the daughter of the mountain,
And May He with three eyes make mind enjoy in him.
* The God of love

Naveena megha mandali nirudha durdharath sphurath,
Kahoo niseedhi neethama prabhandha bandha kandhara,
Nilimpa nirjari darsthanothu kruthi sindhura,
Kala nidhana bandhura sriyam jagat durandhara.

May He whose black neck is as dark
As several layers of new clouds,
Packed closely on the night of the new moon.
May He who wears the celestial river on his head,
May He who killed the Gajasura with an elephant head,
May He who is very handsome because of the crescent that he wears,
And may he who carries the entire burden of the world,
Bless us with all sorts of wealth .

Prafulla neela pankaja prapancha kalima prabha,
Valambhi kanda kanthali ruchi prabandha kandharam,
Smarschidham puraschidham bhavaschidham makhachidham,
Gajachidandakachidham tham anthakachidham bhaje. 9

I salute him, who shines with a black neck
Similar to the well opened blue lotus,
On which all the temples depend for prayer,
And him who destroyed God of love, the three cities,
The worldly problems and yaga destroyers,
And him who destroyed elephant faced Asura and also God of death.,

Agarva sarva mangalaa kalaa kadamba manjari,
Rasa pravaha madhuri vijrumbha mana madhu vrtham,
Suranthakam, paranthakam, bhavanthakam, makhandakam,
Gajandhakandhakandakam thamanthakanthakam bhaje. 10

I salute him who is like the bee who drinks the sweetened honey,
That flows from the flower bunch of collection of arts of the Goddess,
And him who destroyed God of love, the three cities,
The worldly problems and yaga destroyers,
And him who destroyed elephant faced Asura and also God of death.

Jayathwadhabra vibramadbujaamga maswasath,
Vinirgamath, kramasphurath, karala bhala havya vat,
Dhimi dhimi dhimi dhwanan mrudanga thunga mangala,
Dhwani karma pravarthitha prachanda thandawa shiva. 11

Victory to the great Shiva, who has the fire burning in his forehead,
Which is increased by the breath of the snake wandering in the sky,
And to Him who dances to the changing tunes and fierce sound,
Of Dhimi, dhimi, dhimi coming out the auspicious drum.

Drusha dwichi thra thalpayor bhujanga moukthika srajo,
Garishta rathna loshtayo suhrudhwi paksha pakshayo,
Trunara vinda chakshusho praja mahee mahendrayo,
Samapravarthika kadha sadashivam bhajamyaham. 12

When will I be able to worship that eternal shiva,
With a feeling of equanimity towards snake and a garland,
Towards great gems and dirt or friends and enemies,
Or Towards a blade of grass and lotus like eyes,
Or emperor and ordinary men.

Kada nilampa nirjaree nikunja kotare vasan,
Vimuktha durmathee sada sirasthanjaleem vahan,
Vilola lola lochano lalama bhala lagnaka,
Shivethi manthamucharan kada sukhee bhavamyaham. 13

When will I live the life of pleasure, meditating on Shiva,
Sitting near a hollow place near the celestial river Ganga,
Releasing all my bad thoughts and with hands clasped above my head,
After releasing all passion for the pretty women with shifting eyes?

Imam hi nithya meva muktha muthamothamam sthavam,
Padan, smaran broovan naro vishudhimethi santhatham,
Hare Gurou subhakthimasu yathi nanyadha gatheem,
Vimohinam hi dehinaam sushakarasya chithanam. 14

This greater than the great prayer if read,
Remembered, or recited daily by man,
Will make him pure, eternal,
And he would get devotion to Shiva leading him to salvation,
For remembering Lord Shiva, is a sure method of removal of detachment.

Poojavasana samaye dasa vakhra geetham,
Ya shambhu poojana param padthi pradhoshe,
Thasya sthiraam radha gajendra thuranga yuktham,
Lakshmeem sadaiva sumukheem pradadathi shambu. 15

He who sings this song composed by the ten headed one,
At the end of every worship or,
Reads it after worship of Shiva on the Pradosha day,
Will get by the blessing of lord Shiva, chariots, elephants and horses,
As well as the affectionate sight of god of wealth.

Ithi Ravana krutham,
Shiva thandava stotram,
Sampoornam,

Thus ends the prayer of the dancing Shiva,
Composed by Ravana.

...contd....