Ravana

RAVANA

(The Tamil King Of Ceylon )

In the Age of the Ramayana Epic, Ravana was the most powerful Tamil King of Lankapuri (Ceylon or Sri Lanka). He was a renowned devotee of Siva, who was pleased with his severe penances and austerities, granted him the boons of earthly fame and worldly might. Ravana was a very talented Veena (Indian music instrument) player. Ravana used Veena picture on the country flag. Ravana is not a Hindu God but rather a demon given great powers by the Gods because of his worship. The Gods granted him immunity from Death by a God and conferred super-powers upon him. Ravana set himself up as Tamil King of Lankapuri (Ceylon or Sri Lanka).

In the height of his sovereignity, imbued with the desire to have the Lord of Kailas, his tutelary Diety installed in Lanka, he exceeded the limits of disciplined discrimination, and attempted by his invincible strength to transfix Mount Kailas, the traditonal abode of Siva from the Himalayan region to that of Lanka. He was foiled in this feat by the Lord crushing him under His Feet; and finally it was his astonding act of penance that saved him from the wrath of Siva. Ravana ripped into his left thigh, removed the nerve fibres and turned it into a lyre, and sang praise of Siva. Then it was that Siva released him, pleased with his mortification. This episode of Ravana was constantly alluded by the Saiva psalmists to signify that piety and devotion alone without purity and humility, could not redeem man or give him peace. Ravana was a great Hindu Bhakta; yet his code of life violated the Hindu Dharma and he had to pay for it dearly.

Again in the life of Ravana, his insatiable pride and lust made him carry off Sita, the chaste wife of Rama of the powerful dynasty of Raghu at Ayodhya, when they were living in the forest in exile. Rama and his union with the monkey God Hanuman to eventually attack Lankapuri ( Ceylon or Sri Lanka) and kill Ravana. Ravana was able by magic art to take his soul out of his body and leave it in a box at home, while he went to the wars. Thus he was invulnerable in battle. When he was about to give battle to Rama, he deposited his soul with a hermit called Fire-eye, who was to keep it safe for him. So in the fight Rama was astounded to see that his arrows struck the king without wounding him. But one of Rama’s allies, knowing the secret of the king’s invulnerability, transformed himself by magic into the likeness of the king, and going to the hermit asked back his soul. On receiving it he soared up into the air and flew to Rama, brandishing the box and squeezing it so hard that all the breath left the King of Lankapuri's ( Ceylon or Sri Lanka) body, and he died. You will get much pleasure from reading the Ramayana and tracking the whole adventure.

There are lot of evidence proofs that powerful Tamil King of Lankapuri (Ceylon or Sri Lanka) Ravana has been lived in Trincomalee. Because the Tamil tradition has it that the wife of the mythical king of Lankapuri, Ravana who was a devotee of Siva, worshipped at the Koneswaram shrine in Trincomalee. Another proof is Discovery of Ravana's swayambhu lingam. It was originally found on a Tibetan mountain and later brought to Sri Lanka reportedly by the Tamil King Ravana. Moreover, in the Ramayana Epic period Ravana has used Veena as Ceylon Flag and according to the "Veena" Pictures on the Trincomalee Fort proofs that Ravana has dominated in Trincomalee. Also the seven Hot Wells ( Hot springs ) in Kanniya was made by the Tamil king Ravana.

Life and character sketch of Ravana

Ravana was a king of demons in the Hindu mythology. Here are some interesting tit bits about Ravana's life and his defeat by Rama.

The pages of Hindu epic Ramayana introduce us to the notorious being called Ravana. The king of the demons with ten heads and twenty hands makes Hindu mythology really interesting. Ravana was born to parents by name Visrawasa and Kaikasi. He had two brothers with names Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana.

It is believed that Ravana was the most dreadful creature ever born. His childhood was responsible to make him whatever he was. When he was a child, people were terrified of a child having ten heads and dark complexion. Let us once again go back in time of mythology and supernatural powers to get the glimpse of the life of deadly demon and incredibly scholar persona known as Ravana.

How Ravana got his name...

Ravana's real name was Dasamukha which literally means one who carries ten heads. Valmiki's Ramayana narrates the story about how Dasamukha got the name Ravana. Once Ravana infuriated the great monkey king Vaali who was praying on the mountain. Agitated Vaali trapped Ravana. Ravana kept howling until Vaali released him from the trapping. Since then people forgot Dasamukha and remembered Ravana.

Intellectual and scholar demon

Though Ravana is looked upon as a cruel demon who annoyed the innocent, he is also known as a great intellectual in the history of Hindu mythology. Under the guidance of his father, Ravana grasped vast knowledge. He learned sacred texts like Vedas. He mastered holy scripts. Ravana himself was a Brahmin but he learned the skills and techniques of Kshatriyas.

Devotee of lord Shiva

The demon that was well known for his evil powers had great faith in almighty. He was a believer of the supernatural beings. Ravana was a faithful devotee of lord Shiva, one of the incarnations of lord Vishnu. While possessed with obsession to manifest Lanka, Ravana confronted Shiva. Ravana tried to move on the mountain Kailash, the home of the lord Shiva.

In anger Lord Shiva punished Ravana by pressing him under his little toe. Ravana howled and danced to please lord Shiva. Then on Ravana worshipped lord Shiva with unconditional devotion. During this chance meeting with Shiva, Ravana composed Shiva tandava stotram.

The gruesome side of Ravana

Ravana had many wives but Mandodari is renowned as she was famous for her elegance and beauty. She was intelligent. Apart from legal wives Ravana was believed to have physical relations with many other women whom he had captured in the battles. There is a mention of the episodes in the Ramayana that he forced several women; amongst them was a sage-woman Vedavati.

Vedavati who was infatuated with the charisma of lord Vishnu, ended her life after losing her chastity. Ravana also tried to abuse Rambha, an apasara engaged to Kubera's (the god of wealth) son. After learning Ravana's advances, Kubera cursed him that if he tried to force himself upon any women, all his heads would fall off. This is one of the reasons why he did not touch Sita when she was in his abduction.

The king of demons

Ravana was obsessed with the thought of conquering Lanka. Ravana performed tapas for many years to please Brahma, the god of creation. Seeing his dedication Brahma bestowed him boons. Brahma granted his wishes to be unbeatable by gods and other powers. After getting the control of divine power, he conquered Lanka.

In his tenure, Lanka was a prosperous and wealthy kingdom. He leaded Lanka with his skills and he was considered one of the great monarchs. Under his ruling people in Lanka were living affluent lives. It is said that they actually owned gold vessels to consume their food. Ravana was admired for his huge knowledge of weapons and sorcery.

Ravana kidnaps Sita

Ravana's sister Shurpanakha was fascinated by Rama and she proposed him for marriage. Rama refused her proposal as he was already married to Sita. Then Shurpanakha pleaded Laxman, Rama's brother to marry her. In a fit of rage Laxman chopped off her nose. Ravana got angry and to take revenge he kidnapped Sita.

Sita was in his captive for nearly a year. Later she had to go through Agnipariksha to prove her chastity. Some facts in the mythology say that during her abduction, Ravana persuaded her to be his wife but never touched her. Other facts say that he kidnapped Sita only to take revenge of Laxman's behavior towards his sister.

When Hanuman (Rama's great devotee) was on his way back from Lanka to inform Rama about Sita's whereabouts, the demons in the Lanka set his tail on fire. But with his powers Hanuman increased the size of his tail and Lanka was burnt. Rama with the help of Hanuman set off to Lanka once he got to know about the Sita's kidnap.

Decline of Ravana

As Ravana was unbeatable, Rama had to acquire a special weapon to kill Ravana. Laxman got severely injured in the battle but he was saved by the magical herbs from the Himalayas. Finally Rama defeated Ravana and that was the end of the empire of Ravana. Ravana lost his life and his virtues because of his Karmas. His ego was solely responsible for his devastation.

On the day of Dassera Ravana's effigies are burnt to signify the power of the good over evil. But on contrary in some parts of India Ravana is worshipped on Vijay Dashmi. Ravana is the symbol of wickedness as well as wisdom. Ravana is burnt and worshipped for ages and will be burnt and worshipped for ages.