Clearing Misconceptions about Ravana
Nowadays a good chunk of religious Hindus have come under certain belief that Ravana, the main antagonist of the epic Ramayana was a good character. The source of this belief is mainly weird info spread by social media. The Hindu youth which have not read the epics and is mostly busy in lecturing others have been the biggest victim of this hogwash.
Let’s analyze the character of Ravana mentioned in the main book, i.e. Valmiki Ramayana.
Then he whose voice is strident that Ravana lifted her up by her waist and got Vaidehi up on the air-chariot intimidating her with bitter words.(3.49.20)
This verse debunks the claim that Ravana didn’t touch Sita.
Now people will try to justify this act by saying that Ravana did this to take revenge for her sister. But this claim is also false because the intention of Ravana was something else,
Ravana who is infatuated with lust picked her up, which lady is disinclined for any kind of sensuality and who is verily writhing like the wife of King Cobra, and then he surged skyward and flew off with her in his air-chariot.(3.49.22)
The intention is quite clear here that it was out of lust that he committed this task.
Later in this epic too we find this lusty behavior of the demon.
O Seeta with best complexion! Whatever limit has been made by me to you, those two months are protectable to me. Thereafter ascend my bed.(5.22.8)
In the very next verse, we find the cannibal nature of the demon,
Above two months you not desiring me as husband will be killed in my kitchen for my breakfast.(5.22.9)
The same is also present in Mahabharata,
Ravana, however, followed her thither and intercepted her further progress. And rudely scolded by the Rakshasa, she swooned away. But Ravana seized her by the hair of her head, and rose up into the air.
Then a huge vulture of the name of Jatayu living on a mountain peak, beheld that helpless lady thus weeping and calling upon Rama in great distress while being carried away by Ravana.(Draupadi Harana Parva Section:CCLXXVI)
The cannibal nature of the demon is also present in Mahabharata,
Thus addressed, the Ten-headed (Ravana) was highly gratified, for on account of his perverted understanding, the man-eating one slightened human beings.(Draupadi Harana Parva Section:CCLXXIII)
Now we come across the rapist nature of the demon
The rakshasa was reprimanded in this way. However, the strongest of the
strong was overcome by confusion and seized her. He was angry and
confounded by desire. He thus started to have intercourse with her. Rambha was
deprived of her ornaments. Her garlands were cast aside. She was like the bank
of a river, when it had been destroyed by a sporting elephant(VR:7.26)
Rambha was none other than her daughter in law,
O bull among the rakshasas! Following dharma, I am your son’s wife. Your brother,
Vaishravana, has a son whom he loves more than his own life. He is famous in
the three worlds as Nalakubara.(VR: 7.26)
Also Ravana tried to molest Vedavati which is given in Devi Bhagvata purana(also present in Valmiki Ramayana 7.17),
O Rāghava! The Devī Jānakī, in her previous birth, was the daughter of a Muni and practised asceticism. While engaged in her austerities, in her holy hermitage, Rāvaṇa came and looking at her, prayed that beautiful woman to become his wife. Hearing this, she gave a good reproach to Rāvaṇa, when he perforce caught hold of her hairs.
That ascetic woman got very angry, and, considering her body polluted by the devil’s contact, resolved to put an end to her life and cursed Rāvaṇa, thus : — “O Villain! I will be born on the surface of the earth, not from any womb but simply for your destruction and ruin.” Thus saying, she parted with her life.(Book 3.30.9–12)
Finally we have Valmiki Ramayana as a proof that Ravana wasn’t a devotee of Siva,
His eyes turned coppery red with rage and
he descended from Pushpaka. Saying, “Who is this Shankara?” he went to the bottom of the mountain. He saw the lord Nandishvara standing not far away, holding a spear and resembling a second Shankara. The rakshasa saw that he was an odd kind of human and ignored him. In his foolishness, he laughed, like a cloud filled with water. The illustrious Nandi was like a second body of Shankara’s and became angry. He spoke to the rakshasa Dashagriva, who had presented himself there. “O evil-minded rakshasa! You have seen my odd kind of human form and in your foolishness, have slighted me. You have laughed at me. Therefore, in the lineage of the vanaras, there will be born those who are like me in form, so as to ensure your destruction. They will be my equal in bravery and energy. O roamer in the night! Because of what you have done, I am capable of killing you right now. But I do not wish to kill you. Because of your own former deeds, you have already been killed.” The roamer in the night paid no heed to Nandi’s words.(7.16)
One final claim made by Ravana supporters is, “Ravana gave the knowledge of statecraft to Lakshmana on his deathbed.”
Now this claim is utterly ridiculous because Valmiki Ramayana says,
The arrow, which could
bring an end to the body, was released with great force. It shattered the evilsouled Ravana’s heart. The forceful arrow could bring an end to life. It took
away Ravana’s life, and smeared with blood, penetrated the ground. Having
killed Ravana, the arrow had a form that was wet with blood. Having performed
its task, it quietly returned to the quiver. His breath of life was separated from
his body and he fell down. The bow and arrows also fell down from his hand.
The immensely radiant Indra among the nairittas, whose force was terrible, lost
his life. He fell down on the ground from his chariot, like Vritra when he was
slain by the vajra.(6.97)
This clearly shows that Ravana after being hit by arrow immediately died and hence no chance for him to impart the knowledge of statecraft to Lakshmana.
Hence, the conclusion of whole article is that Ravana was just a typical demon who did all sorts of wrong deeds and hence isn’t worthy of worship
