Mayil Ravanan - Part II

NOTE: Please read Part I posted below before reading the following.

What we have established till now is that Sita, the daughter of Ravana is growing up in India as Janak King's daughter. Now, the rest of the events that unfold need to be looked with the above fact in mind. While Sita grew up in Janakpuri, astrologers in Lanka told Ravana that her daughter still lives and she lives as Sita. Ravana was happy to hear this. When Sita's beauty became wide spread and the famous competition of strength (as to who can break the massive bow) came to Ravana's ears, Ravana didn't let go of this chance. He fled to Janak City right away in quest of laying his eyes again on his lost-daughter. When He saw the competition that lay ahead, He thought that there is no one who can beat him at his strength. Ravana was a very PROUD Man. He decided to test the Bow with his own strength to see if his daughter gets a worthy partner for life! When Ravana saw that Rama bent the bow, He was happy and genuinely wished them both a good married life. He came back to his Kingdom a happy father.

But Alas, as destiny would have it the news of Rama being banished from his kingdom for 14 yrs in a forest devastated his peace of mind. Ravana was extremely unhappy about the fact that Rama did not become the successor to the throne of Dasharatha and thereby his daughter didn't become a queen. He was troubled with worry to find out how his daughter will manage in the meager benefits of a forest. Looking at his devastated state, Shoorpanaka his sister volunteered to go and see with her own eyes if her niece Sita is being kept well by Rama. Shoorpanaka sees Rama with Sita and Lakshamana. She sees how handsome Rama is and wonders if he is really as true to his character as a dutiful husband should be? Is he really a righteous husband to her beloved niece? So, Shoorpanaka came to Rama and made lustful moves at him for which Rama did not even get tempted one bit, but Lakshmana's anger was something she wasnt aware of.. which resulted in Lakshamana cutting off her nose. This hostility angered Shoorpanaka and she ended up giving a bad review about Rama and Lakshmana to Ravanan in Lanka. Ravanan was now angered and decided that he will save his daughter from such ill-tempered boys. He decided to bring her back to Lanka. But, Ravana knew that he can't touch any woman without her consent. Therefore,He sent his Uncle who was a magician(MAYAVI) to distract Rama. But, the Lakshman's rekha had to be surpassed. Ravanan took the form of Rishi so that Sita can come with her own will to Ravanan. This is what happened and led to the abduction of Sita.

Although epic critics have for long seen this act of abduction as Ravana wanting to covet another man's wife, the truth is that Ravana wanted to bring his daughter to safety. If Ravanan wanted to achieve his lustful ways with Sita, he could have tortured her until she agreed. But no epic shows any evidence of Ravanan being cruel to his daughter at any point. It was Sita, who didn't know the entire truth about her past, who was feeling bad and accused Ravanan of keeping her away from her husband Rama. But, Hanuman came to Lanka and set it on fire with his tail. This created havoc in his kingdom resulting to loss and devastation of innocent subjects' property. What King in his right mind will not care about the injustice done to his kingdom? What King will forget his duties as the protector? Certainly Ravanan didnt and wouldn't. He decided that Rama and his army would have to pay for this and that is why Ravana went for war against Rama, even though Rama was his own Son-In-Law!

No one can escape from his destiny. Rama became the Hero of the epic and therefore Good was won over Evil. But, it was meant to win because Every single Incarnation of Vishnu holds this as the main truth! But, Did u know that Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna were Cursedd to this? Yes, Ravanan and his brother Kumbhakarnan are two Asuras who guard the gates of "VAIKUNTA" (the heavenly abode where Lord Vishnu Lives). When a Sage came and wanted to meet Lord Vishnu both the Asuras denied entrance because their Lord was resting at that time. The Sage's anger erupted and he cursed the two Asuras to be finding their death in the hands of their Lord in every single incarnation of Vishnu. In Ramayan, Kumbhakarna and Ravana both find their demise in hands of Lord Rama. In Krishna Avatar, Lord Kamsa and his brother also find their demise in hands of Lord Krishna. Now, these Asuras are not entirely bad because if you come to think of it they have the noble role of bringing glory to their Lord in every avatar of Lord Vishnu.

This explaination of Ramayan and the importance of Ravanan is referred to as "MAYIL RAVANAN". Ravanan who lived somewhere in Lanka didn't have to bother with some girl called Sita, didn't have to abduct her when he had a beautiful wife at home. Ravana was a devoted father and was a great King. But, alas.. he was too proud of himself and he tried to escape from the grasp of Karma. Thus, our Indian ideology is proven yet right again that Karma is what determines what happens and what will happen eventually.

THE END
Source: My mother..who heard it from her mother.. who heard it from her mother..who....and the list goes on! :)