Ravan Divulged: Untangling the Threads of His Untold Birth and Early life Stories Part -1

 Join me, Reet Hande, as we set sail on the thrilling voyage of the Mythic Chronicles saga. Our expedition commences with a profound exploration into the captivating narrative of Ravan, delving into the obscured narrative of Ravan. Prepare yourself to unearth novel viewpoints on this timeless tale, as Mythic insights illuminate the enigma surrounding Ravan's legend. This is the 1 installment of a trilogy of undiscovered stories about his life.

In the vast expanse of Indian mythology, amidst the tales of heroes and deities, there exists a character whose story transcends the simplistic narrative of good versus evil. Ravana, the legendary antagonist of the Ramayana, is often portrayed as a ten-headed demon king with a penchant for villainy. Yet, beyond the surface of this iconic figure lies a tapestry of complexity and depth, waiting to be unraveled.

In this exploration of Ravana's untold legacy, we delve into the intricacies of his life, his legends, and the enigmatic facets that define his character. This enthralling adventure marks the first installment of the Ravan trilogy series, where we delve into his birth, past lives, and scholarly pursuits, unraveling the intricate threads of his story with each turn of the page.

The Previous Existence of Ravana:

Once upon an astral twilight, the veils of Vaikuntha quivered as four celestial wanderers, known as the Kumaras - Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara, materialized at its resplendent gates. Despite their youthful appearance, and veiling ancient wisdom, they approached the ethereal threshold with curiosity aflame. But before they could cross into the divine enclave, they were obstructed by Jaya and Vijaya, the steadfast sentinels of Vaikuntha.

Unyielding in their duty, Jaya and Vijaya, blinded by mortal perception, deemed the Kumaras unworthy of entry, claiming Vishnu's repose forbade disturbance. Little did they know, these four Kumaras were no ordinary visitors but the very mind-born progeny of Brahma himself.

Refuting the gatekeepers' stance, the Kumaras proclaimed their devotion to Vishnu, believing him ever accessible to his devotees. Incensed by their audacity, Jaya and Vijaya, succumbing to ego, incurred a fateful curse from the Kumaras, stripping them of their divine essence and condemning them to mortal existence.

Upon Vishnu's intervention, the gravity of the situation unfolded, prompting the divine arbitrator to offer a solemn resolution. Unable to rescind the Kumaras' curse, Vishnu instead presented Jaya and Vijaya with a choice: embrace mortal life thrice as adversaries of Vishnu or sevenfold as his devout disciples.

Faced with the anguish of separation from their beloved master, Jaya and Vijaya reluctantly accepted the latter, agreeing to tread the path of opposition to Vishnu across three incarnations. Thus, ensnared by the web of fate, they embarked on their cyclic journey, yearning for eventual reunion with their immortal station as guardians of Vaikuntha.

Thus, the cycle of rebirth began. In their first reincarnation, they emerged as Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu. Hiranyaksa's imposing presence forced the earth into hiding, necessitating Vishnu's intervention in the form of Varaha, who vanquished Hiranyaksa and restored balance.

Hiranyakasipu, armed with a boon from Brahma, believed himself invincible, protected from death by any being on land or in the heavens, by day or by night, god or demon. Yet, his arrogance met its match in his son Prahlada's unwavering devotion to Vishnu. Vishnu, in his Narasimha avatar, thwarted Hiranyakasipu's tyranny, nullifying Brahma's boon by slaying him at dusk, neither day nor night, neither on earth nor in the sky.

The cycle continued into the Treta Yuga, where the brothers were reborn as Ravana and Kumbhakarna. Their fate intersected once more with Vishnu, this time incarnated as Rama, who brought an end to their reign of darkness.

In the Dwapara Yuga, the cosmic drama unfolded once more as Shishupal and Dantavakra, embodying the same malevolent essence. Their destinies intertwined with Krishna, the complete incarnation of Vishnu, who ushered their final reckoning. The births and deaths of Jaya & Vijaya as different demons are mentioned in Bhagavata Purana.

Legends and Fables Surrounding Ravan's Origins, Family, Devotion to Lord Shiva, and Academic Endeavors:

1. The Enigmatic Birth of Ravana:

In the ancient realm where knowledge intertwined with divine mysteries, Vishrava, a seeker of wisdom, found himself bound to Kaikasi, a rakshasi of insatiable desires for gold and blood.

Their offspring, born under the veil of portentous skies, manifested in Dashagriva, bearing ten heads and ten pairs of arms. Vishrava bestowed upon him the name Dashagriva, but destiny, with its playful whims, later anointed him Ravana, the Thunderous Sovereign.

At the advent of Dashagriva's arrival, the heavens wept crimson tears, and the earth trembled in trepidation as if foreboding the tumultuous reign to come.

From the loins of Vishrava and Kaikasi sprung forth three more progeny: Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, and Shurpanakha, each bearing their own tales woven into the tapestry of legend.

Amidst the verdant lands near Greater Noida stands Bisrakh, a hamlet whispered to be the cradle of Ravana's earthly existence. Born of Vishrava, one of Brahma's illustrious progenitors, and the rakshasi Kaikesi, Ravana's genesis shrouded the village in mystique.

Once known as Dashanana, the demon with myriad heads, his destiny shifted when the weight of Mount Kailash, pressed by Lord Shiva's celestial presence, crushed his limbs. From his anguished cries arose the moniker Ravana, echoing across the annals of time.

Thus, the saga unfurls, a tapestry woven with threads of divine decree and mortal ambition, painting the portrait of the enigmatic Ravana, forever etched in the annals of lore.

2. Dashagriva's Divine Quest:

In a daring quest for invincibility, Dashagriva, better known as Ravana, embarked on a relentless journey to petition the divine Brahma. Enduring a grueling fast and intense prayer spanning ten millennia, he ceremoniously sacrificed a head every millennium, casting it into the sacrificial flames.

As the moment approached for the severance of his final head, a celestial intervention unfolded. Lord Brahma materialized, halting Ravana's blade in mid-air. Impressed by Ravana's unparalleled penance, Brahma extended a boon, prompting Ravana to request immortality.

Yet, Brahma, the wise deity, declined this request. "Choose another boon," he urged.

Ravana, undeterred, sought protection from celestial beings, demons, serpents, and wild creatures, meticulously omitting humans from his plea, deeming them feeble.

Granting Ravana's petition, Brahma bestowed upon him a vial of immortal elixir, concealing it within his navel, along with the restoration of his severed heads.

3. The Brothers' Beseechment:

In the mythic tapestry of Lanka, the demon brethren embody a cosmic dance of the soul's entanglement in the triad of qualities.

The demon brothers of Lanka, represent the negative aspects of the three gunas that keep the soul in bondage. 

Vibhishana, a luminous figure, personifies Sattva, the essence of purity and righteousness. His fervent prayers to uphold dharma were answered by Brahma himself.

Contrastingly, Ravana, with his insatiable desires and ambitions, epitomizes Rajas, the force of passion and action driving the world.

Then there's Kumbhakarna, a colossal embodiment of Tamas, the realm of darkness and inertia. When Kumbhakarna approached for his boon, a whimsical twist of fate intervened: Goddess Saraswati, at the behest of Indra, playfully tied his tongue. Thus, instead of seeking the coveted Indraasana (the throne of Indra), he inadvertently uttered the desire for Nidraasana (a cozy bed for slumber). Legends suggest he initially harbored thoughts of Nirdevatvam (the end of Devas) but ended up requesting Nidravatvam (an eternal embrace of sleep). Swiftly, his wish was granted. 

Yet, his astute brother Ravana sought recourse from Brahma to amend this curious predicament. Brahma, in his wisdom, tempered the curse, decreeing that Kumbhakarna would slumber for six moons, awakening only when his appetite for rest waned, only to return to the realms of slumber once more. Thus, a tale woven with the threads of divine humor and cosmic irony unfolded, etching Kumbhakarna's name into the annals of folklore.

Thus, within this saga of gods and demons, lies a rich allegory of cosmic balance and the eternal struggle between light and shadow.

4. Melodies of Devotion:

Embracing devotion to Shiva, Ravana crafted a unique musical offering: a veena made from his own body parts. With his own guts as strings, he serenaded the deity, Shiva was impressed and appeared before Ravana.

 "Behold the indestructible Moon-sword, Chandrahasa," exclaimed Shiva, waving a crescent-shaped blade resembling the moon. "I give it to you."

5. Shiva's Enigmatic Bounty

In a curious twist, Shiva extended yet another boon to Ravana, presenting him with a cryptic offer: "Name your desire," he proposed.

Ravana, with fervor in his eyes, gestured towards a resplendent figure standing beside Shiva, oblivious to her identity. This enchanting woman was none other than Parvati, Shiva's consort, concealed from Ravana's knowledge. All he perceived was her captivating allure, igniting his longing.

Bound by cosmic obligation, Shiva acquiesced, yet Parvati devised a stratagem. Seizing a humble frog, she embarked on an unconventional journey to Brahma. "Craft from this frog a doppelgänger of myself," she implored.

Brahma complied, fashioning a replica that Ravana, none the wiser, transported to Lanka.

Unbeknownst to him, this was Mandodari, Ravana's esteemed queen.

6. Vaishravana's Ascension to Kubera

Vishrava, Ravana's progenitor, hailed from a lineage of Brahmins, descending from Pulastya, the mind-born progeny of Brahma.

From another union, Vishrava sired Vaishravana, a scion who embarked on a rigorous asceticism spanning a millennium, subsisting successively on water, air, and finally, naught.

Impressed by his penance, Brahma extended an offer: "Name your boon," he declared.

"Grant me guardianship over the cosmos!" Vaishravana proclaimed.

Brahma nodded in assent. "Indra safeguards the east, Varuna the west, Yama the south; you shall preside over the north. Henceforth, you are Kubera, the sovereign of Yakshas, custodian of opulence!"

Residing in Lanka, the gilded metropolis, Kubera assumed his mantle. Once a haven for Rakshasas, the celestial forces had displaced them, leaving Kubera to inherit the throne.

7. The Metamorphosis of Meghanada

Meghanada, the firstborn of Ravana and Mandodari, echoed thunderous roars from birth, earning him the epithet "Cloud-Roar."

As Meghanada matured into a formidable warrior, he employed the cloak of darkness in his father's celestial battles, rendering himself imperceptible. Thus, he ensnared Indra, the sovereign of Devas, in an ambush.

"Release Indra and your wish shall be granted," Brahma stipulated to Meghanada.

"Grant me immortality!" demanded Meghanada.

"Such a boon eludes my authority," Brahma replied.

"Then furnish me with invincible arms; I shall carve my own destiny in the annals of warfare!"

Brahma assented, and upon releasing Indra, bestowed upon Meghanada a new sobriquet: Indrajit, the Vanquisher of Indra.

8. Ravana: Master Healer and Melodic Maestro

Beyond the tales of his tenacity and might, Ravana wove a tapestry of talents that transcended the realms of mere mortals. He was not merely a ruler but a revered Ayurvedic virtuoso, hailed as the Vaidya Shiromani, a beacon of healing in ancient lore.

Within his tomes, secrets of pulse-reading unfolded in "Nadi Pariksha," while the essence of herbal alchemy danced across the pages of "Arka Shastra." His insights delved deep into the intricacies of tinctures and elixirs, immortalized in the pages of "Arka Pariksha." Yet, it was his tender care for women and children that found voice in "Kumara Tantraya," a whispered promise of health and vitality.

Amidst his scholarly pursuits, Ravana's fingers danced not only across parchment but also upon the strings of the veena, a testament to his musical fervor. The instrument became an extension of his being, each note a brushstroke upon the canvas of his soul. And from his nimble hands emerged the strains of the "Ravana Veena," a symphony of his own creation that echoed through the ages.

But his legacy did not end with instruments; he birthed Ragas into existence, infusing the world with melodies that stirred hearts and souls alike. Amongst them, the celestial hymn of "Shiv Tandav" stood as a tribute to the divine, a testament to Ravana's enduring devotion to the language of music.

Conclusion

In this riveting journey through the untold saga of Ravana, we are transported into a world where the celestial meets the mortal, where curses and boons shape the course of history. This isn't just another retelling; it's the first chapter in a trilogy that promises to unravel the layers of Ravana's existence, from his enigmatic birth to his scholarly pursuits and his unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva.

From the celestial realm of Vaikuntha to the earthly plains of Lanka, we witness the cosmic dance of gods and demons, of curses and blessings, weaving a narrative that defies the simplistic notions of good and evil. Ravana isn't just a demon king; he is a seeker of immortality, a master healer, and a maestro of music whose legacy echoes through the ages.

As we peel back the layers of myth and legend, we uncover the forgotten truths and hidden depths of Ravana's character, challenging our perceptions and leaving us enthralled by the sheer magnitude of his story. This is just the beginning—a tantalizing glimpse into a world where heroes and villains are not always what they seem, and where the lines between myth and reality blur into oblivion. 

In the following episode, we will see the people who battled Ravan, the Nav Grah tale, Ravan's several wars, and his conquering of Lanka.

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