The Ramayana isn’t merely a story about Lord Rama defeating Ravana and saving Sita for us. Despite the numerous challenges, it is about good triumphing over evil. It is this story that inspires Indians to keep fighting for what they believe is right.
But, as we all know, there are two sides to every tale.
Ravana was the son of Vishrava, the renowned sage, and Kaikesi, his wife. In reality, at the time of Manu, his father was a Saptarishi. Ravana was raised in a well-respected family and received an excellent education in both academics and martial arts.
Ravana was said to have ten heads, and legend has it that this endowed him with a particular gift of understanding. It is considered that having ten heads suggested he was an extremely knowledgeable guy, and hence a wonderful king with extensive administrative knowledge. In fact, his name is still associated with the writing of seven Ayurvedic texts, establishing him as a famous physician. On his wife’s request, he is claimed to have written an ayurveda book for infants.
Pushpaka Vimana
Remember Ravana’s pushpaka vimana, which he used to kidnap Sita? Ravana invented the flying thing, according to legend. This narrative demonstrates that his expertise was not only therapeutic, but also scientific. He had a proclivity for invention and created his own car.
He was a staunch follower of Lord Shiva. To appease him, Ravana would meditate for days on end. Whatever else he was as a person, no one could deny that he was a fervent devotee. Lord Shiva was so taken with him that he granted him the ability to utilize heavenly weapons, an honour that only a dedicated devotee could achieve.
As a result, even the beginning of the war between Ravana and Lord Rama is considerably different for Sri Lankans. If Ravana had not abducted Sita, Indians believe that none of this would have happened. The Sri Lankans, on the other hand, think it all started with Lakshmana chopping off Surpanakha’s nose when she proposed Lord Rama. For them, Ravana’s actions were exactly what a big brother would do to avenge his smaller sister’s injury.
