Is Ravana really the greatest villain that ever lived?
The villain we love to hate wasn’t very different from us.
In my quest to achieve Rama’s perfection, I ended up finding my choices very similar to Ravana. You might wonder why I am being so harsh, but let’s take a close look, shall we?
Ravana- the abductor of a virtuous woman for revenge. The one who personifies the 10 negative emotions- Ego, attachment, regret, anger, hatred, fear, jealousy, greed, lust, and insensitivity.
But is that all there is to the mighty Ravana, the kind of Lanka, a kingdom as prosperous as any other, with riches overflowing and technology way ahead of its times?
As a reader and lover of mythology, I found myself researching extensively on Ravana. Out of curiosity and some time out of awe for this great ruler, I inspected every aspect of the villain we ‘love to hate’.
My introspection took me down memory lane. There were moments where I failed to achieve Rama like perfection and behaved with Ravana’s confidence and arrogance. On to the good now, I should explain why I am content being Ravana.
The Power of Knowledge-
Ravana was a devoted worshipper of Shiva. His Tapasya to appease Shiva lasted for thousands of years. His penance made him sever his head each time until Shiva appeared after his 10th beheading. Ravan’s motive behind this was to gain power over mortals and celestials alike through the power of knowledge.
In this world, we are shamed for our curiosity, for threatening the less learned minds through questions.
But I taught my desire to learn to take precedence over everything else. I was willing to feel humiliated, just so I could learn a thing or two out of this painful ordeal.
Leadership-
Have you wondered if Ravana was a great leader? Ram certainly was. But their purpose was entirely different. ‘Sone ki Lanka’ flourished under the governance of Ravana. His subjects had praises for him and he provided them with all their basic needs.
Leadership is not just a part of governance. It is necessary for everything we do.
And here is where Ravana serves as a great example. His dedication, planning, and leadership skills were exceptional. Just another trait I have added to my arsenal and one that comes in handy, no matter the circumstance.
Self-efficacy-
Ravana’s confidence gave him the aura of arrogance. But his vast repository of knowledge can’t be achieved without dedication. He might have made a couple of bad decisions, but here is a man who was self-assured and never forgot to believe in himself, especially when no one else did.
In a life where competition is on the rise, self-confidence is the one virtue we must all possess.
It took me a few years to learn it but now that I am here, it certainly is one of my best features.
True to Oneself-
Ravana never desired Godship. His wishes were simple- to gain all the knowledge the cosmos could give. He was true to his principles until the very end. He wanted to live like a man and die like one too.
That is another trait we all should aspire for. I, for one, have been trying to learn and implement it at every point in my life. To stand by our choices, especially when the circumstances are stacked against us, is a virtue very few of us possess.
Ram and Ravan- How different are they?
Rama, our ‘Maryada Purushottam’ king, was courteous and polite. Well, Ravana shared similar traits. He abducted Sita but never misbehaved with her. His motive was to draw Ram to Lanka, so he could attain moksha.
Ram’s religion and principle treated everyone as equal. And these were the same principles that were the foundation of the asura tribe.
Furthermore, if Rama is considered a great husband for avenging Sita, Ravana’s plan to kidnap Sita was in response to the disrespect his sister Surpanakha faced in the hands of Lakshmana.
Ravana prophesied ‘Atma so Parmatma’- the importance of human fortitude and Rama preaches the same thing through his actions through the epic.
The boundaries between these two kings blur most of the time. But if we are to live in today’s world, where we preach that there is more to a man than his bad traits, we must think about giving this revered villain a chance. He is in us, despite the denial and I am quite comfortable with accepting that, as I navigate through life.
What are your thoughts on this?
