The story of Ravana, the demon king, is known to all of us. He is depicted as the villain of the Ramayana, who kidnapped Sita, the wife of Lord Rama. But there is another side to this story. Ravana was not just a powerful king but also a great devotee of Mahadev. In this article, we will explore the different facets of Ravana’s life, from his devotion to Mahadev to his skills as a poet, politician, and architect.
Ravana’s Devotion to Mahadev
Ravana is considered to be the greatest devotee of Mahadev. He was a learned man and had deep knowledge of the Vedas and other scriptures. He had composed many books, including Shiva Tandava Stotra, Ank Prakash, Indrajal, Kumaratantra, Prakrit Kamdhenu, Prakrit Lankeshwar, Rigveda Bhashya, Ravanaiyam, Nadi Pariksha, and many more. He was also a skilled poet and people used to call him a very good poet.
According to mythological texts, Ravana had knowledge of many languages. He was a very prominent pundit and for this reason, Lord Rama had made him perform a victory Yagya. Ravana composed the Shivtandava Stotra, which is still considered the biggest mantra of Shiva worship. Even Lord Rama did not doubt his devotion to Mahadev.
Ravana – The Skilled Politician
Ravana was not just a great devotee of Mahadev but also a skilled politician. He was the king of Lanka and had a vast kingdom under his rule. His kingdom was a happy and prosperous place, and the people of Lanka were satisfied with his rule.
Ravana was a master of architecture and had built many magnificent structures. His palace was one of the most beautiful and well-designed structures of its time. He was also a skilled general and knew how to lead his army in battle. During the war between Lord Rama and Ravana, he had used many different tactics to outsmart Lord Rama.
Ravana – The Elusive One
Ravana was called elusive because he knew magic, tantra, hypnosis, and different types of tricks. He had cheated Lord Rama many times during the war. His knowledge of these dark arts made him a formidable enemy.
Ravana – The Abductor of Sita
Ravana’s abduction of Sita is one of the most well-known stories from the Ramayana. However, there is another side to this story. Ravana had kidnapped Sita to avenge the insult of his sister Surpanakha. He believed that he was performing the duty of being a brother by protecting his sister’s honor. He did what a brother does, but his method was wrong.
It is said that Ravana had kept Sita captive for two years but never touched her. He always pleaded with her to be his wife, but she refused. This shows that Ravana had a sense of morality and ethics, even though he was a demon king.
Ravana – The Good King
Despite being a demon king, Ravana was considered a great ruler. His kingdom of Lanka was a prosperous and happy place, and the people were satisfied with his rule. Lord Rama had even sent Lakshmana to learn political tips from him.
Ravana – The Poet
Ravana was not just a skilled politician and a great devotee of Mahadev, but he was also a poet. He had composed many books and poems, including the Shivtandava Stotra, which is still considered the biggest mantra of Shiva worship.
Ravana – The Multilingual Scholar
Ravana was a scholar of many languages. According to mythological texts, he had knowledge of many languages, which made him a skilled poet and pundit. His knowledge of different languages also helped him in his diplomatic relations with other kingdoms.
Ravana – The Good Brother
Ravana was a good brother to his sister Surpanakha. He had kidnapped Sita to avenge the insult of his sister. He believed that he was performing the duty of being a brother by protecting his sister’s honor. He did what a brother does, but his method was wrong.
Ravana – The Villain
Ravana is often portrayed as the villain of the Ramayana. He had abducted Sita and was killed by Lord Rama in the final battle. However, there is another side to this story. Ravana was a great devotee of Mahadev and a skilled politician, poet, and architect. He was also a good brother to his sister and a good ruler.
Conclusion
Ravana was a complex character, and his story has many different facets. He was not just a demon king but also a great devotee of Mahadev, a skilled politician, poet, and architect. He was a good brother to his sister and a good ruler. Despite his flaws, he had many virtues that we can learn from. Ravana’s story is a reminder that even the most complex characters have different sides to their personality.