The End of Nine days of Devi festival, is celebrated with a lot of aplomb in India. It is the festival of Dussera. Where a 10 headed giant, sometimes 30 feet tall, effigy of Ravana is burned. And Like many things the Rituals are symbolic.
I have for one, been quite intrigued by this character. Infact several years ago I attended a theatre workshop which uses the epic Ramayana as the central theme. In the beginning we each had to choose a character and then study it and build and depict a scene to bring out the nuance of that character. I chose Ravana. I was the only one. In the course of preparation, I came across many facets of this Person. My friends joked that I had to go after the “Black Sheep”.
He intrigued me, then and now because of two things
He was one of the most learned, most devoted, most powerful people on this Earth and he let this darkness consume all these divine gifts. I remember feeling sad, not angry at what he did and how the story ended.
Ravana is widely considered to be a symbol of Evil, and so burning his effigy symbolised Good over evil.
I have had a challenge with this notion of Good “Over” Evil. It suggests linearity. and it also suggest an ‘absolute’. Which we know from our own experience it is not. And often reactionary decisions made for or from this view – fail, sooner or later.
Back to Ravana
There is actually a very interesting story behind the birth of Ravana. The demon King Sumali wanted his daughter Kaikesi to have mighty children so he instructed her to obtain sons through Vishrava, the sage.
Obeying her father’s command, she approached Sage Vishrava when he was offering prayers. Though Visharva obliged to her request, he warned her that all her sons, except the youngest one, would turn out to be evil and wicked because she had approached him at the wrong hour. Kaikesi ignored this remark and gave birth to Ravana, Kumbakarna, Surpanaka, and Vibhishana.
Thus, Ravana came to be half-demon and half-brahmin.
His father Vishrava, a rishi belonging to descendant of Bhramha’s ten “Mind-Born” children and mother Kaikasi belonged to a demon clan.
Kaikesi was extremely proud of her arrogant sons. Motivated by greed, she asked Ravana to take over the kingdom of Lanka, which was being ruled by her step-son Kubera. Ravana and his brothers performed penance at Gokarna for several years to please Brahma. So great was his discipline that Brahma was pleased and offered to grant a boon.
Ravana asked for the boon of immortality. Brahma said that was not possible as all that is born has to perish. So Ravana sneakily tweaked his wish.
“O mighty Brahma, may I never obtain death at the hands of Devas, Asuras, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, and Nagas.”
Because of his pride, Ravana did not even consider humans to be a threat. And in that lay hidden the story of his death. At the hands of a Human, Lord Ram.
With greed and deceit Ravana, took over Lanka from his step brother Kuber, The God of wealth. and sealed his own fortune. It is believed that the golden city of Lanka was built by Lord Vishwakarma- the “Principle Architect of the universe”
It may be possible that the city was destroyed, despite all this, because at it genesis was lies deception and greed. It kind of confirmed my belief that our fate is closed tied to the fate of the land we inhabit.
Ravana’s 10 heads symbolize the 6 Shastras and 4 Vedas, making him a great scholar and the most intelligent person of his time. He was a master of 64 types of knowledge and all arts of weaponry. A highly learned Brahmin, He has to his credit over a dozen of texts of which, Indrajala, Prakrata Kamadhenu, Ravana Samhita, Rigveda Bhashya, Krishna Yajur Veda to name a few.
He is known to have compiled Sama Veda with the relevant musical svaras (notes) and his Shiva Tandava Stotra is yet the most popular hymn ever sung in praise of Lord Shiva. His was also an accomplished Veena player.
So he was really the master of Strength, Science and Arts. His ten heads thus stood for this multiplicity of his genius. Which eventually went to his head. Or 10 heads.
The Light and Dark dance continues..
The Ten heads that are symbolically evil and are burned are 10 sense or qualities which overshadow ALL the good things
- Kaam (lust)
- Krodha (anger)
- Moha (delusion)
- Lobha (greed)
- Mada (pride)
- Maatsarya (envy)
- Manas (the mind)
- Buddhi (intellect)
- Chitta (will),
- Ahamkara (ego)
The head controls our destiny and the Ten heads of Ravana controlled his actions which ultimately led to his destruction. The king of Lanka became a slave to his senses and since he could not control his emotions, he not only destroyed himself and his clan but the whole of Lanka was reduced to ashes as well.
It is said, that having all this knowledge and not being able to harness his powers was one of Ravana’s biggest regrets as he lay dying on his deathbed.
This is a story that does not really end with this. These “Mind-games” even today destroy health, relationships, countries. We have as much God as Demon inside of us. And we are also given the Free will to use our own Intellect to choose.
Some of us have some of these qualities more than the other. But we all have them.That is the point , I think every year, we project it on the burning man and symbolically purify – at least try to.
My choice of poison has been Moha(delusion), Krodha (anger), Manas(Mind). I Remember when I came to know of these for the first time, I started a practice of watching owning and hopefully dissolving. I had to find all kinds of hacks to ”see” what was I really doing and how to measure when I have overcome some.
One of the biggest focus for me was Moha – “Delusion” – That I have been working with and on. My rationale was, if the delusion reduces, I might not succumb as much. If only I can “See”.
It didn’t always mean selecting an Action, although there was nothing wrong with that, but to see if the act was coming from a more integrated, more truthful place inside of me.
Seeing gave me Clarity and Courage
One of my Hacks, is to Call myself out on it as soon as I see it. That way it takes away the “shame” and hiding. Then I can be free to grieve and the move through it. The worst thing is, even after we do realize or see our “mistake”, promptly the EGO comes in to protect us from the shame and we continue to justify and hide. It does no one any good. Certainly not us. Because now we know we are lying to ourself. When we start doing that – we are doomed.
Ravana was not always named Ravana. Our names do have a way to come to pass.
Here is the a story
King Ravana was a great devotee of Shiva. One day Ravana visits mount Kailash, Shiva’s abode with a thought of taking Shiva with him to Lanka, forever. Greed
When Nandi, Shiva’s favourite bull and gatekeeper, comes to know about Ravana’s intentions he warns Ravana not to be selfish. Ravana gets angry at Nandi’s words, tells him that he is capable of even carrying the Khailash mountain along with Shiva, with him to Sri Lanka.- Arrogance
Nandi in turn gets annoyed and curses Ravana that Lanka would be destroyed by a monkey, Which it was.
Immediately Ravana begins to display his prowess and starts to chant the Shiva mantra “ Namah Shivaaya “ and tries to lift the entire Khailash. – Ego
Lord Shiva, annoyed by Ravana’s arrogance, presses his little toe on Kailash, pinning him firmly and painfully under it. Ravan lets out a cry of agony that shakes the whole earth. It was during this incident that he acquired the name ‘Ravana‘, meaning “One who cries out” – given to him by Lord Shiva –After this Ravana becomes a lifelong devotee of Lord Shiva – Redemption
Ravana realises painfully that he has crossed a line, upon which he becomes repentant. He starts to pluck his nerves and uses them as strings to compose music and sing songs praising Lord Shiva. Maybe we got the phrase “he has the nerves to do it” from here. This is how he composed the great Shiva Tandava Stothram and is said to have done so for years until Lord Shiva released him from his bondage. – Composting Grief
Yes, the boundaries will be crossed, and vices will be given into and not always even with best intentions and interest, will we be able to avoid faulting. To Err is Human. And in this case God and demon also.
And yet, we are still given many, not endless, opportunities for redemption, If we are really sorry for our words or action. Without this we will continue to walk the path of Destruction and self annihilation. Because our Internal Soul System Knows the Truth. Even if we don’t admit that to ourselves or others. But that said, simply saying sorry is not enough.
You cannot Talk yourself out of something , you have Behaved yourself into.
There needs to be redemptive Actions – Whatever they may be. And perhaps for a period of time. This needs to be thought of as “Tapas” -Trial by fire. Without guilt. guilt makes you hide. When that happens something beautiful comes from that, like in this case the Shiva Tandava Strothram, which is one of my favourite. It really is a song of redemption in a way.
In the end, pleased with his resilience and devotion, Lord Shiva gave him the divine indestructible sword Chandrahas (‘the laughter of the moon’)- referring to the shape formed by a crescent moon which resembles a smile.
It is said, that Shiva gave the Chandrahas to Ravan, as a way to tell him that he needs to win his enemies over by his Smile not Anger. By the Moon power of emotions and connections.
Closer home Myths turn to History. And the Divine Sword resurfaces
Chhatrapati Shivaji, is a well known figure in India. Shivaji, born in 1630 in Shivneri, Poona ,India was the founder of the Maratha kingdom of India. The kingdom’s security was based on religious toleration and on the functional integration all castes.
On one occasion when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj prayed to Goddess Tulja for victory in a battle against the Mughal Empire, the goddess appeared and gave him the Chandrahasa sword after which the goddess disappeared. The sword, when used, made Shivaji successful in all his conquests against his rivals.
Shivaji statues can be seen pretty much everywhere in the city. Along with his Chandrahasa.
The Significance is unmistakable.
Perhaps as we see these symbols, it is an a opportunity to See. And notice these vices, which can creep up on us anytime. And they do. We ned to be vigilant.
I have often found how our external life is unfolding, our relationship with our body people, friends, family, god, money all these can be used as an indicator to learn what may be happening on the inside.
Perhaps we need to reflect and see what are some vices we may not be aware of, where and how does regret sit inside of us and how can we walk the Fiery path of redemption. Perhaps it is time for using the “Chandrahasa” with ourselves. Perhas its time to burn the 10 or as many “heads” inside of us. The Ravana is inside.
One of my lifelong quotes I try to live by is:
“Regret for the Things you have done can be tempered with time
It is regret for the things you have not done that is inconsolable”
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