My Name Is Ravana Read online

  Meanwhile, my mother came close to me, made me sit beside her, kissed me on my forehead and said, “My son, what the ministers say is correct. We have already lost many of our soldiers. We have lost great warriors like Kara and Dushana. I have heard from many of our men about the power of your opponent. Many of our women and children have approached me with great fear about the future. Moreover, like Malyavantha said, Rama sent the message for compromise with our men and all our citizens are very aware of this. It is necessary for us to compromise now. Put a stop to this! If you don’t; if you push for war you will be perceived as bad in the eyes of our own citizens. I am sure you will not like that. You have the most beautiful women as your wives. I want you to send Sita back to her husband. Just imagine, if someone attempted to take Mandodhari away from you, will you not fight for her? That is the same thing that Rama is doing now. I or any of our men find no wrong in Rama’s act. All our men and women have great respect for you my son and so they are not raising objections or revolting against you. You should maintain that respect. As your mother and also being responsible for this land and its people, I recommend you to compromise Ravana. And one last thing my son, if you decide to go for war, remember I do not forecast many chances of you winning over Rama. How do you expect a mother to see her son dying right in front her eyes, with the stain of evil on him? I don’t think my heart can bear it. I hope I never have to live to see this day ever.”

  As she spoke she looked intently into my eyes. I had not said a word, neither in agreement nor in dispute. She said, “I will not keep my eyes open to see that disaster. I said what I have to say Ravana. The minister’s too conveyed their verdict, now it is all in your hands.” I remained silent. She went away with both the ministers.

  What could I have said? I knew what all they said was correct. Before my birth on this land and even during my rule all this while, no one questioned such deeds. When I took this Lanka from my brother Kubera forcefully, no one questioned; when me and my son attacked Indra, no one questioned; when Vali abducted Sugeeva’s wife Ruma, no one questioned. So why was everyone questioning me, now? It looks like this world is learning the difference between Good and Bad. Before my incarnation as Ravana, this world was in the state where the difference between good and bad could not be drawn. Now they were able to and that means my visit on to this earth was getting fulfilled.

  THE FINAL CALL AND THE WAR SIREN

  I opted for war and there is no second thought. Since the strength of my opponent had been reported to me, I would have to dilute their strengths. I made a warfield plan and called for a high-level meeting.

  In the meeting I announced, “My dear warriors and soldiers, it is the time for us to show our power to the world. Take this as an opportunity and remember, that Rama is our enemy, winning over him and his troop is a must. We should make their lives miserable. Let me tell you something: now our enemy is supported not just by men but also by all kinds of animals and birds. Winning against Rama is winning against all of them, winning all of them is taking control of all living beings. Don’t you see the great opportunity we have? We should do this and for this I have a plan.”

  I started explaining my plan and asked them to divide our troops into five and attack the opponent in five different ways. I asked Prahasta to lead the first, Mahodhara and Mahapasvya together to lead the second, Virupaksha for third, Indrajith for fourth and myself with Suka and Sara would be leading the fifth.

  Vibhishana on the other side sensed my sketch and alerted Rama. Rama too asked his troops to be divided. And now Neela from Rama’s side with his troop were going to clash with Prahastha and his troop. Angadha, son of Vali with his troop getting prepared for a guerrilla war on Mahodara and Mahapasvya team. Sugreeva, Jambavanta and my brother Vibhishana were going to face Virupaksha. The messenger Hanuman would be attacking Indrajith. Both the brothers Rama and Lakshmana would be facing me.

  All set on both sides. Meanwhile Sugreeva lost his temper and all of a sudden tried attacking me. He couldn’t succeed and went back to his troop. I heard that Rama, later warned Sugreeva to avoid taking such solo decisions as he too had a great kingdom depending on him and so suggested to follow the war techniques from time to time.

  All set to war. I got a call from my gatekeeper that yet another messenger came from Rama’s side. I asked the gatekeeper to send the messenger in. It was Angadha with the same message of compromise but this time he said that this is the final call for compromise from Rama. I knew that and sent him back rejecting the proposal.

  The war sirens on both the sides rang and the war flags on both the sides went up in sky. The whole Lanka was on high alert, no one could sleep. We had everyone’s lives into our hands.

  THE FINAL COMBAT PART 1

  The minute the combat was announced, the vanara’s picked up huge stones and closed the moat (security canal) around the fort and with the help of Vibhishana they closed all the entrances of my underground tunnel network.

  Indrajith was fighting with Angadha, Jambhumali was fighting with Hanuman, Tapana was fighting with Gaja, Nikumba was fighting with Neela and so on. Meanwhile, Sampaathi, one of Vibhishana’s minister killed Prajunga, Sugreeva killed Pragasa, Sarenu killed Vidyunmaali. Dusk drew and the sun was almost down. Yet no one wanted to stop and the war continued.

  A team with Yamasatra, Mahaparsvu, Mahodara, Mahakaya, Vajradhamstra, Suka and Sara together with many soldiers at once attacked Rama with an intention of killing the lead in the beginning itself. Rama discharged arrows embedded with small-sized missiles. They kept on coming out from his bow as if they were attached to one another. My men were only able to see the arrows rising up into the sky and falling on them like rain. Rama’s hands were moving so fast while discharging the arrows that his hands were in a blur. Thousands of my men were dead and canals of blood drained into the sea.

  War got no breaks.... It continued. Angadha was fighting Indrajith. He had killed Indrajith’s charioteer and chariot horses. Indrajith has a unique fighting technique. He could make himself invisible and continue fighting. After losing his horses and charioteer, he shifted to the invisible state and continued the fight. Of course Rama and his team were shocked and surprised as they were unable to see Indrajith and Indrajith continued to discharge arrows. Soldiers on both sides stopped fighting and took to staring into the sky to see arrows coming from nowhere. Many vanaras were killed during this time. Rama couldn’t aim at invisible Indrajith. He shifted his focus on to Indrajith’s arrows. Lakshmana quickly followed Rama and both of them together countered every arrow that invisible Indrajith discharged. Indrajith felt as if he was on the verge of losing the battle and then decided to use the most powerful missile he had. He discharged Nagasthram.

  Nagastram zipped straight for Rama and Lakshamana and both fell down, unconscious. Sugreeva and the vanaras instantly became anxious, but Vibhishana came forward and reassured them. “Rama and Lakshamana are not dead,” he told them gently. “They are only unconscious.”

  To the best knowledge of Indrajith, there was no counter for Nagasthram and so he proudly came to me and said that he concluded the battle and the victory was ours. I was shocked for a while but then immediately realised that it was only the kid’s assumption. I smiled at him and asked him to arrange an aerial view of the bodies from a vimana to Sita. Indrajith expected more from me and he was disappointed. Yet he had been trained to not show his disappointment. He complied, immediately ordering a woman in charge to arrange an aerial view for Sita. Then he retreated to rest.

  So Sita got to see what I wanted her to see: the bodies of Rama and Lakshamana lying on the battlefield, while the vanaras stood around them distraught and speechless. Trijata who was with her then, consoled Sita by saying that both of them were not dead and they were only unconscious. While Sita was watching them, Rama regained conscious but Lakshamana was unable to move. Relieved, Sita returned to Asoka Vanam.

  Vibhishana motivated the entire troop once again and called for suggestions. Sugreeva
suggested that he along with his team would continue the battle while Rama and Lakshmana can be taken back to Kishkindha for medication. The discussions in the troops went on with various suggestions. Susena suggested that Hanuman be sent to the Himalayas to get Sanjeeva Karani and Visalya Karani—life-giving herbs which were quoted in history during the episode of Ksheera Sagara Madhanam and Deva-Asura battle.

  While the options were discussed, there was heavy wind and an unknown mysterious yet pleasant-looking huge eagle rok bird landed near Rama. Both Rama and Lakshmana gained their complete consciousness. The entire army gained confidence. Rama stood up and said to the bird that though he was unable to recollect the bird’s identity, he felt like he knew him. He requested the bird to reveal his identity. The bird in reply said that his name is Garuda. “I cannot disclose anything further at this point in time,” said Garuda. Promising Rama that victory was surely his, he flew away. These words of Garuda infused new life and confidence in Rama’s army.

  What you, the reader should understand in this context is that when you give your best with your whole heart and mind, when you stand for justice and truth; at hard times when you find no light, there will be an unknown force to support you and that is divinity. Have you ever experienced something on these lines at least once in your lifetime? I am sure you have. Stop and think for a while for such instances in your life before reading further. If you do I know that you will be able to find a thin layer of divinity in your life too.

  Take a break and come back. We shall continue the Combat.

  THE FINAL COMBAT PART 2

  As Rama came back to form, the Vanara Sena (the monkey army) jumped out of joy and got ready with renewed, multiplied energy. Every single soldier in Rama’s army desperately wanted to knock us out. They took each attack from our end, personally. Their agenda and one-point-focus seemed to be killing me and defeating my army. It seemed as if even if Rama excused me, these vanaras would not. They were ready to die for justice and rang the war sirens once again. This time the siren was just not a siren, it horrified the entire island. Hearing it made every citizens in Lanka tremble. All my men were shocked and Indrajith seemed to go blank.

  Dhumrakshas turn:

  I called for Dhumraksha, one of the most experienced warrior and sent him. He along with his team reached the battle ground to prove their strengths.

  Dhumraksha gave tough fight to many vanaras. Many of them were bleeding to death, yet none turned back. Seeing the badly wounded vanaras, Hanuman got angry. He roared, picked a huge rock and threw on it on Dhumraksha. Seeing the rock being flung at him, Dumraksha jumped aside and escaped. His chariot however was smashed to pieces.

  Dhumraksha and Hanuman stood face to face. Each one of them roared at each other to ignite a ferocious guerilla fight. Dumraksha after a while stepped back threw his Gada (mace) on to Hanuman. Hanuman, in a rage lifted yet another huge rock and smashed Dhumraksha into the blood wet mud. Leader lost, Dhumraksha’s troop scattered to save their lives from the fierce vanaras.

  Vajradhanishtas turn:

  Knowing Dhurmaksha was no more, I sent Vajradhanista and this team. He went through the south gate to fight Angadha and his troop. Angadha followed Hanuman and smashed many of my soldiers into ground with rocks. Vajradhanista came closer to Angadha to twist his hands but responding quickly Angadha took his sword out and separated Vajradhanista’s head and the body.

  Akampas (Sena-Pati: Commander in Chief) turn:

  This time I sent Akampa; he with his battalion jumped onto the troops of Kumuda, Nala, Maindha and Dwiveeda. Akampa was excellent at archery and the vanaras were finding it challenging to face Akampa’s arrows. They were unable to escape the assault of his arrows and get closer to Akampa. The fight continued for a long time again and then my Loving Enemies’ most attached Hanuman jumped in. Hanuman followed his standard tactic of lifting mountainous rock formations and placed it such a way that it shielded the vanaras and Akampa’s arrows struck the rock and started falling down. Akampa also had a medium-sized missile installed for arrows. Using those, Akampa broke Hanuman’s rock into pieces. By then Hanuman was almost close to Akampa. Mightily-built, Rama-baktha Hanuman uprooted a massive tree and smashed it into Akampa’s head. With that Akampa breathed his last.

  Prahasthas turn:

  I called in Prahastha and reviewed the situation. Despite the strategy, despite sending our mightiest warriors, all our attempts had been fended off well. “Our general troops cannot face the Vanara Sena,” I told him. “They were far beyond my expectation. It is time for me, you, Kumbakarna, Indrajith and Nikumbha to take up the challenge with our specially-trained teams. These core teams are more powerful and have advanced weaponry too.” He nodded, silent. I instructed Prahastha to go first with his team.

  Prahastha was one among those who had suggested that we surrender Sita to Rama and initiate a dialogue of compromise. Yet it being wartime and Prashastha being the warrior that he was, just followed my command. He went on to the battlefield.

  Prahastha takes care of almost one third of my army. Upon his arrival Vibhishana alerted Rama and Sugreeva and explained Prahastha’s strength to my opponent. The vanaras screamed in rage at Prahastha and his battalion. Prahastha’s sub teams lead by Naranthaka, Kumbaahana, Mahanaadha and Sammunnatha killed many vanaras. Despite this, the vanaras did not lose courage. They took up the challenge and continued the fight. Meanwhile vanara leaders Dwiveedha, Durmuka, Thara and bear leader Jambavantha suppressed Prahastha’s teams.

  Eventually it became a hand-to-hand combat. The two titans—Prahastha from my team and Neela from Rama’s side—wrestled with each other. Neela finally knocked Prahastha out.

  On hearing of Prahastha death, tears rolled down my eyes. He could have stood by his word. He could have left camp and joined Rama like Vibhishana did. Yet he didn’t do that out of his love for me. Now his loyalty earned him his last breath.

  Dhumraksha, Vajradhanista, Akampa and Prahastha were great warriors. None of these had ever faced defeat till then. Now they were no more. Undoubtedly they were stronger than the vanaras and Rama’s troops. Losing in vanara’s hands was never expected and none of us even dreamt of it. In reality vanaras are not stronger than that of my men. So how did this tragedy happened to my men? Here are lessons for you: one, no matter how strong Bad is, it can only enjoy temporary or short-term victory over silent Good. Two, the moment Good and Patience burst out, there is no room for Bad. And lastly, there are no limits or barriers for power of Good. For you to understand this better, let me give a simple example: An innocent cat that jumps at every small sound, when attacked in the closed chamber with no room to escape, turns to a ferocious lion.

  THE FINAL COMBAT PART 3

  I was excited, it was now time for me to get there on to the battle ground. I was excited, it was time to see my Sri Hari. I was excited, I was going and might not get a chance to see yet another Sunrise on this planet as Ravana. Today I might complete my mission as Ravana and make my way journey back to Vaikuntam.

  My face was filled with joy. I was cool and calm even though I was going for the battle. Of course, it was war for the entire world, the war between Rama, a prince and the mighty Ravana. But for me, it was the most holy day in my life as Ravana on this earth.

  My men made everything ready for my entry to the battle ground. I was accompanied by sons Akampa and Indrajith and they were further accompanied by thousands of soldiers. We were entering the mega ground for the mega battle. My eyes searched for My Lord. I cannot bow my head to Sri Rama, as I am Ravana. Yet in my heart I bowed to My Lord who was on the other side on the battle ground.

  In front of me there were troops of Sugreeva, Hanuman, Neela and Lakshmana. I would have to battle them before I took on Rama. I found my brother Vibhishana standing just beside Rama. My heart lifted at the sight. I was happy that Vibhishana and Rama became good friends. I was sure that down the line Vibhishana would establish an exemplary kingdom where society lives with great harmony and living standa
rds.

  I asked some of my troops to return and fortify the security at the fort and Asoka Vanam. Though I had to fight the battle I still found it difficult to initiate and stimulate anger that is needed in when one went into battle. While I was in dilemma, enthusiastic Sugreeva out of love towards Rama jumped at me with an intention of killing me. There! The universe responded and provided me with a chance to initiate my fight. I felt a surge of power as I lifted Sugreeva and flung him at a distance with ease. Before he could rise to his feet, I shot an arrow at him that made him faint.

  Rama and Lakshmana immediately went into a huddle with Vibhishana. I laughed. Perhaps they were discussing strategy; or who would attack me next. Vibhishana I think was parallelly explaining the strengths of Akampa, Indrajith and me. I was expecting either of them to take me on but suddenly, Hanuman jumped at me. His eyes were red and he roared at me that he’s going to kill me in one blow. I nearly laughed. Wanting to irritate him more, I smiled and goaded him further by saying, “Yes. Yes. You should surely hit me. Only then your monkeys will get famous. Only then will your species be able to boast that you were able to touch Ravana.” My words met their intended mark. Roaring, he gave me a straight punch on my chest. That was really a great punch. I still remember it. Yet it was not enough to debilitate me. I said to Hanuman feigning disdain, “That was a nice punch, indeed. Though you are from my enemy’s team you deserve an appreciation.” My words added fuel to the fire. In anger, Hanuman retorted, “I’m glad you enjoyed the punch. I wonder how nice it feels to know that a similar punch left your son Akshaya breathing his last during my last visit to Lanka. And now, it is your turn.”