Praise for My Name is Ravana
Ravana narrates the tale, giving out ‘secrets’ that not even Valmiki knew.......On this note, we offer mangalasasanams to Bala Venkateswara Rao Sankuratriji for his effort!
– Sri Sri Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
I have enjoyed reading this book and I wish this work of devotion reaches far and wide. I would recommend everyone to partake in such a rich enumeration of the Tretha Yuga that Sri Bala Venkateshwara Rao Sankuratri has drawn for us with his words.
– Sri Sri Sri Vidyaranya Bharathi Swamiji
It is not possible for a person to re-write the ancient text in this new tangent unless and until he possesses the highest degrees of liking, research and interest on the subject along with an exceptional devotion. Above all, this Ramayanam is written in Ravanabrahma’s perspective and I was amazed many times while reading this book.
– Sri Tanikella Bharani, Indian film actor, writer and director
The literary work is outstanding and undoubtedly this book has great miles to go. The thought of making Ravana narrate the book is beyond imaginations and took me to those ancient days throughout my reading.
I recommend the world to read this book and travel to Sri Lanka on Ramayana Trail to explore the memories of the most ancient documented history.
– Hon. Isura Devapriya, Chief Minister, Western Province, Sri Lanka
“My Name is Ravana” clearly tells the greatness of Sri Lanka during and even before the rule of the iconic king “Ravana”. The reason behind “Ravana” coming on to this earth and choosing Sri Lanka as the holy land to accomplish his task assigned by the Divine was well written.
– Hon. Udaya Nanayakkara, Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka
FOREWORD
Sri Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
There are versions and versions of a:di ka:vyam—Sri: Ra:ma:yana. The story has inspired countless artists and continues to do so. Different perspectives, whether of the characters in the epic or of the writers, are highlighted in different versions at different times. In this book, the perspective of Ravana is the focus.
Ravana narrates the tale, giving out ‘secrets’ that not even Valmiki knew. Ravana says he has consciously taken up the role of the “Bad” to “teach the eternal lesson that Bad will always be defeated by Good.” The bonus for us humans is that Ravana did not forget to mention immunity from humans in his boons but merely ensured our “pride” in our species by having the Lord take the human form. The narrative goes on in this spirit.
If this Ravana of this book can teach us to tap our human potential for the welfare of all, this will certainly be welcome. Much depends upon ourselves as to how we use our mind. We could see demerits even in the Lord and see merits even in Ravana. Seeing good in all, celebrating good in all, and learning good from all is definitely welcome. Only caution is we should make sure the moral compass of what is good and what is bad is not broken. On this note, we offer mangalasasanams to Bala Venkateswara Rao Sankuratriji for his effort!
Jai Srimannarayana!
ASHIRVAADAM
Sri Sri Sri Vidyaranya Bharathi Swamiji
SRI VIDYA SHANKARA
Date: 12.10.2017
Narayana Smarana Poorvaka Ashirvaadam to Sri Bala Venkateshwara Rao Sankuratri.
If a Dwaarpal (gate keeper) of Vaikuntha is so grand and able, what indeed must have been the capability of the Master, one has to wonder. Celebrating a devotee is the same as celebrating the Lord himself. Ravana and his immense accomplishments are but a testimony to Bhagwan Sri Ram and his abilities.
How can one indeed be a master of Ardhika (Economics), Raajakiya (politics), Vastu Shastra (Civil Engineering), Vimana (Aeronautics), Jyotish (Astronomy & Astrology), Ayurveda (Medical Sciences), Chatur Vedas (4 Vedas) and also be the creator of music and chess. Ravana was supremely disciplined and had pleased both Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva with Ghora Tapas (extreme penance) earning various boons from both. So versatile was Ravana, that it was beyond description and even belief. His capability was so immense that it was almost as if he had 10 heads on one body, or was it his ability to re-grow heads that earned him that title?
I have enjoyed reading this book and I wish this work of devotion reaches far and wide. I would recommend everyone to partake in such a rich enumeration of the Tretha Yuga that Sri Bala Venkateshwara Rao Sankuratri has drawn for us with his words.
More than 50 odd places of historical characters of Ramayana have been beautifully described in the book and these are definitely of eminence for any Hindu devotee meriting a pilgrimage to Sri Lanka.
Blessing and best wishes to you and everyone who contributed to this creation from Hampi Kshetradhipati Sri Virupaksha Swamy, Goddess Sri Pampa Devi and Sri Bhuvneshwari Devi.
Eti Narayana Smaranam
SRI SRI SRI JAGADGURU SHANKARACHARYA
SRI HAMPI VIRUPAKSHA VIDYARANYA
MAHA SAMSTHHANAM
SRI VIDYARANYA BHARATHI SWAMIJI
CONTENTS
Foreword
Ashirvaadam
1.
Introduction
2.
Curse to Jaya and Vijaya
3.
My Birth
4.
My Work Plan
5.
Transforming as Lankadheeswara
6.
My Kingdom
7.
Identifying Rama and Sita
8.
Time to Turn Bad
9.
My Confirmation to their Rumours
10.
I Wanted Sita to be Happy
11.
Rama Cracking the Clues
12.
Time to Meet the Messenger
13.
Identifying the Next King
14.
Tuning Vibhishana
15.
My Loving Enemy
16.
The Legendary Structure
17.
Call For Compromise
18.
The Other Way Round
19.
My Mother’s Verdict and Mine
20.
The Final Call and the War Siren
21.
The Final Combat Part 1
22.
The Final Combat Part 2
23.
The Final Combat Part 3
24.
My Review
25.
The Final Combat Part 4
26.
The Final Combat Part 5
27.
The Final Combat Part 6
28.
The Final Combat Part 7
29.
The Final Combat Part 8
30.
My Final Review
31.
The Final Combat Part 9
32.
The Final Combat Part 10
33.
Mission Accomplished
34.
Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka
35.
List of Names in the Book
Acknowledgements
Copyright
INTRODUCTION
My name is Ravana
Yes. I am the Ravana.
I was the one who abducted Sita, I was the one who set fire to Anjaneya’s tail and I was the one who fought with Rama. You may think I am mad. I don’t care. You may think, being me is bad. I still don’t care.... Fact is, I am great and being Me is next to impossible.
The game of Chadarangam (Chess) was created by me. Casually. I designed it to one day as something to entertain, something to play with my loving wife Mandodari and it is still the most intellectual game on this planet.
I was the one who derived musical notes. You can call it what
you want, be it the so called Karnatic or Hindustani or Western notes. You modern men can call it what you want, it was me who introduced those notes to the world. Some of you croon Sa Re Ga Ma and some others may hum Do Re Mi. Well, if you dig back into the history of music, you will find their roots also trace back to me.
I am the master of Vimana Shastra. I was the one who taught your mankind how to fly. It was not your Wright Brothers, trust me. I was the one who introduced the science of astronomy and astrology to this world.
I am the greatest administrator, this world had ever seen. Do you know that in my kingdom, Lanka, there were no beggars? Even the poorest of the poor in the kingdom had his or her daily meal in a golden plate. The best world class cities which no other kingdom on earth had were in my land, Lanka. Lanka was a profusion of vegetation, rivers, man-made water channels, wells and lakes. Every day was a festival in my kingdom. Citizens sang and danced, created cultural shows, skits and dramas every evening. They go to work every day with joy and ease, not with pain. In my kingdom one experienced the right to equality. No one hated me and I was the most respected and loved king for my citizens. Other kingdoms started calling my Lanka as Sri Lanka indicating the island of prosperity and the island of treasure.
When Hanuman came for the first time to my kingdom, he was astonished. He wrestled with his amazement, his eyes staring out of his head, not knowing where to cast his eyes; for everything was sheer beauty and magnificence to behold. So overwhelming was the city of Lanka that he had to precautionarily keep on murmuring to himself, just like a child, the quest for which he had been given as his duty and responsibility: that of searching and finding Sita.
Poets and artists couldn’t describe my versatility and hence they portrayed me with ten heads with ten different expressions.... THIS IS RAVANA.
Let me put to you—yes you, the one reading or listening to this text—a simple and small question: Do you think the king of said great qualities would abduct a woman just to satisfy his lust?
Close your eyes and think. Would this be the reason and only reason for me bringing Sita to Lanka. Think for a while before reading any further. If you do, you will realise that there must be some hidden reasons for me in doing so.
Allow me to tell you the story that many of you aren’t aware of. I tell this to you, so that you will understand reality. I owe no one any explanation or justification and if I choose to share this with you it because I am the RAVANA. I am the greatest devotee of Sri Rama.
Yes. What you read is correct. I am the greatest devotee of Sri Rama. That Sri Rama, Sri Hari, Sri Maha Vishnu, Vaikuntaadheesha is the one who sent me onto this earth as Ravana. My original name is Jaya and my brother is Vijaya. We both were the gatekeepers at Vaikuntham, the abode of Maha Vishnu. If we both came on earth as Ravana-Kumbhakarna it was on the instructions of Maha Vishnu, to fulfill our duties.
The whole RAMAYANAM is the magical truth of Sri Maha Vishnu that happened on this earth to direct you, all of humankind, in the right direction.
CURSE TO JAYA AND VIJAYA
Sri Maha Vishnu is the ultimate. Understanding Him, fathoming Him is very difficult. His every deed has many reasons. After Sridevi and Nagatalpa, me and my brother were the closest to The Ultimate, living just outside the gate of Vaikuntam as Dwarapalakas (gate keepers).
That day is still fresh in my mind. My Lord never says no to any visitors. His doors, to which I was his royal guard, are always open to His devotees and disciples. It was the first time and indeed the only time My Lord called us in and said that he would like to take rest and wanted no disturbance. I accepted his command and went back to my post. Yet something bothered me: I have never seen the Lord taking rest. If the Brahmanda Nayaka (King of the Universe) takes rest, how will the universe survive? I couldn’t understand the reasons behind what he said and just followed the command.
Then came the unexpected guests Sanaka, Sanat-kumara, Sanandana and Sanatana together popularly known as Kumaras or Sanakanandana Kumaras. Me and my brother Vijay felt very happy seeing these great Munis (saints). They had received a boon from Brahma; one in which they never grew older than the age of five. Thus, despite the deep and immense knowledge they had garnered, they always had the sparkle of children and had no malice. They had no greed, no lust, no selfishness. They are always as pure as the kids of five years old. These unique qualities permitted them go anywhere they wished to, and meet anyone they wanted to in the universe without any barriers. When they were so pure, why will even the God stop them?
But alas, this time we were in a dilemma. My Lord had said that he was taking rest and these Kumaras were not to be stopped. What should I do now? Stopping them would insult them and letting them in would be against my instructed duty. The time had come for me to take a call. I chose to stay with my duties and job.
But, as anticipated, it was a no-win situation for me. The Kumaras were furious with me and my brother for not letting them in even after their repeated requests. As a result they cursed us that we will be separated from our loving Lord. Neither me nor Vijaya expected such a big curse. We were shocked and depressed. Then the Lord, Sri Hari came out with a smiling face indicating that he knew all that happened. He spent some time with Kumaras and said, “When an employee does a mistake, the mistake is of the owners as well. Any punishment to them has to be shared by the owner as well. Similarly, Jaya-Vijayas being away from me is not only curse to them but also to me.” Listening to Maha Vishnu, the Kumaras said, “We knew, it was all your play that made us curse these most lovable devotees. We understood that this was for Loka Kalyanam (for the benefit of the world).” Turning towards us, the Kumaras continued, saying “Dear Jaya and Vijaya, the curse cannot be taken back, however you both together can choose and complete any of the following sentences before you get back to your original status of Dwara Palakas (Gate Keepers).
Be away from Maha Vishnu on the earth for seven lives as
good men and preach the mankind from time to time What is
Good and What is Bad.
Or
Live on earth as the enemies of the Maha Vishnu for three
lives and be killed by Maha Vishnu. The sequences that
happen between you and Sri Maha Vishnu will go down
in the history of mankind and thus humans will take your
references in learning
What is Good and What is Bad.
In both the cases you will be teaching the mankind how to lead a
good life. Your stories will remain forever in the minds of humans
and will act as guidelines to set their good living standards and
ethics.” And with that the Kumaras disappeared.
Vijaya and I, now understood, why Maha Vishnu kept us in dilemma by saying that he was taking rest. We were delighted that the Lord chose the two of us for this noble cause. We chose the second option, with an intention of returning to Maha Vishnu early.
In time we came to meet mankind on the earth and thus you know of Hiranyakasipa and Hiranyaksha in Kruta Yuga; Ravana and Kumbakarnas in Tretha Yuga, Sisupala and Dantavaktra in Dwapara Yuga.
The next time you go to Tirumala Temple or any other Vishnu Temple, do not forget to observe our statues or images at the entrance of the Garbha Gudi (main temple room). We are Jaya-Vijaya. We are Ravana-Kumbakarna.
MY BIRTH
In Thretaa Yugha I was born to Sri Vishrava Maharshi and Smt. Kaikasi as their eldest son. I had Kumbakarna (Vijaya), Vibhishana and Surpanaka as my siblings. I also had stepmother Mandakini and a stepbrother elder to me, Kubera, who was and is very popular among mankind as God of wealth.
Thus as Ravana, my grandfather was Pulastya Mahamuni and my great grandfather was Lord Brahma.
Right from the day one, I knew the purpose of my birth. What I did not know at this point in time was how to achieve it. However I was unable to discuss it with anyone including my family member and teachers. My divine purpose had to be within me; and it had to be implemented by me.
Days and years moved swiftly. I still did not have a clue or plan of where and how to start my work.
I was unable to concentrate on my studies and my mom Kaikasi was upset with my non-prosperity.
MY WORK PLAN
The day was like most of my days, pretty regular, when everyone around me started whispering about someone by name of Kubera, who came to take blessing from my father Vishrava Mahamuni. I asked my mother about him and it was then for the first time, I came to know about my stepmother and her son, my step brother, Kubera.
The court was agog with talks of Kubera, praising him to the skies for what he achieved and earned. He was, apparently, the greatest businessman. He had his own island called Lanka.
Something struck my mind then. Kubera was popular because of what he had created through his enterprise. If I have to be more eminent, then I should have more. Yet, I instinctively knew that if I just earned wealth like him, all I would become is another good businessman and perhaps a king to some place, and that would not be good enough now, would it? I decided that whatever I chose to work on it would have to be niche—a space that exemplified and shone in.
Thanks to that day, thanks to the inspiration of Kubera, I started studying economics and politics. I started reading many books and studying every available literature. I approached many saints and gurus, spent many years as their understudy and travelled round the world absorbing as much as I could. In the process, I also studied various sciences.
After many years of constant study on various streams, I mastered Ardhika (economics), Rajakiya (politics), Vyevahara (administration), Vasthu (civil engineering), Vimana (aeronautics) and Chatur Vedas (Four Vedas). I performed intense penances (Tapas) with great dedication to Brahma and Siva. In my free time, I played with sounds and invented Sangeeta (music) and even Ayurvedha (medical sciences).
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