Being Ravana

Ravana has a very important place in Indian mythology. Although he was a villain of Ramayana, he is worshipped either alone or with the Shiva-lingam (the symbol of Lord Shiva whom Ravana was a great devotee of) he had established in the past (as Temple claims) in many parts of India and some other Nations of Southeast Asia including Sri Lanka. Ravana himself is an ideology. He is an epitome of self-obsessed and greedy being full of nepotism who lost himself in the lust for power.

Ravana was an exemplary scholar who mastered the Vedas, the holy books, and the arts and ways of Kshatriyas (the warriors). He performed an intense penance to Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe, that lasted several years as a result of which he was provided with a boon. Ravana asked for immortality, which Brahma refused to give, but gave him a celestial nectar of immortality stored under his navel saying that he could not be defeated for as long as it lasted. He also asked for absolute impervious to the supremacy over gods, heavenly spirits and protection from serpents and wild beasts. Disdainful and ignorant of mortal men, he did not ask any protection from them. Brahma granted him all these wishes.

After getting Brahma's boon, Ravana had become almost invincible. He then acquired an island-city Lanka, made of gold from his half-brother Kuber, the treasurer of the Gods, by force. In spite of the fact that Ravana seized Lanka by force, he was regarded as a benevolent and effective ruler. Lanka flourished under his rule to the extent that, it is said, the poorest of houses has vessels of gold to eat and hunger was not in the dictionary of his kingdom.

Ravana had captured several human kingdoms, defeated Indra and other Gods, and conquered the netherworld. In this way, he had become the emperor of the three worlds. He was dominating all human and divine races so much so that he can command the sun's rising and setting. With every victory, he had been gaining more confidence. But shortly, the confidence took the form of arrogance — the prime reason for his destruction.

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