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Ravana and the Question of Evil

Ravana and Satan as imagined by Gemini AI


Valmiki did not conceive Ravana as a villain. Ravana is a tragic figure whose virtues are undone by a singular obsession: himself. Ravana’s ego is gargantuan. His lust for and obsession with Sita is one aspect of that ego. Ravana’s ego assumes that he has a right to get what he desires to have. The moral order of the universe is made subservient to that kind of ego by the individual concerned. Ravana believes he is invincible and above everything else including dharma.

What makes Ravana a tragic figure is the blend of greatness and hubris in him. He is an unparalleled scholar who was a master of the Vedas and Upanishads, well-versed in philosophy, astrology, Ayurveda, and even warfare strategy. He was called ‘Maha Brahmana,’ a great Brahmin, until destiny put Sita in his desires. He was a gifted musician, a veena maestro. He could compose moving poems and set them to music. His oratory skills were legendary. He was a courageous and charismatic warrior. “You had conquered death many times; but you could not conquer your pride,” Mandodari, Ravana’s wife, said rightly when he was dying.

Ravana reminds me of Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost. “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.” Ego makes Satan say that. It is the same ego that makes Ravana say, “I am Ravana, the ruler of the three worlds.” Milton’s Satan was also a great entity, the brightest of angels. Like Ravana, Satan too falls from greatness because of an excess personal strength turned inward.

Interestingly, both Ravana and Satan choose to fall from their greatness, rather than be ‘felled’ by someone else’s axe. Say, like Shakespeare’s Othello whose psyche is manipulated by the villainous Iago. Or Hector in Iliad who becomes a tragic hero when he is caught in the crossfire of others’ agendas.

Ravana puts his ego above everything else and so does Milton’s Satan. Both could have been great entities if they had held their ego under check. The comparison may end there, because Ravana’s existence is brought to an end by Rama, whereas Satan continues to reign in Hell eternally.

Ravana died. But did his death mean the end of evil in the world? Far from that. Krishna tells Arjuna in the Gita that whenever Dharma declines and Adharma rises, God takes form on earth to protect the virtuous, destroy evil-doers, and restore Dharma.

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ||

Rama was such an incarnation. But he was no guarantee, just as Krishna wasn’t either later, that the evil on the earth would be put an end to. Evil is a necessary component of life on earth. Rama wouldn’t be Rama without Ravana. Light wouldn’t be light without darkness. Dharma has no meaning without adharma.

Satan will be there as long as God is there. Evil exists and will continue to do so whether we like it or not. Evil is an integral part of human existence, a product of individual ignorance and interplay of egos. Evil will continue to be our loyal friend as long as we choose to exercise our free will without enlightened self-discipline.

How enlightened can one be in this world? Even Rama and Krishna, incarnations of God, had their own limitations.

Limitations – they are inevitable. And they engender evil. The struggle of the good to conquer evil will go on as long as our species continues to exist. As long as humanity breathes, the battle between light and shadow will rage – not to end it, but to remind us, always, to choose the light.

PS. I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z. This series looks at the Ramayana from various angles.

Tomorrow: The Silence of the Sarayu

Previous Posts in this series:

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Wow... Yes, good can only exist as long as there is evil...

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  2. There's no end to anything that exists, neither evil nor god, just the ravanas and ramas keep changing forms. Yet, we search for an idyllic world in idols! A nice lesson in the reality of life.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Ramas and Ravanas keep changing forms. That's it.

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  3. There is a lesson there. We must be careful not to let our hubris overtake our humanity.

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  4. Hari OM
    "Evil will continue to be our loyal friend as long as we choose to exercise our free will without enlightened self-discipline. Quite so! So many people are unprepared to put in the depth of thought, the sharp constraint to take the path of righteousness (shreyas) and opt instead for the path of ease (preyas). I'll take the high road and you take the low road... someone sung once! YAM xx

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    Replies
    1. This A-Z series has been an enlightening exercise for me!

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  5. In your post, you present Ravana not as a mere villain but as a complex character with virtues and flaws. His immense knowledge, musical talent, and devotion to Shiva paint him as a multifaceted individual rather than a one-dimensional antagonist. This perspective challenges the conventional portrayal of Ravana and encourages a deeper understanding of his character. By highlighting his greatness alongside his ego-driven downfall, you invite readers to reflect on the nuances of good and evil. Your comparison of Ravana to Milton's Satan further emphasizes the theme of tragic flaws leading to downfall. This approach not only humanizes Ravana but also prompts a reevaluation of traditional narratives. It's refreshing to see such a thoughtful analysis that goes beyond the surface-level interpretation. Your insights contribute to a more nuanced understanding of ancient texts and their characters. Thank you for sharing this perspective; it's both enlightening and thought-provoking.

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    Replies
    1. I'm also learning a lot from this entire exercise. The way I used to look at our epics has changed now. It is also changing the way I see the world, its people...

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  6. So beautifully written and explained. This was a pleasure to read. Ravan is a character that I am intrigued by. He is also an asura who is worshipped in Sri Lanka. Mayuri

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  7. This post is reflective of what happens when our choice is not in sync with Dharma or the righteousness. Very well written, Sir !

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