Ravana never dies

Bad days for demons and rakshas ! Goddess Durga annihilated the Mahisasurs ,Chandas  and Mundas yesterday, Rakshas turn comes tomorrow. Yet, next year , and the year after till doomsday the demons will resuscitate to repeatedly torment us, like the new heads of Ravana sprouting as often as Rama chopped them off. Why ? Maybe Ramkien holds an insight. . 

Ramakien, is the retelling of Ramayana by king Rama I of Thailand in 1807. The narrative is captured in a kaleidoscopic explosion of colours in 178 mural panels on the wall enclosing the huge Emerald Buddha complex in Bangkok. But let’s be clear, Ramakien has no religious import in Thai culture ; for visiting Hindus, however, the murals are an edifying sight for it closely follows the Valmiki epic. ( Rama I is the founder of the present Chakra dynasty, with its new capital at Bangkok after the old capital, Ayudhya, was ransacked by the Burmese) 

Ramakien recalls the ancient times when there were two principal cities -Ayudhya populated by men and ruled by descendants of Narai (Narayana) and Lanka settled by Brahma for giants and ruled by his relative Chaturpak from whom Totsakan (Ravana ) traced his descent as ruler of Lanka. In his previous incarnation Ravana was a giant named Nonduk in the service of Shiva whose abode was atop the Krailat hill. Nonduk’s job was to wash the feet of any visitor who took the first step to climb up the hill. While getting their feet washed gods used to tease and playfully pull his hair. One day Nonduk found out that the gods had made him bald as a coot. Enraged he complained to Shiva. To placate him Shiva gave a boon that made his forefinger as strong as a diamond and if pointed at anyone that person would immediately drop dead. Now when visiting gods teased him Nonduk simply pointed his forefinger and that would be the end of him. Gods panicked, went to Shiva who tells Narayana to kill him. 

Narayana takes the form of a beautiful damsel, a Mohini, and lures Nonduk to a dance. Gradually, Narayana so manoeuvres dance gestures that Nonduk’s forefinger points inwards. The moment it does, Nonduk suffers death pangs and Narayana resumes his original form. Nonduk feels cheated and calls Narayana a coward for killing him through deceit. Before Nonduk dies, Narayana tells him that in the next birth Nonduk would be born with ten heads, twenty hands and endowed with powerful weapons, while he would be reborn as a normal human being only to do battle with him. So a Ravana-Rama war was pre-ordained. 

In his present birth Ravana suffers humiliating defeats and loss of face in a number encounters with Palee (Bali) and Orajun, so he goes to his guru, Kobut, and implores him to somehow make him strong and invulnerable. Kobut takes out Ravana’s soul ,encases it and keeps it securely in his hermitage. Unless body and soul is killed simultaneously Ravana cannot die. He becomes invincible and immortal. 

When the Lanka Yudha reaches its zenith Rama is wonder-struck that Ravana’s brothers and sons, other kith and kin,seasoned generals and stalwart warriors fall but he remains unscathed. Puzzled he asks Bibhishan who lets him in on the most well kept secret. Hanuman is told to find a way out. Hanuman and Ongkot (Angad) hatch a ploy. They meet Kobut and spill out a litany of mistreatment, slights, insults, and abuses the two brothers had meted out to them despite their unflinching loyalty and dedicated service. Better to serve Ravana than such a master.  Seething with bottled up rage they had come to offer their services. Only he could convince Ravana of their sincerity to help his cause and their own selfish one of seeking revenge and settling scores with Rama. 

Kobut decides to take them to Ravana. 

Hanuman asks , “would it be safe to leave behind Ravana’s soul ?”

Kobut agrees and carries along the soul cage.

On way, Hanuman asks “why is the soul cage kept so far away, isn’t it inconvenient ?”

Kobut explains, “soul has an innate affinity for its body so must be kept away.” 

They reach the gates of Lanka city. 

Hanuman queries “wouldn’t it be better to leave the cage here instead of taking it close to Ravana ?” 

Again Kobut agrees. Ongkot stays behind with the soul cage while the two go to meet Ravana who is delighted beyond words to enfold a renegade as powerful as Hanuman. Meanwhile, Ongkot using magical powers makes a perfect replica of the soul cage and hands it to an unsuspecting Kobut. 

Now Hanuman goes to war on the side of Ravana and battles Laxman most creditably and returns to a hero’s welcome. Ravana rewards him with slain Indrajit’s property and widow and declares him heir of Lanka. Next day, Ravana brings up the rear of Hanuman’s forces. At the battlefield Ravana sees Ongkot handing over the real soul cage to Hanuman. He now knows Hanuman has duped him. His time is up . Rama shoots an arrow that pierces his chest ; at that very instant Hanuman tramples upon his soul pulverising it to dust . Ravana is dead. 

Yes, one Ravana died, but souls of many remain intact. No wonder, Ravanas revivify. Ramakien itself is proof enough. Bibhishan is challenged by Ravana’s sympathisers and Rama has to rescue him. Ravana’s anonymous son, however, dethrones him and Hanuman has to do battle again. Ravanas never die.