Two Ravanas

 Two Ravanas?

The Ravana we know in Hindu mythology was a Brahmin, the demon son of Sage Vishravas, who kidnapped Sita, fought a battle with Lord Rama and was killed. 

Brahma created ten sons: Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Daksha, Marichi, Vasishtha and Narada. Sage Kashyap was a son of Marichi who was married to thirteen daughters of Daksha and Prasuti (daughter of Swayambhu Manu and Shatarupa). 

Thereafter, Brahma created the first couple Swayambhu Manu and Shatarupa who had produced five children; three daughters (Akuti, Prasuti and Devahuti) and two sons (Priyavrata and Uttanpada).

Younger Devahuti was married to Sage Kardama. They had nine daughters; and a son Kapila, the first philosopher of India preached Sankhya Yoga. One of the daughters of Kardama, Havirbhu was married to Sage Pulastya (grandson on Brahma). The couple had two sons: Agastya and Vishravas. Vishravas married to Idavida (daughter of Bharadwaja) and Kaikasi (daughter of Sumali). Idavida’s son was Kubera and Kaikasi’s sons were Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Vibhishan. Sage Angiras was the uncle of Ravana. Ravana was born in the 4th generation of Swayambhu Manu and Shatarupa. Manu-Devahuti-Havirbhu-Vishravas-Ravana. 

Lord Rama was born in Solar Dynasty of Raghu. Lord Rama’s ancestors were described by Tulsidas in Ramcharitamanas. Brahma-Marich(Kala)-Kashyap (wife Aditi the daughter of Daksha and Prasuti)-Vivasvan-Manu-Ikshvaku-Kukshi-Vikukshi-Bana-Anaranya-Prithu-Trishanku-Dhundhumar-Yuvanashva-Mandhata-Susandhi-Bharat-Asit-Sagar-Asamanja-Anshuma-Dilip-Bhagirath-Kukutstha-Raghu-Pravriddha-Shankhan-Sudarshan-Agnivarna-Shidhraga-Maru-Prashushruk-Ambarish-Nahush-Yayati-Nabhag-Aja-Dasharatha-Rama. 

Thus Lord Rama was born in the 38th generation of Prasuti (married to Daksha) the second daughter of Swayambhu Manu and Shatarupa; while Ravana was born in the 4th generation of Devahuti (married to Kardama) the third daughter of Swayambhu Manu and Shatarupa. 

How could then Ravana the son was Vishrava was the contemporary of Lord Rama? 

As per Valmiki Ramayana, Lord Rama didn’t cross Vindhyachal mountains and River Narmada; and the search for Sita was around a village near Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh considering the time and the geographical distance they travel. Was there another tribal King named Ravana living around tribal areas of Dandakaranya, who kidnapped Sita? It is likely that Smritis were fluid and freely rewritten/transferred over generations, therefore, the story of Lord Rama was mixed up with the story of Ravana, the son of Vishravas? It might be a plot of the poet to use two extreme characters of the history to compare the good and bad elements in the society and to preach the morals. 

Do you keen to review the subject or leave it into the myths of the mythology? 

Jai Shri Rama🙏

Punamchand

4 November 2020