The Flimsy Mythology of a 'Good Ravana'

For the last few days, around Vijaya Dashami, messages glorifying Ravana have been circulating on WhatsApp. It is a propaganda, a deliberate campaign of misinformation run by our anti-religious elements (most of whom unfortunately belong to our own religion). The same individuals who label Rama as skeptical or Krishna as licentious, revealing their shallow understanding, have adopted this strategy. By making people like Ravana, Duryodhana, Karna etc. great while subtly downgrading Ram, Krishna, Pandavas, they systematically plan to make Hindus weak and directionless, crippled from birth. Therefore, this organized attack requires an equally logical counter-response.

The messages:

"It wasn’t easy to become Ravana either..."

It is not easy to become Ravana, nor is it easy to become Laden. So what is there to become??? If the door of wisdom won’t open, then nothing will happen. Maybe through just opening a window will be enough to realize.

“Ravana had ego, but there was also penitence."

There is no mention of Ravana's atonement anywhere in the Ramayana. Even after losing his brother and son in the battle, he stubbornly refused to release Sita. His pride superseded any sense of remorse or penitence.

"Ravana had lust, but also had restraint (Sanyam)."

An example of Ravana's supposed restraint? He violated an apsara named Rambha, although she was the wife of his elder brother Kubera's son. To those who see Ravana's restraint, there is a simple thing that the world does not become dark if you cover your head under a blanket.

"Ravana had the power to abduct Sita"

To believe that Ravana had the power to abduct Sita is to live in a daydream. His actions involved a series of calculated deceits:

Using Maricha as a golden deer to lure Rama away.

Tricking Lakshmana with a false cry for help to draw him away.

Approaching Sita, who was all alone, in the guise of a mendicant and calling her outside the Lakshmana Rekha. Are these the characteristics of a brave man? It was an act of a coward, not a powerful hero.

"But there was also a vow not to touch a woman without her permission."

This was not a vow but a curse. After Ravana violated Rambha and previously attempted to assault Vedavati, he was cursed that if he ever touched any woman against her will, his body would be instantly cut into pieces. Fear of a divine curse is not the same as moral self-control.

The time has come not only for the ritual burning of the ten-headed Ravana but also to systematically combat the Ravana-like mentality in people, responding to them in their own language to start a burning sensation in the appropriate situations.