Raavan's Boons

Dashaharaa came and went. On that day Raam killed Raavan - the 10-headed Raavan. At innumerable places this event was dramatized. But why was he born on Earth and why only Vishnu had to incarnate to kill him? Anyway, It is an interesting story --

Who Was Raavan?
This story comes in Tulasee's Raam Charit Maanas while describing the reasons of Raam Avataar. Once Sanakaadi Muni, they are four, came to see Vishnu wandering around. They met His two gatekeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, at the gate of Vishnu's palace. As they were entering the palace, both the gatekeepers did not allow them to enter the palace. Sanakaadi Muni got very angry at this, they shouted at them - "You don't know who we are. You are not worthy to live in Vaikunth. You don't know how to behave. We curse you to be born as Asur on Prithvi"

Vishnu was taking rest. He heard some noise at the door, so He himself came out running and found Sanakaadi Muni at the door shouting at His gatekeepers. He asked them what happened and the Muni told Him the whole story. Vishnu immediately asked their forgiveness and requested them to soften their curse. Sanakaadi Muni went away saying - "You know better, only you decide what to do with them."

Vishnu asked them as how would they like to pass their curse period - they could be born either 7 times on the Earth as His Bhakt, or 3 lives as His most dreadful enemy. Jaya and Vijaya replied - "Bhagavan, We cannot live without you for a long time that is why we accept 3 lives as your greatest enemy. But we desire that when we are born as Asur, we should not forget out Gyaan (knowledge) and we should be killed by you only in all our 3 lives." Vishnu said - "So be it." And thus both were born on Prithvi 3 times - (1) Hiranyaaksh and Hiranyakashyap (killed by Varaah and Narasinh Avataar respectively); (2) Raavan and Kumbhkarn (killed by Raam Avataar); and (3) Shishupaal and Vakradant (killed by Krishn Avataar).

Raavan and Kumbhkarn
This was the second life of Jaya and Vijaya. They were born to Maharshi Vishravaa, the son of Maharshi Pulastya Jee, and an Asur woman Kaikasee. They had a real brother Vibheeshan who was very religious and an half-brother Kuber also. Raavan was born with 10 heads that is why Vishravaa named him Dashgreev - who has 10 necks. To get the powers all the three did a severe penance.

First Boon to Raavan - Three Boons in One
Raavan did his Tap for 10,000 years. At the end of every 1,000 year he used to offer his one head in Agni. At the end of 10,000 years when he was about to offer his 10th head, the last one, Brahmaa Jee appeared before him and asked him to ask for any boon. Raavan asked him immortality, but Brahmaa Jee said - "This boon is not possible, ask for any other boon." Raavan said - "Then give me this boon that I could not be killed by Garud, Daanav, Devtaa, Daitya, Gandharv, Yaksh." Brahmaa Jee said - "Be it so. And I give another boon of my own that whatever heads you have offered us in Agni, they will all be like before as they were. And you will be able to take any form you would like."
[Here it is notable that Raavan did not include human beings and monkeys in this list.]

Second Boon to Raavan - Raavan Name, Longer Age and a Sword
The first boon made Raavan very courageous, fearless and proud. He started roaming around, fighting and winning all kinds of species as now he had no fear of any one of them. Once he was coming from his victory tour that his Pushpak Vimaan stopped on the way. Raavan was thinking that why his Vimaan stopped that Shiv's Nandee told him that Shiv himself plays here on this mountain, so all others are prohibited here. Raavan said - "I will dig out this mountain as it has stopped my way. As he started digging the mountain, it shook violently. Shiv and Paarvatee were sporting there. They got afraid but when Shiv Jee understood what was happening, he pressed the Parvat with is his left big toe and it got stabilized.

At this time Raavan's hands were pressed and he could not pull out his hands from under the mountain. For long time he kept crying. On his Minister's advice he prayed Shiv. Shiv got pleased after 1,000 years. He said - "Since you have cried for so long, you will be called Raavan. You can go anywhere without any problem." Besides, Raavan said to Shiv - "If you are pleased with me then give me this Var that Devtaa, Gandharv, Daanav, Raakshas, Guhyak cannot kill me - I have got this boon from Brahmaa too. Give me longer life than Brahmaa gave it to me." So at the prayer of Raavan, Mahaadev increased his age and gave him a sword name Chandrahaas.

So Raavan had these boons because of which he became so powerful, but he had lot many curses also on his head. In next blog we will talk about his curses which were because of these boons.

Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com