"There is an idiom, 'two heads (or more) are better than one.' However, to produce something useful, this idiom, has terms and conditions, that every head should have pure hearts and intentions. So, what if all these heads have evil intentions?" The moon started a narration after saying Ta'awudz, Basmalah and Salaam."In the Wayang Universe, there is a character of Ravana—meaning he who guards the forest—is also known as Prabhu Dashamukha—meaning he who has ten faces—or Dashaanan—he who has ten heads. He also has twenty hands. Regarding twenty hands, it shows that he is arrogant and has unlimited desires. There are many interpretations of why he has ten heads. I can only imagine, that with unlimited desire, surely in his head, has unlimited desires too. Imagine, if one head wanta the new capital of the state to be continued, another head thought that the railway project was going to stall, the other wanted to remain in office on the three terms, not to mention the other, had demands and reasons, he must have been dizzy. I don't have any information about Ravana's frequent headaches, but what I do know is that Ravana's hair, dreadlocks and sticky and frizzy, looks unkempt. Probably, he never has a 'crem-bath.' In fact, a leader, should keep his appearance as good as possible, without pretending for the sake of 'self-branding.' The designers, even Sting, the singer, said, 'be your self, no matter what they say.'Ravana was born in in the wrong muhurta [measure of time]. Rama asked Rishi Agastya, 'Muni [a designation for a sage], tell us how Ravana was born!' The maharishi resumed, ‘Sumali, King of Daitya, wandered the Patalas [the underworld] for an age. When his terror of Vishnu receded, he rose to the surface of the earth again and ranged the sea-girt world of humans for another age.One day, he saw the splendid Vaisravana flying above him in the pushpaka vimana, on his way to see his father Visravas. Vaisravana had come to Lanka and lived there with his nairritas. Sumali said to his daughter Kaikasi, 'My child, you are a young woman now and it is time you were given in marriage. Remember, the honour of three families rests in the hands of a daughter: that of her father’s clan, her mother’s and her husband’s, as well. See that you preserve all three, my Kaikasi.'She asked, 'O Father, to whom do you mean to give me?''To the Muni Visravas, so you will have sons as splendid as Suryadeva.'Kaikasi bowed to her father, and she took herself to the tapovana where Visravas was performing agnihotra. The young rakshasi did not know that it was an inauspicious time to approach the rishi. She came and stood near him with folded hands, while he was absorbed in the ritual. She stood staring down at her feet, bashfully, and scratched the ground with her toe to attract his attention.‘Visravas looked up from his puja and saw a young girl standing near him, her face like the full moon. He said slowly, 'Who are you? Whose daughter? And why have you come to my asrama?'“Brahmarishi, I am Kaikasi. I have come because my father Sumali told me to. I beg you, divine the rest for yourself.'‘Visravas sank into dhyana, and then, emerging from his trance, said, 'I see why you have come to me. You have come to have sons by me. But you have come at the wrong muhurta. So, O woman with the gait of a she-elephant in rut, you will have savage rakshasas for sons.''Brahmavadi, I beg you, let not all my sons be like that.'The rishi paused a moment; his face softened, and he said, 'Young woman, your last son shall be a man of dharma, like all the rakshasas of our clan.'Then the muni took Kaikasi unto himself and gave her children. Kaikasi was first delivered of a dreadful infant, with ten heads in a cone, with great fangs in them. His hair was like strands of fire; his lips were coppery like his eyes. When he was born, all the fell creatures of night gathered round that asrama and they circled his mother from left to right, in a bizarre and ominous ritual.'Eerie clouds scudded into the sky and rained down showers of blood. Flaming meteors, thousands of them, fell onto the earth, making great craters, and hissing into the sea, so the waves stood up like mountains and smashed against the shore. The very earth was agitated, as if with some terrible fear, and strayed from her true orbit.Kaikasi’s first child was born roaring fiercely from all his ten heads and his father named him Dasagriva. Soon after, Sumali’s daughter had another son, and he was the biggest baby ever born. His ears were like great jars, so he was called Kumbhakarna. Next, Kaikasi gave birth to a perfectly hideous daughter, and she was Surpanaka. Last of all, a serene and handsome infant was born to the rakshasi and he was called Vibheeshana. He was hardly like a rakshasa, by his appearance or his nature, and soft flowers fell out of Devaloka to bless his birth.Those children grew up in the forest where Visravas lived in dhyana. From the first, Dasagriva and Kumbhakarna had restless, lustful natures, and they spent their days in satisfying their every appetite. They hunted for sport and for food, and when they were a little older, they did not hesitate to slake themselves on any woman, of any race, whose path crossed theirs in the forest. Vibheeshana was a restrained, wise youth from the first; he spent his time at study and serving his father.Dasagriva, also, gave some of his time to studying ancient revelations. And to his own father’s surprise, that wild and ferocious Rakshasa outstripped his brother Vibheeshana, easily, at learning. But while Vibheeshana lived by what he learnt from the Shastras [precept, rules, manual, compendium, book or treatise], Dasagriva did not. This was the underlying why the ethics of the two were very different.Time passed, Dashagriva grew into an unrivaled Giant. He had been in meditation for many years, and Brahmadeva accepted his request that he be immune to all attacks and always excel among gods, celestial beings, rakshasas, detyas, danavas, all dragons and beasts. Underestimating humans, he does not plead to excel over them.He had Lanka of Kubera, who was also the son of Vishravas. Dasagriva ruled the asura race in the three worlds, he was appointed Maharaja Ravana.Ravana was thousands of years old. But he was a tapasvin; so he did not look even a small part of his true age. He kept women of every race, the most beautiful and seductive women from all the realms. Ravana's instinct ranged over his domains like the sun over the earth. Within his ten satanic heads, he sensed all that happened throughout his empire. What he did not sense, his servants, to whom he entrusted dominion in his dreaded name, reported to him: where goodness and dharma raised their hated visage.Ravana said sonorously, ‘Tell me, Akampana, what news of my cousins and my sister?’ Akampana stared down at his feet. He drew a breath, and said in a whisper, ‘My lord, all the rakshasas in Janasthana are dead. Khara is dead and Dushana; Trisiras is slain.’ In the cajoling tone, still casually, he asked, ‘Akampana, who did this thing?’ Akampana replied, 'A man, my Lord! Just one man with his bow and arrows.’ Ravana stared from all his eyes, the heads cocked at many quizzical angles. He stared in disbelief at Akampana, who raised his hands to shield himself from that gaze.He cried, ‘I beg you, listen to me, Lord.’ The devilish heads grew attentive. ‘There was once a king called Dasaratha. He belonged to the race of Surya, to the royal House of Ikshvaku. He has a son called Rama, who is as blue as a wild lotus. Rama came to the Dandakavana. His shoulders are wide as a bison’s and he is as strong as a lion. He is a master of astras, and he killed the rakshasas of Janasthana.’‘Perhaps Indra sent a host to help him? Let us have the truth, Rakshasa.’‘I thought of Indra when I saw Rama’s archery. But no, Indra did not come to help Rama. His astras were a thousand arrows each, and each shaft turned into a five-headed, fire-mouthed serpent. Janasthana is a desolation. Those of us who survived, the handful who fled, have no sleep any more for Rama’s face haunts our dreams.‘I believe he has a brother called Lakshmana, who is his equal. But he took no part in the battle.’Ravana sighed like the north wind on the mountaintop. His lips curled; fangs flashed at the corners of his mouths. He rose and crossed to his bay window that looked out over the turquoise sea. He said softly, ‘I will go to Janasthana myself to kill these brothers.’‘Oh no! Before you do anything in haste, listen to what I have heard about this Rama. He can hold up a river with his arrows. They say that if he wants he can extinguish the sun and the stars with his astras. He can raise the earth out of the sea, if it is submerged, or plunge it into the deeps by breaking the bounds of the world. All the rishis say that he is Vishnu come as a man. He shone like a God when he stood facing our army. He was a blue sun, and he killed fourteen thousand rakshasas as if they were small children before him.’Ravana was about to speak; but he saw the light of an idea in his rakshasa’s eye. ‘Finish what you were saying, Akampana.’‘It would be foolish, my lord, to engage Rama in a duel, for you could not be certain of the outcome. But there is another way.’ He paused, and saw he had his master’s interest. ‘Rama has a wife called Sita, who followed him into the forest. She is exquisite. He loves her more than his own life, and she, him; they are like prana to each other.’Ravana’s topmost head hissed, ‘So what? What are you trying to say?’Surer of himself now, Akampana continued at his ease, ‘She is the most beautiful woman in the world, Ravana. Not the apsaras of Devaloka can compare with her. Her face is perfect; her body is a vision. If you were to abduct Sita and bring her here secretly, Rama would die pining for her!’The nine heads mulled over this, whispering sibilantly among themselves. Then in surreal chorus, they grinned, horribly and all together. They bobbed up and down, endorsing Akampana’s idea, delighted with it.Ravana’s main face smiled, showing four rows of fangs, ‘I like your plan. Tomorrow at sunrise, I will fly to the Dandaka vana myself to bring Sita back to Lanka.’Akampana bowed deeply, and left the presence without turning his back on his Emperor.The next morning, before the sun rose into the sky, Ravana sat in the strangest chariot. This ratha was made of gold, alloyed with a starry metal, and four horned mules were yoked to it. They were green creatures of sorcery and flew through the sky quick as thoughts, at their master’s command. When Ravana was ready, his chariot rose into the air. Next moment, the chariot vanished from sight.Ravana flew across the sea of Bharatavarsha. Quite soon, he spotted Maricha’s asrama: its wood-fire’s smoke curled into the sky. Ravana flew down smoothly as a bird and alighted in the glade where the rakshasa Maricha, now turned a rishi, sat in dhyana. Maricha was Ravana’s uncle.Maricha blessed him, and said, ‘What a pleasant surprise, nephew. Something important must bring you to my asrama. Tell me, what has happened?’Ravana looked away from Maricha. He took his time to begin, then, said, ‘Uncle, did you know that all my rakshasas in Janasthana have been killed? Khara, Dushana and all the rest. The entire army has been razed.’ He drew a talon eloquently across his throat, ‘In a day.’Maricha’s eyes grew round. ‘How? When Khara led the army, how?’Ravana said quietly, ‘One man killed them all.’ He paused, then, he said slowly, ‘A kshatriya. A Rama.’ Maricha drew a sharp breath; his hair stood on end. He held up his hands, and cried, ‘Don’t say that name!’ Ignoring him, Ravana continued, ‘Obviously the human is powerful; such power is a threat to me.’ He took up a blade of darbha grass and began to pick his fangs. ‘This Rama must be killed. But we think he is too dangerous to face in battle.’ Maricha, who had experience of Rama, nodded his head several times in assent. Ravana continued, ‘We think his wife should be taken in secret to Lanka, without Rama knowing where she has gone. I need your help, Maricha.’But Maricha gave a moan. To his surprise, Ravana saw the old rakshasa’s hands shook and his face was filmed in a sweat of fear. Maricha struggled to compose himself, and cried, ‘Whoever set you on this course is your enemy and wants to see you dead. Is one of your advisors trying to kill you? You would be mad to even think of it. This same Rama once shot me a thousand yojanas into the sea; and you find no one else to abduct but Rama’s wife!’Maricha breathed heavily; his eyes bulged in anxiety. ‘Ravana, you are the Lord of all the rakshasas and someone is envious of you. He is trying to have you killed. Rama will finish you if go near him. He is like a sleeping lion. Only a fool will thrust his head into the lion’s jaws and then awaken him.You are my nephew. I am your well-wisher and I want nothing from you. Return to Lanka, to your women. Forget you ever heard the name Sita. Go Ravana; don’t invite your death to you.’Ravana listened calmly. He was unmoved by the descriptions of Rama’s prowess, unmoved even by Maricha’s obvious fear. But since there were such conflicting opinions about abducting Sita, he decided to let caution prevail.Ravana said, ‘Very well, uncle; if you feel so strongly I will not take Sita. There is no hurry. I am sure the chance will present itself one day, and I will crush this prince like an insect under my nail.’ All his heads glowered at the thought, and Ravana flew back to Lanka in his mule chariot.A few days later, a more relaxed Ravana, sat on his crystal throne, he had another visitor, who changed that Emperor’s mind again. Ravana hardly recognized his sister, Surpanaka, when she stood fuming before him. She had no nose or ears, and her face was so much older. Her hair had turned grey in a week; her voice was different, sadder. If he knew her by anything, it was by the fire in her eyes. She stood with her hands on her hips, glowering at her brother. She said shrilly, ‘You call yourself an Emperor. You say Indra is your vassal. But you are only an Emperor of your harem, since you don’t seem to know anything that goes on beyond its doors. Do you know, O Emperor, what force razed the might of Janasthana as if it never existed? A man: one man, a Rama. And look what his brother, Lakshmana, did to me. With them, also, is Rama’s wife Sita. She is beautiful. Hers is the beauty by which all other beauty may be measured. You have not seen Sita. She makes the charms of these others seem like stars twinkling vainly beside a full moon.'She knew her brother well, especially his weakness. Surpanaka leaned close to him, and breathed, ‘She is the woman for you! She belongs in your bed. I tried to capture her for you; that was when Lakshmana cut my face. If you don’t believe me, go and look at her just once. Then tell me if you don’t lose your heart. She was born for you; your destiny is calling you, Ravana. Go and kill the arrogant kshatriyas, and bring Sita back to Lanka to adorn your harem and your life.’ Ravana clapped his hands; he nodded to his court that it was dismissed.Ravana was in no mood to pay any attention to Maricha's advice, even once more, Maricha warning him, 'Ravana, you are the most arrogant and callous rakshasa, and you will lie dead upon the earth very soon, pierced by Rama’s arrows.’ Ravana wanted to see Sita: to possess her as quickly as he could. Ravana rose and fingered his sword meaningfully. He said, ‘Let us go.’ They climbed into the chariot and flew like the wind towards Panchavati. The Emperor of the rakshasas helped Maricha out of the chariot. He whispered, ‘Now, uncle, change yourself!’ Maricha shut his eyes with a prayer. He focused his maya sakti upon his own body. He became a golden stag, came in enchantment to the asrama in Panchavati.Sita came out of the asrama to gather flowers. Suddenly the golden deer stepped out from behind a tree. Sita almost dropped her basket. Her eyes were riveted to the bewitching creature. She called to it, as she did to the other deer that frequented the asrama. But this beast appeared not to understand her. Excitedly, Sita called Rama and Lakshmana. The deer stood quivering, quite near her, then ran a small way off when it saw the princes coming. When Lakshmana saw the golden stag he stopped in his stride, scowling. He said to his brother, ‘Be careful, Rama, this is no deer. I don’t know why, but I feel strangely sure that this is our old friend Maricha.’But Sita cried, ‘Oh Rama, just look at this creature. How beautiful he is. I have never wanted anything as I do this deer. He can be a companion for me here, and a wonder when we take him back to Ayodhya. I beg you, take him alive for me.’When Rama saw the deer, he too was bewitched. How could anything so indescribably beautiful be evil? He said to Lakshmana, ‘‘I think you may be right after all, Lakshmana. There is an evil feeling about this golden deer. The certainty grows on me also that he is Maricha. I will follow the beast, and I think kill it.' The stag streaked away into the woods. Bow in hand, Rama ran after it. Sita stood waving to him. Rama waved back at her a last time and was lost to view, as he plunged after the golden deer into the thicker forest around Panchavati.So the chase went on. The deer led Rama farther and farther from the asrama. An hour of this and Rama was convinced a rakshasa led him on this chase. With a soft mantra, Rama drew an astra from his quiver. He did not have long to wait. The golden stag stepped into the glade, near enough to have him chase it again, too far to seize. Quick as a thought, Rama raised his bow and shot the astra through the creature’s heart. With a horrible scream, Maricha fell, his body a rakshasa’s again, cut almost in two by the shaft of fire. He lay panting, dying. But before his life was gone, Maricha the sorcerer, threw back his head and, in an uncanny likeness of Rama’s voice, screamed piercingly, ‘Sita! Lakshmana! Help me!’ The next moment, he was dead.In Panchavati, at the edge of the coppice around the asrama, Sita heard Maricha scream and cried, ‘That was Rama. Fly to him, Lakshmana!’ But Lakshmana stood silent until Sita said angrily, 'So you don’t love your brother, after all. You want him dead, don’t you, so you can make me your wife?’ Lakshmana cringed. He folded his hands to her, and cried, ‘Sita, how can you even think this of me?' But she only glared at him, and cried, ‘Fly! If you want me to believe you.’ Tears in his eyes, glancing back over his shoulder to see if she would relent, Lakshmana followed the awful cry into the jungle.For the first time, Ravana saw Sita and he was inflamed. Jaded with the love of any woman he wanted casually, of the most beautiful women of all the races, it was an age since Ravana had been moved by a passion like the one that seized him now. He knew his time was short; he coughed softly at her back. Sita whirled around with a cry, thinking Rama had returned. With a growl, he caught her. Easily as if she was a child, he draped her across his shoulder and strode out to where his chariot waited. Without a whisper, the mule chariot rose from the ground and Sita saw the earth fall steeply away. Then the chariot was high enough, and it flashed south through the sky towards distant, exotic Lanka.
Citations & References:
- Ramesh Menon, The Ramayana:A modern Translation, HarperCollins
- Bibeck Debroy, The Valmiki Ramayana, Penguin Books
