This second version of the story-thread published last week about "Rameshwaram" is a little less known. It was introduced to me by a brilliant speaker in Gurgaon here- Toastmaster Sourabh Deb. This mythical folktale claims that this ancient Shiva temple was built by Lord Ram, not after the war, but just before his army of monkeys and bears crossed the floating stone bridge (Ram Setu) to liberate Sita from the tyrant King Ravan.
According to the legend, sages recommended Lord Ram to seek blessings from Lord Shiva and conduct a Mrityunjay yagna before the war. Ram agreed, but there was a problem. He was a Kshatriya, with an army of monkeys, bears and defected demons. A discussion broke out among his generals for who should be the head priest for such great endeavour. It was then, that Vibhishan, a defector to Ram's side recommended his brother and the enemy King Ravan's name for the head priest. Seeing everyone shocked beyond belief, he explained how Ravan is half-demon but also half Brahmin being the son of sage Vishrawa. And not just any Brahmin, his ten heads symbolized his ten times vaster knowledge than an ordinary Brahmin. To add to that, there was no greater devotee of Lord Shiva than him and how having him as the head priest will only please the Lord even further.
The veteran bear army general Jambavant ji concurred and volunteered to travel and carry this proposal for Ravan. Jambavant ji knew Ravan's grandfather and Ravan being a true statesman, extended him his finest hospitality. Jambavant ji laid out Lord Ram's proposal laced with rich praises for the demon king and his magnanimity. Pride being Ravan's biggest weakness, he couldn't say no directly. In fact, he felt conflicted between his two roles as a priest and as a king. With a stunned court holding their breath, Ravan broke the silence and said- "Oh wise Jambavant ji, I humbly accept your lord's request. But I have a few conditions. The yajman (host) has to arrange for all the yagna samagri (catalogue of ingredients). I will write you a list right now."
Upon reading the last item on that list, Jambvant ji looked perplexed. That item mentioned, yajman's married spouse to sit alongside him throughout the yagna. Ravan smiled looking his dilemma and spoke- "If there is an item which yajman can't arrange by himself, it is the sacred duty of the priest to arrange it for him and yajman has to return the same after the yagna is completed." Jambavant, the wise emissary, loosened his tense countenance and smiled with admiration for this great Brahmin.
On the day of yagna, as committed, Ravan arrived in his Srilankan Airlines flight (Pushpak Viman) along with Sita. Upon the flawless conclusion of yagna rituals, Ram and Sita touched Ravan's feet with respect. Ravan blessed Ram- "Vijayi Bhava! (May you be victorious)" He blessed Sita- "Sumangali Bhava! (May all your misfortunes end forever)" Ravan maintained his professional outlook even towards his arch-nemesis. Not just he brought the lady he had abducted, and for whom the bloody war was about to take place, but he also blessed them both wholeheartedly. Ram maintained his righteousness, Sita too upheld her husband's word and returned to Pushpak Viman. While we commonly worship Lord Ram and Sita mata at least as the extraordinary beings (if not necessarily Gods), seldom we appreciate the magnificent brahmin Ravan. But he deserves credit for his professionalism considering how he successfully kept his duties for the family, kingdom, and trade totally separate and executed each role loyally, be it as the king, the brother, the statesman or the brahmin.
By the time, Lord Ram asked him for a Dakshina (brahmin's fee for conducting yagna), Ravan had returned to his mindset of the demon king. He spoke with his characteristic arrogance- "What can you forest-dwelling mortal humans possibly offer to the mighty Lord of golden Lanka? But suppose if you ever become successful in defeating me, I command you to visit me with folded hands and I will perhaps share some of my sagacious brahmin wisdom with you Kshatriya boys."
That indeed happened when Ram struck down Ravan eventually and just before he died, Lakshman went to him with folded hands on his brother's behest. The wisdom Ravan passed over to him in his last moment, is known as Ravan-Geeta, one of the six Geetas (songs of knowledge) ever told.
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I can't claim whether this version of the story is true or not (which mythological story can actually be, if not for one's belief?). But what this little known fable emphasizes is, in fact, my core belief, that nobody is pure evil or pure angel. Even the evilest of people can teach us the greatest of virtues. And vice versa. Ravan's tall pride may have led to his death and downfall. But what stops us in learning from his extraordinary life full of exemplary professionalism?
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