Derails ten wise heads

Ravana, the one with terrifying roar, was an almighty revered king, a follower of Lord Shiva and a master of sacred vedas. He is described as the fearless one – with knowledge equal to ten wise heads.

Despite the brilliance, Ravana’s ego cast a shadow over his discriminative intellect:

• After severe penance, Ravana got his boon that no god or demon could ever kill him. He did not include humans as he never thought of them as a challenge.

• On being heckled by his sister, he abducts Sita – wife of Lord Rama, a human avatar! He brushes aside the counsel of his own kin.

Ravana and Rama:

• One known for his power – the ruler of three worlds

• The other for being righteous – exiled from his own kingdom

• One is ruled by his mind. The other rules his mind.

Ravana’s powerful mind:

• Births a unique purpose

• Unique purpose births directed action

• Directed action births success

• Success births ego

• Ego makes the mind fragile

Rama’s secure mind:

• Anchored in greater consciousness

Krishna, the next avatar, underlines the same truth a few hundred years later.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: ||

Rise through the power of your mind. You are your own friend, your own enemy.

Bhagavad Gita

What rules you.

Mind. Intellect. Consciousness.