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Asuras always had many followers, overt and covert, among Hindus. Asuras believe power is its own justification, and humans are so easily attracted to such a message (fascism, communism, fanaticism of any kind).The mind boggles
Thanks for your description of Ravana. I read another version from Sai Baba, describing Ravana as powerful but evil. Ravana had acquired a lot of knowledge (even more than Rama), but Ravana used it for selfish reasons, whereas Rama did not. And Ravana kidnapped Sita. That is why I called him powerful and evil.Ravana had his good points. His ten heads represent 4 Vedas and 6 Darshanas. He was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Shiva. Offered his severed head when he fell short of one lotus on his vow of offering a thousand lotuses to Shiva daily. Never encountered Mother Sita without being accompanied by his wife, Mandodari (who incidently is considered one of the five most virtuous women in Hinduism - Sati, and who, of course, is supposed to be the daughter of a pre-historical King of my native city, Jodhpur. We still have the Mandore fort there named after her ).
The story I have is Ravana and Bali were South Indian Dravidian kings (Shiva worshippers). The eventual Aryan (Vishnu worshippers) take over from the North led to their demise.
The story I have is Ravana and Bali were South Indian Dravidian kings (Shiva worshippers). The eventual Aryan (Vishnu worshippers) take over from the North led to their demise.
In Sanskrit and related Indo-Aryan languages, arya means "one who does noble deeds; a noble one".
Sanskrit epics
Arya and Anarya are primarily used in the moral sense in the Hindu Epics. People are usually called Arya or Anarya based on their behaviour. Arya is typically one who follows the Dharma.[citation needed] This is historically applicable for any person living anywhere in Bharata Varsha or vast India.[citation needed] According to the Mahabharata, a person's behaviour (not wealth or learning) determines if he can be called an Arya.[67][68]
Religious use
The word ārya is often found in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain texts. In the Indian spiritual context, it can be applied to Rishis or to someone who has mastered the four noble truths and entered upon the spiritual path. According to Nehru, the religions of India may be called collectively ārya dharma, a term that includes the religions that originated in India (e.g. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and possibly Sikhism).
"O my Lord, a person who is chanting Your holy name, although born of a low family like that of a Chandala, is situated on the highest platform of self-realization. Such a person must have performed all kinds of penances and sacrifices according to Vedic literatures many, many times after taking bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. Such a person is considered to be the best of the Arya family" (Bhagavata Purana 3.33.7).
"My dear Lord, one's occupational duty is instructed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā according to Your point of view, which never deviates from the highest goal of life. Those who follow their occupational duties under Your supervision, being equal to all living entities, moving and nonmoving, and not considering high and low, are called Āryans. Such Āryans worship You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (Bhagavata Purana 6.16.43).
According to Swami Vivekananda, "A child materially born is not an Arya; the child born in spirituality is an Arya." He further elaborated, referring to the Manu Smriti: "Says our great law-giver, Manu, giving the definition of an Arya, 'He is the Arya, who is born through prayer.' Every child not born through prayer is illegitimate, according to the great law-giver: The child must be prayed for. Those children that come with curses, that slip into the world, just in a moment of inadvertence, because that could not be prevented – what can we expect of such progeny?..."(Swami Vivekananda, Complete Works vol.8)