The curious case of Ravan

[ronki23]

Ravan was a worshipper of Brahma (who gave him 8 more heads) and Shiva (who gave him a boon so as he could not be killed). Apparently Ravan was once the gatekeeper of Vishnu and he was cursed by the 4 Vedas (Sons of Brahma) for refusing to allow them to see Vishnu : Brahma's curse could not be stopped so Vishnu gave Ravan 2 options: be a human for 7 or 14 lifetimes (I am not sure) or be the enemy of Vishnu for 3 lifetimes and then return to Vishnu's abode.

I'm a bit unclear on these stories: Ravan was a devotee of all 3 Gods ? When he died he repented for his sins.

Why is Ravan revered by some when Diwali is about his demise ?

 

[stvdv]

Why is Ravan revered by some when Diwali is about his demise ?

Ravan symbolises the 6 vices, so Diwali is also about giving up vices, hence that part makes sense

Here on RF we have also some who worship Lucifer I think

In Hinduism there are several Paths. One is to work hard to give up all your vices, but there are also Paths that embrace their vices knowing that everything is "from God"

It all depends on one's POV

 

[Viraja]

Ravana was a very great Shiva baktha. In temples, where Lord Shiva's festivals are celebrated, Ravana is a vahana always.

Due to this reason, Shiva bakthas feel enraged that Ravana was seen a villain to be slayed by Vishnu avatara and they hold strong sentiments and feelings towards Ravana.

Besides, Ravana was a true scholar and was totally gifted in 10 different ways (Jyotish, Music, etc). Therefore people having feelings for him pray to him with reverence.

 

[ronki23]

Ravana was a very great Shiva baktha. In temples, where Lord Shiva's festivals are celebrated, Ravana is a vahana always.

Due to this reason, Shiva bakthas feel enraged that Ravana was seen a villain to be slayed by Vishnu avatara and they hold strong sentiments and feelings towards Ravana.

Besides, Ravana was a true scholar and was totally gifted in 10 different ways (Jyotish, Music, etc). Therefore people having feelings for him pray to him with reverence.

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Why do the majority of Hindus celebrate Diwali if Ravan wasn't so bad ? Diwali is a public holiday in India, Nepal, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago

 

[shivsomashekhar]

Why do the majority of Hindus celebrate Diwali if Ravan wasn't so bad ? Diwali is a public holiday in India, Nepal, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago

Because the festival has very little to do with Ravana.

Diwali is a cultural festival across the Indian sub continent (and now worldwide) and as is usually the case, it has a number of myths associated with it.

1. Some believe it is the celebration of the return of Rama back to his home.
2. Some others believe it was the day Krishna killed Narakasura.
3. The actual celebration I have seen is worship of Lakshmi - which has nothing at all to do with either of the above
4. Jains and Sikhs celebrate Diwali too and they have their own reasons, different from the above.
5. The day after Diwali is Bali Padyami - an ancient festival celebrated with lights.

There are other myths attached to the festival, but it should be clear that Diwali is a pan-religion cultural festival originating in the Indian sub continent.

 

[ronki23]

Because the festival has very little to do with Ravana.

Diwali is a cultural festival across the Indian sub continent (and now worldwide) and as is usually the case, it has a number of myths associated with it.

1. Some believe it is the celebration of the return of Rama back to his home.
2. Some others believe it was the day Krishna killed Narakasura.
3. The actual celebration I have seen is worship of Lakshmi - which has nothing at all to do with either of the above
4. Jains and Sikhs celebrate Diwali too and they have their own reasons, different from the above.
5. The day after Diwali is Bali Padyami - an ancient festival celebrated with lights.

There are other myths attached to the festival, but it should be clear that Diwali is a pan-religion cultural festival originating in the Indian sub continent.

So why is Dusshera celebrated if Ravan wasn't so bad ?

 

[shivsomashekhar]

So why is Dusshera celebrated if Ravan wasn't so bad ?

You are missing the point.

Indian festivals have several myths attached to them. Dusshera (Vijayadashmi) is celebrated for various reasons around the country such as Rama' victory or Arjuna's victory, etc. It depends on who you ask. In South India, the festival has a completely different significance.

In the Ramayana, Ravana is the bad guy. During the 20th century, some South Indian politicians created the North vs. South story of Ramayana showing South Indians badly.

 

[ajay0]

Ravan was a worshipper of Brahma (who gave him 8 more heads) and Shiva (who gave him a boon so as he could not be killed). Apparently Ravan was once the gatekeeper of Vishnu and he was cursed by the 4 Vedas (Sons of Brahma) for refusing to allow them to see Vishnu : Brahma's curse could not be stopped so Vishnu gave Ravan 2 options: be a human for 7 or 14 lifetimes (I am not sure) or be the enemy of Vishnu for 3 lifetimes and then return to Vishnu's abode.

I'm a bit unclear on these stories: Ravan was a devotee of all 3 Gods ? When he died he repented for his sins.

Why is Ravan revered by some when Diwali is about his demise ?

Both Ravan and Rama were worshippers of the Shivalingam.

Because of his immense self-discipline and pain tolerance, he was able to perform heavy austerities of a rajasic nature, which greatly strengthened him, and enabled to conquer a lot of domains.

However, he lacked virtuous conduct and behavior, and was intoxicated by his power and prosperity resulting in deluded thinking and actions. This resulted in him antagonising people and getting their curses, which reduced his power of tapas. This eventually resulted in his defeat at the hands of Rama.

 

[ajay0]

Because the festival has very little to do with Ravana.

Diwali is a cultural festival across the Indian sub continent (and now worldwide) and as is usually the case, it has a number of myths associated with it.

1. Some believe it is the celebration of the return of Rama back to his home.
2. Some others believe it was the day Krishna killed Narakasura.
3. The actual celebration I have seen is worship of Lakshmi - which has nothing at all to do with either of the above
4. Jains and Sikhs celebrate Diwali too and they have their own reasons, different from the above.
5. The day after Diwali is Bali Padyami - an ancient festival celebrated with lights.

There are other myths attached to the festival, but it should be clear that Diwali is a pan-religion cultural festival originating in the Indian sub continent.

Yes, there are many interpretations.

The Brahmakumaris consider Ravana symbolically as synonymous with Maya and the five vices and body-consciousness/unconsciousness.

The burning of the wooden statue of Ravana every Diwali emphasizes the burning of vices and body-consciousness/unconsciousness within oneself, so as to bring about the triumph of virtue and purification of consciousness.

 

[Aupmanyav]

When he died he repented for his sins.
Why is Ravan revered by some when Diwali is about his demise ?

Ravana did not commit any sin. As the story goes, whenever he came to Ashoka Vatika where Mother Sita was interred, he was always accompanied by his virtuous wife, Mandodari (one of the five virtuous married women of Hinduism). When he died, his soul merged directly with Lord Rama.
Ravana is revered for his devotion and his scholarship. Even Lord Rama requested him with folded hands to instruct Lakshamana in statecraft.
Diwali, I believe, basically is an agricultural festival like Holi. Check Wikipedia.

"Kharif crops, monsoon crops or autumn crops are domesticated plants that are cultivated and harvested in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh during the Indian subcontinent's monsoon season, which lasts from June to November depending on the area. Monsoon rains may begin as early as May in some parts of the Indian subcontinent, and crops are generally harvested from the third week of September to October. Rice, maize, and cotton are some of the major Kharif crops in India. The opposite of the Kharif crop is the Rabi crop, which is grown in the winter."
"Rabi crops or rabi harvest are agricultural crops that are sown in winter and harvested in the spring in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh (cereals and legumes/lentils). The opposite of the rabi crop is the kharif crop which is grown after the rabi and zaid crops (Summer crops) are harvested one after another respectively."