Where did Ravana’s body go?

Where did Ravana’s body go?

Vibhishana performed the last rites of Ravana and with this the Ramayana was completed. But was Ravana really killed or are some of his mysteries still unsolved because it is said that when Lord Shri Ram killed Ravana, before the fire of his funeral pyre could completely subside, his most loyal bodyguards from the Naga clan and the demon clan suddenly disappeared with his body. According to some folk tales, they took Ravana’s body to a mysterious cave located in the dense forests of Rangala in Sri Lanka because for them Ravana was no ordinary king. He was their God. He believed that the greatest umbrella of Tantra and magical powers would one day return after defeating even death. So is it true that Ravana’s body is still hidden in some mysterious cave? And do you know that in some stories about Mother Sita, whose abduction led to the beginning of the entire Ramayana war, it is also said that her birth was linked to Ravana himself. So was Mother Sita really Ravana’s daughter? And did Ravana know about this or not? We have heard the stories of Ravana, Vibhishana and Shurpanakha many times. But the woman who stood with Ravana in every happiness, every sorrow and till his last moment. What happened to his wife Mandodari after Ramayana? Did his life also end there? Or did their story start after that and do you know most of us only know the name of Meghnath and Akshay Kumar in Ravan’s son. But it is said that Ravana had six brave sons. So who were the remaining four sons? Were they only the sons of Ravana? Or such magical warriors whose powers even the greatest warriors feared, and why was their name forgotten? But a bigger mystery than all these still forces people to think. Ravana’s illusory army, which expanded his empire far and wide, and whose name even kept gods and kings cautious. Where did that entire army disappear after Ravana’s death? Did she end up in the war? Or maybe it got lost in some mystery with time, the answer to which no one has till date. Friends, today we will know those secrets related to Ravana and his powers which were neither shown in detail in TV serials nor were explained in depth in most of the stories. This is not just a story but a wonderful journey filled with mysteries, powers and beliefs. So stay with us till the end because every mystery will open the door to a new mystery. Ravana had fallen on the battlefield and his end had come. The emperor who ruled Lanka for many years and who once became a challenge even for the gods. Today he was lying motionless on the battlefield. Where just a short while ago the roar of weapons was echoing. There was only smoke all around. There was only silence there now. The war was over with broken chariots, scattered bows and the lifeless bodies of countless warriors who had sacrificed their lives for their master. Meanwhile, Lord Shri Ram looked towards Vibhishana and said in a calm voice, now perform the last rites of Ravana. But on hearing this, Vibhishana remained silent for a few moments. Then he said to Shri Ram, Lord Ravana was definitely my elder brother. But he supported unrighteousness throughout his life. He troubled the sages. He challenged the gods and abducted Mother Sita. I don’t think it’s appropriate to perform the last rites of such a person. Vibhishana’s mind was filled with years of sorrow, anger and pain. Then Lord Shri Ram said something to Vibhishana which is still considered one of the greatest teachings of religion. Sri Rama said, with the death of Vibhishana the enmity ends. He was our enemy when he was alive. But not now, now he is only your elder brother and it is your duty to perform his last rites. Vibhishana’s eyes filled with tears after hearing these words of Lord Shri Ram. He paid his last respects to his elder brother and performed the last rites of Ravana with full Vedic rituals. The story till here is described in Valmiki Ramayana Yuddhakanda Sarga 112. But from here another version of this story begins. Which is not described in Valmiki Ramayana. Rather, it is heard in some folk tales of Sri Lanka and in the ancient beliefs there. It is said that when Vibhishana was busy preparing for the funeral of his elder brother Ravana. Then Ravana’s most loyal bodyguards had made a secret plan. These were no ordinary soldiers. They are said to have included warriors from the Naga clan, select guards from the Rakshasa clan and Ravana’s personal bodyguards. These were the same people who remained with Ravana throughout his life to protect him. And did not leave him till the last battle. For him, Ravana was not just the king of Lanka. He was their master, their idol and the greatest knower of Tantra. He believed that such a person could not be destroyed by ordinary death. Because of this belief he decided that Ravana’s body would not be allowed to be consigned to flames. As the night deepened, after the war all of Lanka had become exhausted and quiet. Then those bodyguards cleverly took Ravana’s body out from there. It is said that no one even got a hint of his plan. After this they started moving away from the capital of Lanka towards dense forests, high mountains and difficult paths. After several days of difficult journey, they reached a mountainous region called Rangala located in the central part of Sri Lanka. This place is said to be surrounded by dense forests on all sides. Where reaching is not considered easy even today. There is a description of a huge cave amidst these forests. This cave was chosen to preserve Ravana’s body. It is said that this cave is so mysterious that many paths emerge from it. Many paths lead straight to the sea, while others stop in the dark. But the question was how to preserve a dead body for years? This is where the most mysterious part of this story begins. It is said that the Vaidyas, Tantriks and people knowledgeable about rare medicines who lived with Ravana travelled far and wide and prepared a medicinal ointment from special herbs found in the mountains. He faced many problems in this. Then that paste was applied on Ravana’s entire body so that his body does not get destroyed quickly. But it was not right to keep Ravana’s body like this because there were ants and many small creatures in the cave from whom this body had to be protected. Then a special coffin about 17 feet long was made for him. In which Ravana’s body was kept with utmost care. That coffin was installed in the innermost part of the cave. It is said that when the coffin was being taken inside. Then the people of Nagavansh and Ravana’s close guards reached inside and he was kept safely at a place where it was considered almost impossible for a normal human being to reach. It is even believed that for years Ravana’s loyal guards kept vigil around that cave so that no one could reach that place. Because they believed that their emperor would return one day. But after a certain period of time his age was complete. Then the people of Naga dynasty made their place there. Some folk beliefs in Sri Lanka also say that the cave in which Ravana’s body was kept was protected not by ordinary soldiers but by the people of the Naga dynasty and mysterious powers. In some stories it is even said that even today poisonous snakes live around that cave. That is why no one can reach there and even today those snakes protect that place. These folk tales, which have been going on for centuries, still fill the forests of Rangla with mystery and curiosity. And perhaps this is the reason why even thousands of years after Ravana’s death, the mystery of his body has not been completely solved. Friends, this description is not a part of Valmiki Ramayana. It is based on some folk tales and local beliefs of Sri Lanka. There is no historical or archaeological evidence available for this story. But even today this folktale is popular in some areas of Sri Lanka. Now let us know whether Mother Sita was really the daughter of Ravana? Friends, in religious texts, Mother Sita is considered to be the daughter of the earth and the daughter of King Janak of Mithila. But some ancient tales and folk traditions also tell a different story which has raised many questions in people’s minds over the years. It is said that after defeating Kubera and conquering Lanka, Ravana’s empire was continuously expanding at that time. One after another states were coming under his control. Even kings and great warriors bowed their heads before him. But Ravana was most angry at those Arshi sages who were afraid of God and religion and not of his power. For this reason, many times he would even reach their ashrams. Some traditions state that he humiliated several sages and collected the sacred blood associated with their penance in a golden pot. He believed that due to years of penance this blood was no longer ordinary. Rather, amazing power has been absorbed in it. He brought that golden pot to Lanka and kept it in the safest room of his palace. While leaving, he only told Mandodari to keep this pot very carefully. There is such power within it that it should not be touched without thinking. After this Ravana again set out on his conquest campaign. Days passed. The golden Lanka was also like that. But Mandodari’s mind was no longer the same as before. The husband would stay away from the palace for months. Ravana, immersed in war, victory and ego, was now moving away from his family. It is said in some stories that all these things started breaking Mandodari from within. One day, while sitting alone in the palace, his eyes fell on the same golden pot. He remembered that Ravana had forbidden him from even touching her. But at that time his mind was in a completely different state. According to the story, he thought that perhaps there was some deadly poison in this urn. If it is drunk, all their sorrows will end forever. Thinking this, he drank the liquid from that pot. But no one had imagined what was to happen. After some time, Mandodari started feeling a change within herself. The royal physicians were called. After examination it was found that she was pregnant. Mandodari was terrified upon hearing this news. He could not understand how all this happened. He immediately called the learned astrologers of Lanka and told them the whole incident. After calculating the planets and constellations, astrologers said that this is not an ordinary pregnancy. He prophesied that the child born from this womb would later be the cause of the destruction of Ravana and Lanka. Hearing this, fear gripped Mandodari’s mind. On one hand she was a mother and on the other hand she also started worrying about the future of Lanka. According to some ancient stories, Ravana was on his conquest campaign at that time and he had no knowledge of this incident. Mandodari did not tell this to anyone. He made a difficult decision alone. She secretly left Lanka and reached Kurukshetra. There she abandoned her womb and buried it in the earth. After this she took bath in river Saraswati and returned to Lanka without telling anything to anyone. Time passed by. The same womb, hidden in the lap of the earth, remained safe there for years. Then one day there was a terrible famine in Mithila. King Janaka decided to perform a yajna for rain and prosperity. According to the tradition of Yagya, when he himself was preparing the land by ploughing, the tip of the plough hit some hard object in the earth. As soon as that place was dug, a wooden coffin was found there which was opened by King Janak and a divine girl appeared from it. King Janak considered her a blessing from God and adopted her as his daughter. King Janaka named that divine girl Sita and brought her up with great love. Later, this same Sita became the better half of Lord Shri Ram and then time did what was predicted years ago. Lord Shri Ram and Ravana came face to face due to the abduction of Mother Sita. The kingdom of Lanka which Ravana considered invincible. It ultimately ended in the same war. For this reason, in some ancient stories and folk beliefs, it is believed that the birth of Mother Sita was linked to Ravana. However, in major traditions like Valmiki Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas, Mother Sita is considered to be the daughter of Bhumija, born to King Janak. Now let us know what happened to Mandodari after the end of Ravana. Ravana had been killed. Meghnath, Kumbhakarna and many great warriors of Lanka were also killed in this war. There was only mourning all around. The Lanka whose power once even the gods feared, today the same Lanka had completely changed. Lord Shri Ram made Vibhishana the new king of Lanka. After this, slowly everything started becoming normal in Lanka. But in this entire story, there was one character whose name is known to everyone but very few people talk about his life after Ramayana. She was Mandodari, the queen of Lanka. The same Mandodari who had explained to Ravana several times before the war started to return Mother Sita with respect. He told Ravana that Lord Shri Ram is not an ordinary human being. Fighting them could prove costly for the entire Lanka. But Ravana, in his arrogance, did not listen to a single word of his and now everything was over. Neither the husband is there nor the son is there. And the empire they were once proud of had also crumbled. At such a time, everyone thought that perhaps Mandodari would also commit sati along with her husband. But this did not happen. Some traditions say that Lord Rama told Vibhishana that it was now most important to recapture Lanka. The war did not end only Ravana. It shook the entire kingdom to its core. Thousands of families were ruined. The army had broken up. The kingdom needed a ruler who knew the system of Lanka and who was respected by the people. Mandodari was not only Ravana’s wife. She was considered an intelligent, patient and politically sound queen. For this reason, it is said in some stories that on the advice of Shri Ram, Vibhishana married Mandodari. This marriage was not done out of love or desire but keeping in mind the stability of Lanka and the future of the kingdom. After this Mandodari again became the queen of Lanka. But where earlier Lanka was ruled by Ravana. Now there was King Vibhishana who followed the path of religion and justice. Mandodari is also said to have accepted this change and along with Vibhishana played an important role in the re-settlement of Lanka. For this reason, in many traditions, Mandodari is remembered not only as Ravana’s wife but also as a wise queen who re-established Lanka after its destruction. Now let us know the secret of those four sons of Ravana which very few people know even today. We heard about Meghnath who was the eldest and most powerful son of Ravana. Who was called Indrajit after defeating Devraj Indra. He was unparalleled in illusionary warfare and wielded divine weapons like the Nagapasha Brahmastra. In the Ramayana war, he had also tied Lord Shri Ram and Lakshman ji with the serpent noose. Even the gods were cautious of his power. Also we heard about Akshay Kumar who was the heroic son of Ravana. When Hanuman ji came to Ashoka Vatika. Then Ravana sent him to war. He faced Hanuman ji with full bravery. But in the end he attained martyrdom. But who were those four sons who possessed unique power? According to some traditions, Ravana’s second wife was Dhanya Malini. From whom were born mighty sons like Atikaya Trishira Nantak and Devantak. Trishira the three-headed elusive warrior. Trishira was one of the most powerful sons of Ravana. His name was his identity. When he entered the battlefield wearing golden armour and carrying a huge bow, even the greatest warriors became cautious after seeing his terrifying form. From childhood he had mastered weapons, archery and magical warfare. The speed of his arrows was so fast that the enemy did not even get a chance to recover. When he entered the battlefield during the battle between Rama and Ravana, he showered arrows on the monkey army in such a way that the entire army started disintegrating for some time. But then he encountered the mighty Hanuman ji. A fierce battle ensued between the two, and in the end, Hanuman ji, with a powerful attack, severed all three of his heads from his body. With this, this three-headed illusionary son of Ravana became calm forever on the battlefield. Narantak was the warrior who single-handedly created havoc in the monkey army. It is said that he was considered the fastest warrior on the battlefield. When he entered the battlefield with a huge spear in his hand and riding a divine horse, even the greatest warriors could not match his speed. In the war between Ram and Ravana, Nantak attacked the monkey army with his spear so fiercely that within a few moments many brave monkeys fell on the ground. His fast speed and continuous attacks forced the entire monkey army to retreat. But then Bali’s son Angad came in front of him and a fierce battle took place between the two. Narantak threw his huge spear at Angad with full force. But he could not harm Angad in any way. The very next moment, Angad attacked with such force with his thunderbolt-like punch that Nantak fell down on the battlefield. Devantak, whose mace would shake the entire battlefield with one blow. If Naratak was known for his speed, then Devantak was known for his immense strength. He had a huge body and carried a heavy iron mace in his hand. It is said that when he fought with the donkey, the warrior in front of him was unable to stand up again. Enraged by the death of his brother, Devanta entered the battlefield and attacked the monkey army. Due to the continuous blows of his mace, many monkey warriors were injured and fell on the ground. And for some time there was chaos in the entire army. But then Mahabali Hanuman ji appeared before him. There was a fierce battle between the two. Devantak attacked Hanuman ji with full force but Hanuman ji remained steadfast. Ultimately, he hit Devantak with such force with his thunderbolt-like punch that he fell down on the battlefield. With this, another great warrior of Ravana was killed in the war. Atikaya, the son of Ravana whose strength was compared to that of Kumbhakarna. If anyone among Ravana’s sons was considered the largest and most powerful, it was Thay. It is said that his body was as huge as Kumbhakarna and as strong as a mountain. When he would wear armour and enter the battlefield, from a distance it would look as if a moving mountain was coming for war. Atikaya had pleased Lord Brahma by performing severe penance. Pleased, Lord Brahma blessed him with divine armour and many divine weapons. It is said that not only ordinary weapons but even many divine weapons could not penetrate that armour. This was the reason why even the gods were cautious of his power. When Atikaya entered the battlefield during the war between Ram and Ravana, he caused great destruction to the monkey army. Even the greatest warriors couldn’t stand before him. Then Lakshman ji himself appeared before him. There was a fierce archery battle between the two for a long time. Many of Lakshman’s arrows became ineffective after hitting his divine armour. Then Vayudev told Lakshman ji the secret of his boon and said that only Brahmastra can penetrate its armour. Lakshman then used the Brahmastra, which pierced his divine armour and ended his life. Now let us know about Ravana’s illusory army. We have heard that Ravana was the most powerful and great warrior. He defeated many kings. Even many gods were defeated in the war. With his power he took control of the golden Lanka and also obtained the Pushpak plane. But do you know where Ravana got so much power from? It is said that his greatest strength was his illusory army. There was so much fear of this army in all the three worlds that even great kings were forced to think many times before fighting it. This was no ordinary army but a group of demon warriors who fought not only with force but also with illusion, deceit and war skills. It is said that this army used to change its form as soon as the war started. Sometimes one warrior would appear like many warriors and sometimes the entire battlefield would be filled with smoke and illusion. The enemy could not understand who the real enemy was and from which direction the attack was coming. This was the reason why it was not considered easy to stand against Ravana’s army. According to some beliefs, Ravana’s illusory army played the biggest role in the kingdoms he conquered. This army would first confuse the enemy with its illusions. Then suddenly she would attack from all sides. Many kings would admit defeat without a full-fledged battle. Because he felt that the number of Lanka’s army was much more than he had imagined. But when Lord Shri Ram’s army reached Lanka, for the first time this illusory power found an opponent who fought with patience and courage instead of fear. As the war progressed, Ravana’s great warriors fell one by one and his illusory army also weakened. It is said that after the death of Ravana, when Vibhishana became the king of Lanka, the remaining illusionary army did not accept his rule. Gradually they left Lanka and went to distant islands in the ocean, dense forests and unknown places. Time passed by. Their organization disintegrated, and the army that was once feared throughout the three worlds gradually became a part of folklore and mystical traditions. Friends, that’s all for today’s story. If you liked the video, please like it. Jai Shri Ram.