R for Ravana’s Family History - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaste, 

Wondering what Ravana is doing in Mahabharata? Ramanaya is summarized in Mahabharata in three or four instances by different characters. Rama, Sita, Hanuman, and Ravana are mentioned quite a few times. Vibhishana (Ravana’s brother who ruled Lanka after his death) had a small role in Sabha Parva as one of the kings who sent tribute to Yudhistira for the Rajasuya. Vibhishana is a chiranjeevi (someone who lived for a really long time) and was still ruling Lanka even as the Treta Yuga changed to Dwpara Yuga. 

In Arnyaka Parva, Rishi Markandeya narrated Ramayana to Yudhistira to cheer him up. Unlike other versions, this one began with Ravana’s family history. 

• Ravana was the grandson of Prajapati.
• Prajapati had a mind-born son Pulastya. 
• One of Pulastya’s sons was Vaisravana-Kubera (the Yaksha king).

When Kubera chose his grandfather over his father, Pulastya was enraged and created another being from himself called Visravas. (This form wasn’t a son but the darker version of Pulastya. Alter ego types.)

Meanwhile, Prajapati was pleased with Vaisravana-Kubera and gifted him wealth, guardianship duties, a kingdom called Lanka, a son called Nalakubera, and a golden flying vehicle, the Pushpaka. 

When Kubera found that Visravas was created by his father's anger and harbored the same hate for him, he sent wealth, gifts, and three rakshashis (demonesses) - Puspotkata, Raka, and Malini to serve him. Visravas calmed down after a while and gave a boon to the rakshashis. Each of them had children with the qualities she desired. 

• Puspotkata had two sons named Kumbakarna and Ravana 
  
• Raka had a son called Khara and a daughter called Surpanakha 
• Malini had a son called Vibhishana 

While Vibhishana was the most handsome, he was also dharmic and pious. Ravana was the strongest and bravest. He performed penance to get a boon from Brahma that he wouldn’t face defeat or death from ‘Gandharvas, Gods, Kinnaras, Anti-Gods, Yaksas, Rakshasas, Serpents, and Bhuta-Spirits’. Brahma granted him the boon, saying none except humans could harm Ravana. 

Meanwhile, Kumbhakarna got a boon from Brahma that he could sleep for as long as he wanted. Vibhishana asked for a different boon. He wanted a boon that would not allow him to deviate from dharma no matter what. Pleased, Brahma granted him this and also made him a chiranjeevi, though he was a rakshasa. 

The boon (almost assured immortality) made Ravana invincible. He attacked his brother Vaisravana-Kubera and captured Lanka. Kubera and the yakshas gandharvas, kinnaras, spirits, etc., left Lanka and moved to Gandhamadana. Then Ravana made Kubera give up the Pushpaka. 

Kubera cursed him, “This will never carry you - It will carry him who will kill you in war; because you have insulted me who am elder, you will soon die.”

That’s how Ravana became the ruler of Lanka and owned the golden flying vehicle. His two brothers and sister also accompanied him to the kingdom. 

A few years later, Ravana, during one of his pursuits, saw Ramba (an apsara) and sexually assaulted (raped) her when she refused his advances. Ramba was Nalakubera’s fiancé (technically Ravana’s daughter-in-law). When Nalakubera found out, he cursed Ravana that his head would burst into a thousand pieces if he touched any woman without her consent. This incident was mentioned in Aranyaka Parva. Trijata shared the story with Sita to assure her that Ravana would find his end in Rama's hands. 

Trijata said to Sita: "... Gentle lady, have no fear of Ravana who is cursed by the entire world. You are protected by Nalakubara's curse. This wretched scoundrel earlier raped his own daughter-in-law, Nalakubara’s wife Rambha, and was cursed - he cannot rape any other woman. Your intelligent husband, accompanied by Sumitra's son and protected by Sugriva, will come soon and rescue you." (Section 280)

Ravana waiting for Sita (after kidnapping her) to change her mind and accept him had nothing to do with chivalry but was an act of self-preservation. 

Check out a few short stories from Mahabharata. 

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