Ravana was actually a Brahmin

[Guest guest]

Ravana was actually a Brahmin

By Srini

It is a very true indeed that Ravana was a Brahmin. Yet, people

believe that he was a Dravidian. Now, how can a Brahmin be a

Dravidian living in Lanka? Isn't it true, that by definition a

Brahmin is an arya?

Seems to me that Western Scholars have created a real confusion.

Ramayana is supposedly an Aryan vs. Dravidian war, yet both sides

seem to be Aryans to me.

Seems to me that even South Indians are Aryans.

 

Rama was supposed to have done penance at Ramesvaram for the sin

of 'brahmahati', the killing of a Brahmin one of the most deadly sins

in old India, the brahmin in this case being Ravanan.

 

 

Ravanan was the grandson of Pulastya muni.

 

As a linguistic aside, I wonder whether Pulastya muni came from

Pulaya people, who a Tamil scholor says were held in high esteem

during sangam period because they were supposed to give 'polivu' i.e.

radiance wherever they are.

 

As to what constitutes a Brahmin, by birth or by attainment, we

should not adopt two yardsticks to historical/mythological

characters. Either we accept that scriptures have always referred to

the caste by birth or by attainments.

 

And, traditionally one is forced to conclude such reference 'tags'

are based on birth throughout. That's how we get to view the case of

Vishwamithra - who was recognized as a 'Brahma'rishi after a long

ordeal becasue he was a born Kshatriya and hence had to convince

his 'monastic' attainments being second to no Brahmin.

 

Is it discomforting to know that Ravana was indeed a Brahmin ? For

that matter most ardently worshipped Hindu Gods are not Brahmins. Of

the supposed 10 avtaars of Lord Vishnu, only two are Brahmins -

Vamana and Parashuram. While Vamana vishnu has limited devotees in

Kerala (Onam), Parashuram has never had any fan following among

Brahmins, though he is supposed to have taken birth to restore peace

to the haunted Brahmins !

 

The traditionally worshipped Gods like Ram and Krishna are Kshatriyas

(Krishna was born a Kshatriya and grew up among Yadavas).

 

Either we discount all the Hindu scriptural references as fit for

nothing, or accept the non-contradictory facts stated there.

 

I am not sure about the term Rakshasha and its geographic/ racial

connotations, if it means any. There's no direct evidence to believe

that Rakshasas were dark skinned or all Devas were light skinned.

Vishnu himself is adored for his 'kArmega' complexion. So, it's

better to get rid of the Amar Chitra Katha imbibed notions on

Rakshashas were coloured differently and hence had to be non-Aryan or

non-Brahmin etc.

 

 

 

 

Thanks

[Guest guest]

Ravana was a Dashagrandhi Brahmin from what i know and the Ramanyana mentions the same too,.....historians believe that Ravana was the first guy who stood up for the rights of the Dravidians who were being enslaved by the Aryans. He established his centre at Lanka, the Dravidian centre ever since the Aryan invasion, and started helping them revolt...similarly what many people donot know is that vanara doesnt mean monkey in the ramanyana context....vanara is the name of a tribe that lives in andaman and nicobar....ram dinot fight with monkeys, it was these people.

 

ravana was basically a man who wanted the Dravidians to stand up for their rights and that is why the Gods or the Aryan lords wanted him dead....ramesh varma

[Guest guest]

 

Ravana was a Dashagrandhi Brahmin from what i know and the Ramanyana mentions the same too,.....historians believe that Ravana was the first guy who stood up for the rights of the Dravidians who were being enslaved by the Aryans. He established his centre at Lanka, the Dravidian centre ever since the Aryan invasion, and started helping them revolt...similarly what many people donot know is that vanara doesnt mean monkey in the ramanyana context....vanara is the name of a tribe that lives in andaman and nicobar....ram dinot fight with monkeys, it was these people.

 

ravana was basically a man who wanted the Dravidians to stand up for their rights and that is why the Gods or the Aryan lords wanted him dead....ramesh varma

 

So i guess what your saying that Ravana was some sort ancient version of Prabrakran. . . standing up for dravidian "rights"!

[kudimagan]

No idea boss but heared that Brahmins were not allowed to rule as per vedas, thats the reason why Chanakyas teeth was broken when he was born with teeths and he took a voth to demolish a kingdom and give it to another sathriya. He didnt took the throne for himself since it is against the veda to Brahmans.