<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Sep 17 2007, 11:51 PM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Sep 17 2007, 11:51 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->And Ravan was a big time Shiv-bhakt.[right][snapback]73265[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->I used to be quite impressed by that when I was little. But it says nothing for him when he kidnapped Sita.
Shiva apparently wasn't much moved by Ravana's hypocritical affections either: Ravana can't even lift Shiva's bow. (If Shiva had been on his side, wouldn't Ravana have been able to do it?) But Rama lifts and strings the bow without any effort and gets to marry Sita. Shiva's favourite is obvious.
And according to Hanuman Chalisa and other Hindu traditions, Shiva incarnated as Hanuman to help Rama to defeat Ravana. Hanuman is known for being a very very great Bhakta of Rama. And then again, Rama is a great devotee of Shiva (Rameshwara = Rama + Ishwara = literally Lord of Rama/Rama's Lord/Rama's Shiva).
One of the things I understood from this (and only in theory) when I was younger, is that trying to be a good person is part of the equation. (That is, having great affection for the Gods all while treating others poorly isn't going to make one a favourite.)
Hanuman strongly disapproves of Ravana's kidnapping of Sita - calls Ravana wicked for it. Shiva's disapproval:
http://www.dlshq.org/religions/hanuman.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ravana said, "O mischievous monkey, what will you say in your defence? I will put you to death." Hanuman laughed and said, "O wicked Ravana, give back Sita to Lord Rama and ask his pardon; otherwise you will be ruined and the whole of Lanka will be destroyed."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Sep 17 2007, 11:51 PM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Sep 17 2007, 11:51 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Sep 15 2007, 03:24 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mudy @ Sep 15 2007, 03:24 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->When <i><b>Ramadoss </b></i>will change his name to <i><b>Ravanadoss</b></i>?
[right][snapback]73207[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Sorry even <i>Ravan</i>doss ain't appropriate for Ambumani Ramadoss. Ravan could technically be still a brahmin since he was son of sage Vishwrava who son of Sage Pulatysa (grandson of Brahma).[right][snapback]73265[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I suppose technically he was a brahmin because of having had Brahmana ancestors in that life. But he was not a Brahmana, despite knowing the Vedas and the like.
He was not even a Dharmic individual. Except for being a Shiva Bhakta, he had done practically everything else wrong: kidnapped a woman against her will (<i>and</i> she was another's wife), cruelty to animals (cut off Jataayu's wings, thus killing Rama's feathered friend; and he had Hanuman's tail set on fire), tried to attack Bodhavati (Lakshmi's incarnation) and many another thing.
As he was a Rakshasa, my using the term 'inhumane' for his behaviour would perhaps end up creating a loophole... But the point is he might have <i>tried</i> to be a good individual. He failed to manage even that. Knowledge (for instance, merely knowing the Vedas), performing all the necessary rites correctly at the right time, and other such stuff is no substitute for trying. And that's why many a person comes off way better than Ravana whilst he is known as a villain. Hiding behind his lineage didn't save him.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sorry even <i>Ravan</i>doss ain't appropriate for Ambumani Ramadoss.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->I agree. Ambumani is in an entirely different league, and connecting him with Ravana would be complimenting Ambumani.
Ravana was a villain but he was killed (and <i>meant</i> to be killed) by Rama - by all means his instant Moksha is a great reward which most can't boast of. But there's that other Hindu tradition to explain that.
And now for some cool stuff:
(1) Beautiful picture of Rama hugging his devoted Hanuman <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
http://www.hanumanchalisa.org/telugu/ima...uman1p.jpg <- If clicking on this link (or right-clicking on it and choosing "open in new window") doesn't work, copy the link and manually open a new separate browser window and paste the link into it. Works for me that way.
Hugs are also energising, as Bhima once found out when he hugged his brother Hanuman. No matter how old you are, these are ever-inspiring events.
(2) This is cute. Am impressed, they got the Kireetam (crown) looking right:
http://www.monkeyanvil.com/index.php?offse...ategories_id=10
(3) <b>And where was this stuff way back when I was a colouring-fanatic:</b>
http://littleganeshas.wordpress.com/2007/0...image-to-color/
"Shri Hanuman - an image to color". More colouring links on the lower right.
Woohoo, takes one back to kindergarten days. Go on, grab your crayons. You know you want to.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->I used to be quite impressed by that when I was little. But it says nothing for him when he kidnapped Sita.
Shiva apparently wasn't much moved by Ravana's hypocritical affections either: Ravana can't even lift Shiva's bow. (If Shiva had been on his side, wouldn't Ravana have been able to do it?) But Rama lifts and strings the bow without any effort and gets to marry Sita. Shiva's favourite is obvious.
And according to Hanuman Chalisa and other Hindu traditions, Shiva incarnated as Hanuman to help Rama to defeat Ravana. Hanuman is known for being a very very great Bhakta of Rama. And then again, Rama is a great devotee of Shiva (Rameshwara = Rama + Ishwara = literally Lord of Rama/Rama's Lord/Rama's Shiva).
One of the things I understood from this (and only in theory) when I was younger, is that trying to be a good person is part of the equation. (That is, having great affection for the Gods all while treating others poorly isn't going to make one a favourite.)
Hanuman strongly disapproves of Ravana's kidnapping of Sita - calls Ravana wicked for it. Shiva's disapproval:
http://www.dlshq.org/religions/hanuman.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ravana said, "O mischievous monkey, what will you say in your defence? I will put you to death." Hanuman laughed and said, "O wicked Ravana, give back Sita to Lord Rama and ask his pardon; otherwise you will be ruined and the whole of Lanka will be destroyed."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Sep 17 2007, 11:51 PM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Sep 17 2007, 11:51 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Sep 15 2007, 03:24 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mudy @ Sep 15 2007, 03:24 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->When <i><b>Ramadoss </b></i>will change his name to <i><b>Ravanadoss</b></i>?
[right][snapback]73207[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Sorry even <i>Ravan</i>doss ain't appropriate for Ambumani Ramadoss. Ravan could technically be still a brahmin since he was son of sage Vishwrava who son of Sage Pulatysa (grandson of Brahma).[right][snapback]73265[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I suppose technically he was a brahmin because of having had Brahmana ancestors in that life. But he was not a Brahmana, despite knowing the Vedas and the like.
He was not even a Dharmic individual. Except for being a Shiva Bhakta, he had done practically everything else wrong: kidnapped a woman against her will (<i>and</i> she was another's wife), cruelty to animals (cut off Jataayu's wings, thus killing Rama's feathered friend; and he had Hanuman's tail set on fire), tried to attack Bodhavati (Lakshmi's incarnation) and many another thing.
As he was a Rakshasa, my using the term 'inhumane' for his behaviour would perhaps end up creating a loophole... But the point is he might have <i>tried</i> to be a good individual. He failed to manage even that. Knowledge (for instance, merely knowing the Vedas), performing all the necessary rites correctly at the right time, and other such stuff is no substitute for trying. And that's why many a person comes off way better than Ravana whilst he is known as a villain. Hiding behind his lineage didn't save him.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sorry even <i>Ravan</i>doss ain't appropriate for Ambumani Ramadoss.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->I agree. Ambumani is in an entirely different league, and connecting him with Ravana would be complimenting Ambumani.
Ravana was a villain but he was killed (and <i>meant</i> to be killed) by Rama - by all means his instant Moksha is a great reward which most can't boast of. But there's that other Hindu tradition to explain that.
And now for some cool stuff:
(1) Beautiful picture of Rama hugging his devoted Hanuman <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> http://www.hanumanchalisa.org/telugu/ima...uman1p.jpg <- If clicking on this link (or right-clicking on it and choosing "open in new window") doesn't work, copy the link and manually open a new separate browser window and paste the link into it. Works for me that way.
Hugs are also energising, as Bhima once found out when he hugged his brother Hanuman. No matter how old you are, these are ever-inspiring events.
(2) This is cute. Am impressed, they got the Kireetam (crown) looking right:
http://www.monkeyanvil.com/index.php?offse...ategories_id=10
(3) <b>And where was this stuff way back when I was a colouring-fanatic:</b>
http://littleganeshas.wordpress.com/2007/0...image-to-color/
"Shri Hanuman - an image to color". More colouring links on the lower right.
Woohoo, takes one back to kindergarten days. Go on, grab your crayons. You know you want to.