Mata Sita Compared Ravana to These 6 Animals

Nowadays, Ravana is being cleverly glorified among Hindus, and a blatant falsehood is being peddled that Ravana never touched any woman, that while he possessed lust he also possessed restraint, and so forth. All this is done to manufacture an upright character for Ravana, alienating people from Shri Ram and drawing them closer to the rakshasa Ravana. But in reality, this is an absolute falsehood!

The most authoritative text on the life of Shri Ram is the Valmiki Ramayana, composed by his contemporary, the rishi (sage) Valmiki. This is the most ancient text on the life of Shri Ram. According to the Valmiki Ramayana, Ravana was an exceptionally vile rakshasa. He was a repository of all vices: he had meat thrown into yajnas (sacred fire rituals), orchestrated the slaughter of rishis, and committed heinous atrocities such as the rape of women. According to the Valmiki Ramayana, he possessed no moral character whatsoever. On account of his sins, barbarism, and adharma (unrighteousness), everyone in the Valmiki Ramayana condemns him in the severest terms. Sitaji compared Ravana to several wretched beasts and equated him directly with them:

1. Dog

Reference: Valmiki Ramayana 5.21.31
A dog is a loyal and domesticated beast, yet it is presumptuous, eager to meddle in affairs far above its station. Hence, in pejorative speech, the epithet "dog" has always been primary. Ravana, too, overstepped his station and set out to abduct the Lakshmi of Shri Vishnu. Thus goes the adage, "At times, even a dog fancies himself a lion." It is for this reason that the lord of Lanka is likened to a dog.

2. Jackal

Reference: Valmiki Ramayana 3.47.45
The jackal is a cunning beast. The deceitful, treacherous, and vile are termed cunning, and the craftiest exemplar of this is the wily jackal. The proverb of the "dyed jackal" is well known. Ravana, who abducted Sitaji through deceit, is likewise said to be cunning like a jackal.

3. Cat

Reference: Valmiki Ramayana 3.47.45
The cat is a cowardly animal, cited as an illustration of baseness—as in the saying, "he turned tail and fled like a cat." Ravana, too, hid until the very end behind the shield of Maricha, Meghanada, and Kumbhakarna. Hence, he is likened to a cat.

4. Crow

Reference: Valmiki Ramayana 3.47.46
The crow is a harsh, insolent, and ill-omened bird. It torments everyone with its grating voice. Ravana was similarly a perpetrator of cruel deeds who uttered noxious speech. He was utterly black like a crow, both in appearance and in conduct. Hence, he is likened to a crow.

5. Madgu (A Species of Serpent)

Reference: Valmiki Ramayana 3.47.47
The serpent is a venomous creature that strikes terror and dread into all; it is loathed by everyone. Madgu also denotes a small, insignificant water-bird. Ravana was just such a venomous terrorist who terrorized all beings. Therefore, he is compared to a madgu.

6. Vulture

Reference: Valmiki Ramayana 3.47.47
The vulture is an extremely inauspicious bird. It scavenges on the flesh of dead creatures and is predatory by nature. In a sense, it is an emblem of death—that is, of grief and fury. Ravana was similarly inauspicious, a murderer even of rishis, and a consumer of human flesh. Hence, he is compared to a vulture.

Sitaji selected these animal metaphors for the wicked rakshasa Ravana with supreme discernment. Repeated salutations to Bhagavati Sita, the Supreme Mother!

Also read:

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