Ravan on Kerala Kasavu Mundu…

Ravan on Kerala Kasavu Mundu…

He cried like a hundred children when born.

His sage father took his wails as signs of prominence and thought he would add to his glory. Hence, the ferocious crier was named “Yashopreet”.

Lankadhish, Yashokirt, Tribhuankampan, Shiva Upadhyay, Dasodhar…. His ten heads are symbolic of his knowledge, tenfold than normal.

His name was never Ravan. Valmiki derived it from Sanskrit word “RUDAN’, means crying ( Rona in Hindi), thus named him Ravan,”The Crier”. Tulsidas said the same.

But, crying was the least he did when grew. He made people cry. Yashopreet lived up to his father’s expectations. He brought ‘Yash’ to his ancestry, but it was infamy, ‘Ap-yash’.

Ever thought, why we burn Ravan’s effigy? Why he deserved to be killed in spite of being the greatest erudite? Was he really a villain as we think of? Because he made a woman cry. The Crier always did that.

He never touched Sita. Not even while abducting her. He digged out the ground along with her where she stood. She had to suffer because of the brutality her brother-in-law did with a lady, Shoorpnakha. A woman had to suffer for the other woman.

In spite of being a demon, Ravan didn’t level her countenance, what gods did to his sister’s. He didn’t use his sword and valour over a woman’s face. If you are a woman, you can imagine how Shoorpnakha might have felt. And, if you are a man, you must be aware of the pains of that single scar on your sister’s face.

But gods were gods. They chopped a woman’s nose, her pride. And later, forced another woman to enter into fire to prove her sanity. Again, kicked her out of her house when she was in a family way.

But our demon not only indemnified his sister with love and protection but also didn’t harm his enemy’s wife. I think, his knowledge and education made him more humane than gods.

Ever thought, why we burn Ravan’s effigy? Why he deserved to be killed in spite of all his knowledge? Because he made a woman cry. The Crier always did that.

Today, we have just finished up with burning his effigies. Ever thought, mere burning Ravan would suffice if you have made someone cry with your deeds? You too are a Ravan when a woman cries in your premises. A woman’s tears matter.

This Dussehra, I am celebrating Ravan. The Ravan of knowledge and civility towards women. People in Kerala do that. They worship Yashopreet. Kathakali Dance is meant to invoke their god Ravan. They wear these masks to symbolise the intellect and sovereignty of the cerebral obligator.

To celebrate the ethos of the ten headed demon-god and his tenfolded knowledge, I had bought this “Kerala Kasavu Setu Mundu”, but couldn’t dress up due to bad health conditions. But, couldn’t resist sharing its pictures. Isn’t it amusing how the artisans of Kerala manage to bring out the effulgence and intellect of Ravan through the serrated glances brimming out of heavily painted masks?

Ravan

S: Aforementioned “Gyan” is not at all Googled ?. You won’t find even a single word from this writeup anywhere else. I have learnt all this from the anecdotes I came across from my loved ones. And, the pictures of the outfit are clicked by me. ?

HAPPY DUSSEHRA EVERYONE!



error: Content is protected!