THOSE 10 MYSTERIOUS HEADS

 Mysterious Ravana heads

Ravana is depicted as the king of Rakshasas. He is said to have ten heads. But not many people know that he was not born with ten heads. 

Let's unravel the mystery.

** According to the legend, Ravana, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, went to please him on the banks of Narmada river. As an ultimate sacrifice, he axed his head in front of Shiva's idol, but every time he would cut his head, another grew in its place. He cut his head for Lord Shiva 10 times, and as a blessing, Ravana was blessed with 10 heads.

***His ten heads also represent 10 human emotions

Kaam - Lust

Krodha Anger

Moha Delusion

Lobha Greed

Mada Pride

Maatsarya - Envy

Manas Mind

Buddhi Intellect

Chita - Will

Ahamkara - Ego

** In the battle of epic Ramayana, it takes seven days for Lord Rama to defeat the Ravana, thereby chopping off his 10 heads. According to the legend, every time Sri Ram cut Ravana's head, another head appears.

***Being a true devotee of Lord Brahma, the creator, Ravana chopped off his head in reparation. Ravana is depicted as the king of Rakshasas. He is said to have ten heads. But not many people know that he was not born with ten heads. Ravana performed an intense penance - tapasya - to Brahma, lasting several years. During his penance, Ravana chopped off his head 10 times as a sacrifice to appease Brahma. Each time he sliced his head off, a new head arose, thus enabling him to continue his penance. At last, Brahma, pleased with his austerity, appeared after Ravana's 10th decapitation and offered him a boon. Ravana asked for immortality, which Brahma refused of course, but gave him the celestial nectar of immortality, which we all know was stored under his navel.

** Ravana's 10 heads symbolise the six Shastras and four Vedas, making him a great scholar and the most intelligent person of his time.

Sankhyashastra (Mathematics)

Yog Shastra (Yoga as a way of life, meditation) Nyayashastra (Law and administration)

Vaisheshik Shastra (Physics, astronomy,mechanics)

Purvamimansa (Philosophy, Justification)

Uttar Mimansa Shastra

Rigveda

Yajurveda

Samveda

Atharvaveda.

*** From another perspective, the 10 heads signify the 10 negative forms of love.

Kama Lust

Krodha Anger

Lobha Greed

Ahamkara Ego

Moha Attachment/Delusion

Irshya jealousy

Ghrina Hatred

Pakshpath-Partiality

Jaddata Insensitivity

Bhaya - Fear

** His ten heads also represent 10 human emotions .The ten loves are:

Loving your designation, your post or qualifications - ego or ahankara;

Loving your family & friends - attachment or moha:

Loving one's perfect self-which leads to Partiality or Partiality;

Loving/expecting perfection in others leading to

anger or krodha;

Loving the past-leading to hatred or ghrina;

Loving the future - leading to fear or bhaya;

Loving/wanting to be no.1 - this is jealousy or irshya;

Loving things - which brings in greed or lobha;

Love of the opposite gender - which is lust or kama;

Loving fame, money, and children - brings inertia/ insensitivity

***Despite Ravana being a master of 64 types of knowledge, of what use was all the learning when he did not put them into practice? Though he had all the wealth, he could not enjoy anything because of his excessive desires. He became a slave to his feelings which finally led to his death

 Thus, Ravana's ten heads signify that when you have more than you need, it serves no purpose