No one killed Surpanakha !!!

To all the activists – I am not talking about exploiting any human, female or any other species living or dead on the planet. The subject is more or an exclamation!

I have watched Ramayana quite a few times recently – yes I accept that I am quite obsessed with it at the moment. I am really enjoying the portrayal that was filmed by Sagar films in 1980s. For some reason, Ramayan is able to stir quite a few emotions in me that I had not previously known. I learn to be subtle and sober. I learn to calm myself even in the adverse of situations. I learn to take things positively. Also, the music is very addictive.

I do intend to read it sometime soon…

 

Where Ramayan brings a wonderful story with people of strong characters, I still have a couple of doubts. The biggest of them is what I bring on the table – Why the hell was Surpanakha not punished? So let us get the story straight – this demon princess sees Lord Ram and Lord Lakshman and falls for them. Since they both wont marry her and ridiculed her, she attacks Lordess Sita. In defense, Lord Ram and Lord Lakshman cut her nose (and maybe ears). Now Surpanakha goes to her brothers in the vicinity – Khar and Dooshan (demon princes) and ask them to attack Lord Ram. For no good reason, they play along.

She told them that she wanted to get Lordess Sita for the demon King and the two brothers attacked her. So Khar and Dooshan gather an army and attack. Since Lord Ram is Lord, he annihilates the entire attack party including the princes.

 

Now question 1 – Surpanakha since was a demon, could shape shift. She could have easily asked another demon to shape shift into Lord Ram or Lord Lakshman and be with them.

Moreover – why was she so desperate in the first place.

Question 2 – How thick were Khar and Dooshan to buy the story? Like they didnt know their sister at all.

In the entire literature there is no mention of her thinking of bringing a gift for anyone else. Then why suddenly she is so considerate for Raavan?

 

Surpanakha, still desperate, goes to the Demon King, also her brother, Raavan. She tells him that she had gone to get Lordess Sita for Raavan since a beautiful lady such as Lordess Sita only deserved to the Queen with Raavan. And when Surpanakha went to abduct Sita, Lord Ram and Lord Lakshman attacked her. She escaped, called her brother Khar and Dooshan for her. Lord Ram killed them all.

 

Question 3 – How thick is Raavan to believe that?

He could and should have attacked to avenge his brothers but again point above – how come he didnt know his sister?

Question 4 – According to some folk lores, Raavan was a part of the Sita Swayamwar. Thus he should have seen her then. If he found her so beautiful, he should have abducted her then and there. And even otherwise, question 1 – get someone to shape shift to Lordess Sita.

 

Now Raavan takes help of his uncle and gets him to pretend to be a golden deer. While Lordess Sita insists Lord Ram to get her the deer, Lord Lakshman is left to protect her. As Lord Ram hunts the deer down, it transforms to human and cries to Lord Lakshman in Lord Ram’s voice. Lordess Sita gets worries and asks Lord Lakshman to go and help. Reluctantly, he follows.

Meanwhile, Raavan transforms into a sage and comes to ask for food. When Lordess Sita crosses the line that Lord Lakshman had drawn for her safety, Raavan abducts her and takes her with him on his airplane.

 

Lord Ram and Lord Lakshman along with the ape king Sugriv, Hanumanji and others attack Lanka. Eventually Lordess Sita is rescued and Raavan, his brothers, his sons and his grandsons (all except Vibhishan) die. Lord Ram, Lordess Sita and Lord Lakshman return to their home and they lived not so quite happily ever after.

 

Now coming to the most significant question – I agree that Raavan abducted Lordess Sita and all the people who died had actually gone to fight for him but come to think of it – he was the executioner, not the planner. How or Why come no one did think of Surpanakha.. how she had exploited her brother’s weakness for women and planned her desperation to materialize?

I am a feminist – I stand for equal rights and responsibilities for women. Hence I totally loathe such women who would manipulate others for their personal gains. Moreover I do not understand just for she is a woman, why cant she be punished?

For one desperate and stupid woman, an entire family was massacred and what about the countless men and ape who fought the battle?

 

Recently this year when I saw the three demons being burnt on Dussehra – Kumbhkaran, Meghnath and Raavan, I saw three people to look up to. I saw someone who was very wise and adhered to his duties. I saw a fierce warrior who faced anyone without the slightest of fear. I saw a King who won the three worlds.

I dont understand that we only see their mistakes and not their wisdom? I dont understand that we burn them and not the real culprit?