Rama had finally defeated his great enemy. The great Ravana that had haunted him and Sita along with all of the people who looked up to him for so many years was finally conquered. Rama had killed the great beast in battle. Naturally, everyone would be ecstatic. Well not everyone, Rama himself was not ecstatic because he feared he had violated one of the greatest unwritten rules of battle. When Rama stood over the dead body of Ravana, he had noticed the great seven inch scar running along Ravana's spine. He could not get over the scar in the back of Ravana. This great scar appeared fresh to Rama as examined his opponents dead body. Although being assured the scar in Ravana’s back was old, something about the scar was eating at his conscience. He was glad he had killed Ravana and knew that he had protected himself
and Sita, among others. However, as a god and a mortal he could not accept the
fact that he may have killed an opponent from behind. Unfortunately, there was just no
way for Rama to be able to tell what had happened that day during their battle.
What was he going to do? This thought ate at him for days. The scar was implemented in Rama's head as if it was his own. In his mind he was having a great struggle, he was supposed to be a great leader but he may have killed his fiercest enemy from behind the way a coward would kill his enemy. Rama decided there was only one way to possibly justify his
actions and for himself to get over the fact he might have killed Ravana from
behind. Rama decided to have a great celebration of Ravana's death. His theory here was that everyone would be willing to celebrate Rama's great victory over the feared Ravana. This would, in Rama's own mind, be a way to honor the life of Ravana. It was more or less a way for Rama to ease his mind from the thought of killing Ravana from behind. Although celebrating Ravana’s death might not be the best way to honor him, there was no way to get people to celebrate his life of torturing others. Rama ran this by only people he trusted, such as Vibhishana and Hanuman, and they agreed they could make it happen.
The following week was hectic with planning and preparing
for the big festival to celebrate Ravana. People helped fill the streets in order to
decorate the entire city and prepare for the biggest celebration in years. Rama wanted this great festival to put the one from his return to shame. He wanted this to be a big step above anything they had ever done. They
had everything ready to go and the big day had finally come. Rama, in his new
royal garments, appeared before the entire city and told the great tale of his
battle with Ravana. He tried to focus on Ravana as he made sure to focus on
Ravana’s death instead of Rama’s achievements. Although he did not want people to mourn the loss of Ravana, he did feel as if this was an acknowledgement at least to his life. Rama closed this great speech saying, "Ravana has haunted the lives of the people of this city for years, but with this the death of this great beast may we all enjoy the eternity of peace."
The day went on with people celebrating in the streets, every building, and every home. The festival turned into the biggest celebration in years.
People had already started planning for this to become an annual festival to
celebrate Ravana’s death. Everyone was thoroughly enjoying the celebration, including Sita, who had been
having a great time all day knowing that the great beast that had tormented her for so long would never be able to harm her again. Eventually though, she realized she had not seen
Rama in some time. Worry began to set in as she felt something tragic had happened. She went looking everywhere for him and she began to panic. She gathered up a watch party and went looking for him, she went to
the one place she knew he would be, back in the forest. When she finally found
Rama, he had changed into his old torn,dirty clothes and was alone in the forest. She asked
him why he was not in town enjoying the festival, but he did not answer. They
sat in silence for a while before he said, “No matter where I shot him, he
deserved to be killed, but why do I deserve to rule a city?”
Author's Note: I have been fascinated by the ongoing feud
between Rama and Ravana. Every aspect of this rivalry has been intriguing. I
decided to write more about Rama's fear of killing Ravana from behind, but in the end you will see that is not what is really bothering him. My intention
was that this great fear that Rama showed was a sign of respect. He knew that
it is disrespectful and against the unwritten rules to kill an opponent from
behind. However, at the very end I wanted Rama's answer to Sita to show that he
had let it off his chest with this Mardi Gras like festival he held for him. Not to compare it to Mardi Gras and it's religious meaning, but instead to portray the streets being filled like Bourbon Street in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Rama had come to terms with the scar in Ravana’s back and was using it to cover
up his real sentiments. Rama knew that no matter how Ravana was killed, Ravana
had deserved to be killed for all the troubles he had caused innocent people
over the years. Someone had to kill him and Rama knew it was meant to be
him. This was a side of Rama’s character that has not really been exposed
to the reader yet and that I want to continue to build on, a side of arrogance
you might say.
The festival for Ravana
Bibliography:
- Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.
- Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.
