Killing the Ravan within

For long we have associated the demon king ravana with evil. From movies to common practice, any person who was evil was compared to being a ravana. On the occasion of Vijaydashmi we hear the story of the Ram-Ravan from multiple sources, some go on to preach that we should kill our own Ravan within. However this request will always fall on deaf ears.

First of all most people have made peace with their inner demons and rather enjoy its company. Secondly, it’s hard to find people who are true and honest to the core but the fact remains, such people no matter how small in numbers do exist.

We all have evils within greed, lust, anger, jealousy. The fact is that while we may have made peace with the devil, these evils will never let us remain at peace with our own self. A man with jealousy can never be peaceful as he’s always scheming to outdo his opponent. A person with greed is always worried about how to make the next stash of money while saving the earlier one. The list will go on and so will the evil.

I once heard a story that a demon once laid a curse on a sage that the humans he was trying to protect from the demons will one day have those demons within them. It may be a fable but it is all the more true.

I cannot ask anyone to take a pledge to kill their inner ravan. I know that isn’t happening. But I will ask you to have a look and see what it is doing to you ask yourself, “am I at peace?” The answer may surprise you.

Happy Vijaydashmi

#TVI