How is Ravana different in 'Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta' and Ramayana?

How is Ravana different in 'Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta' and Ramayana?

Ravana is one of the most famous characters in Indian mythology. He is the main villain of the epic Ramayana, where he kidnaps Sita, the wife of Rama, and faces a fierce war with him.
He is a devotee of Lord Shiva, a master of the Vedas, a skilled musician, and a powerful king.
But how is Ravana portrayed in ‘Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta’, a novel by Amish Tripathi?
This book is the third part of the Ram Chandra Series.
The book tells the story of Ravana from his birth to his abduction of Sita.
It shows his struggles, his ambitions, his love, and his downfall.
Ravana in the book and the epic.

1. Information Name : Rajdeep Bavaliya A. Roll No. : 12 Enrollment No. : 3176205820210012 Sem. : 6 (B. A.) Paper Name : Literary Theory / Criticism – 2 Paper No. : 21 Paper Code : 24264 Unit : 4 – Myth, Fiction and Displacement – Northrop Frye Topic : How is Ravana different in ‘ Raavan : Enemy of Aryavarta ’ and Ramayana? Submitted To : M. R. R. Monapara Arts College, SPEI, Bhavnagar, Department of English. E-mail : [email protected]

2. Table of Contents Introduction Ravana’s Birth Ravana’s Love Ravana’s Conquests Sita’s Abduction Perspective and Narrative Style Character Development Humanizing Ravana Motivations and Ambitions Relationships and Bonds Conflict Resolution Complex Morality Cultural Interpretations Publication and Reception Conclusion References

3. Introduction Ravana is one of the most famous characters in Indian mythology. He is the main villain of the epic Ramayana, where he kidnaps Sita , the wife of Rama, and faces a fierce war with him. He is a devotee of Lord Shiva, a master of the Vedas, a skilled musician, and a powerful king. But how is Ravana portrayed in ‘ Raavan : Enemy of Aryavarta ’, a novel by Amish Tripathi ? This book is the third part of the Ram Chandra Series. The book tells the story of Ravana from his birth to his abduction of Sita . It shows his struggles, his ambitions, his love, and his downfall. Ravana in the book and the epic.

4. Ravana’s Birth The Book Ravana is born as a Naga, a deformed human with snake-like features. Son of Vishrava , a Brahmin sage, and Kaikesi , a Naga princess. The Epic Ravana is a Rakshasa. Son of Vishrava and Kaikesi , who are both Rakshasas.

5. Ravana’s Love The Book Ravana falls in love with Vedavati, a mysterious woman. He tries to win her over, but she rejects him and dies. He is heartbroken and vows to never love again. The Epic Ravana does not love Vedavati, but he is attracted by her beauty. She vows to be reborn as Sita and cause his destruction.

6. Ravana’s Conquests The Book Ravana defeats Dashrath , the king of Ayodhya . He also becomes the general of Kuber . Emperor of the world. The Epic Ravana does not have any direct conflict with Dashrath , but he does fight with Rama, his son. He also obtains Lanka from Kuber by force.

7. Sita’s Abduction The Book Ravana kidnaps Sita because he wants to avenge the insult of his sister, Shurpanakha . He also wants to challenge Rama. The Epic Ravana kidnaps Sita because he is attracted by her beauty and wants to make her queen.

8. Perspective and Narrative Style Amish Tripathi’s book explores his life, motivations, and struggles. In the Ramayana, Ravana is often portrayed as the antagonist. Character Development The book delves into Ravana’s complexities, highlighting his virtues and flaws. The Ramayana mainly depicts Ravana as a powerful and arrogant demon king.

9. Humanizing Ravana The book humanizes Ravana . Ramayana tends to present Ravana more as a symbol of evil. Motivations and Ambitions Amish’s narrative explains Ravana’s aspirations, his desire for power, and his vision for a prosperous Lanka. Ramayana often simplifies Ravana’s motivations as driven solely by arrogance and lust.

10. Relationships and Bonds The book explores Ravana’s relationships with his family. Ramayana highlights Ravana’s negative traits, overshadowing his familial connections. Conflict Resolution Amish’s narrative allows for a more nuanced understanding of Ravana’s internal conflicts and his attempts to resolve them. Ramayana tends to present Ravana’s downfall as a result of his arrogance rather than exploring deeper emotional struggles.

11. Complex Morality “ Raavan : Enemy of Aryavarta ” introduces moral ambiguity, portraying Ravana as a character with both virtuous and sinful qualities. Ramayana traditionally paints Ravana in black and white terms, emphasizing his evil actions over any redeeming qualities.

12. Cultural Interpretations Amish’s work reflects a more contemporary and diverse approach. Ramayana, being a classical text, adheres more closely to cultural norms and traditional storytelling. Publication and Reception The book was published in 2019, introducing a modern perspective on Ravana to a contemporary audience. The Ramayana, being an ancient epic, has been revered for centuries with interpretations varying across different cultures and times.

13. Conclusion Both the book and the epic present Ravana as a complex and fascinating character, who has both positive and negative traits. He is also a worthy adversary for Rama, who respects him and learns from him. The book not only humanizes Ravana but also prompts a broader discussion on the interpretation of mythological characters in contemporary literature.

14. References Meghna , Majumdar . “Amish Discusses the Ramayana and His Latest Book.” The Hindu. 04 July, 2019. https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/amish-discusses-the-ramayana-and-his-latest-book/article28283263.ece Tripathi , Amish. “Amish on the Complexity of the Central Character of His New Book ‘ Raavan : Enemy of Aryavarta .” Hindustan Times. 28 June, 2019. https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/amish-on-the-complexity-of-the-central-character-of-his-new-book-raavan-enemy-of-aryavarta/story-bzMSS16T2S6oDoMW5HCtgI.html

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