One Min Ramayana 6 — The Real reason behind Ravana kidnapping Sita maatha!

Many of us tend to think that Ravana kidnapped Sita devi as a revenge to the insult meted out to his sister Surpanaka by Lakshmana. Let’s see the events that led to this episode. This is described in detail in Valmiki Ramayana Aranyakanda from Sarga/Chapter 17 onwards.

Valmiki describes Rama as “Pumsam mohana rupaya". Rama was so handsome that even males were in awe of his handsomeness. Surpanaka was bowled by Rama’s handsomeness and wanted to be with him. But when Rama rejected she saw Sita maatha and understood that as long as Sita maatha is there she cannot get him. So she pounced upon to kill Sita maatha . That is when lakshmana had to come over n punish her because of that murder attempt on Sita maatha. All of this happened in a matter of few seconds.

Surpanaka ran away and then came along with an army of 14000 rakshashas to attack Rama n Lakshmana . Rama asked Lakshmana to take Sita maatha into a cave n he alone fought with the rakshashas . He killed all the 14000 rakshashas in 70 mins. Rama took the arrows so fast from his back that Surpanaka was not able to see when Rama took the arrow from pouch n when he shot the arrow. You would not see individual blades of ceiling fan when it is running. In a similar fashion, Surpanaka could not see Rama’s hands because he was moving them so fast, taking arrows from back and shooting at the rakshasas. She then went to Ravana n guess what she told Ravana?

She told Ravana that she saw the most beautiful lady called Sita n wanted her to be wife for her brother Ravana. But her arrogant husband not only cut her nose n ears but also killed 14000 “innocent” rakshashas in 70 mins. What do you think Ravana would do? You would think Ravana would go to war to avenge for his sister. But he didn’t do that.

He totally ignored his sister’s injury n his mind was filled with lust for Sita maatha. After listening about Rama’s valor from Surpanaka , Ravana chickened out n didn’t want a war with Lord Rama. His goal was to get Sita matha since he was full of lust. So he sketched out the kidnap plan. Then he went to mareecha for help. And here’s what he told mareecha.

He went to Mareecha n said, there is an arrogant n bad person called Rama n because of his bad nature his father Dasarath sent him to forest. He doesn’t deserve a beautiful wife like Sita n so I need to take her with me to Lanka . Mareecha already knows about Rama parakramam during Bramharshi Viswamitra episode. Mareecha said "Raamo vigrahavaan Dharmaha" meaning Rama is the embodiment of Dharma . Ravana then threatens him that he has only 2 options to either cooperate with him n go like a deer or get killed by Ravana there itself. Surpanaka n Ravana r both habitual liars and they got the punishment they very much deserved.

If Ravana wanted to take revenge for his sister he would have taken his army to forest and attacked Rama. Instead he went in disguise like a Rishi and kidnapped Sita maatha like a coward when Rama was not present.

Above details can be verified from Sarga/Chapter 17 to 40 of Aranyakanda in Valmiki Ramayana.

Sri Rama Jayam!