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Most of us know that Ravana was Ram's (Lord Vishnu's incarnation) gravest enemy. But did you know that Ravana and Kumbhkarana were two of Lord Vishnu's most loved devotees?
Ramayana revolved around Rama, Sita and Ravana. Ravana was one of the most learned yet selfish, arrogant and overbearing demon king of his time. But the entire plot of Ramayana was just fate. Rama and Sita had to be separated, to fulfil a curse given by Sita's father in her previous birth. Ravana and Kumbhakarnaa, were meant to be defeated and killed by Rama, to fulfil another curse, given to them by Lord Brahma's manasputras.
Here's what happened.
Ravana and Kumbhakarana were incarnations of Jai and Vijay , Lord Vishnu's gatekeepers and beloved devotees.
One day 4 saints - manasputras (born from the mind or thought) of Lord Brahma came to visit Lord Vishnu. As the Lord was resting, Jai and Vijay politely asked them to wait or return later.
The Brahma Kumaras took offense, and accused Jai and Vijay of taking advantage of their position as Lord Vishnu’s gatekeepers and said they were insulting them on purpose.
Jai and Vijay assured them, that they were only doing their duty, but all in vain.
The 4 Kumaras, were furious and too upset to reason. Without a second, they cursed Jai and Vijay that they have a mortal life, away from Lord Vishnu.
A life where they'd crave for Lord Vishnu's attention and would struggle to get it. That would surely teach them a lesson.
Lord Vishnu appeared, as soon as he heard the curse. He calmed the Kumaras down. He told them, it was no fault of Jai’s and Vijay’s. The curse was unfair and it was wrong on their part to lose their temper.
But, the curse had already been given and would have to be fulfilled.
It broke Jai and Vijay's heart to be separated from their Lord.
The Kumaras were embarrassed. But a curse given, cannot be taken back. They apologized, and prayed to Lord Vishnu for an alternative.
Lord Vishnu gave Jai and Vijay two options.
Option 1 : They take 7 births as humans, and as ardent devotees of Lord Vishnu. After the 7th life, they would return to Vaikunta to become his gatekeepers again.
Option 2 : They take 3 births as humans, but as Lord Vishnu's worst enemies. Lord Vishnu would be incarnated all 3 times. He would fight them, kill them and bring them salvation. After the end of the 3rd life, they would be back in Vaikunta as his gatekeepers
Jai and Vijay chose the 2nd option. They said, 7 births would be too long a wait, without a glimpse of the Lord.
However, as per the 2nd option, although they would be born as Lord Vishnu's enemies, it would be a shorter term, and they would also have the privilege to rendezvous with their Lord at least once every life and be killed by him too.
Karma, is neither a punishment nor a reward. A spiritual equation of cause-effect, actions-consequences, which are also interconnected with the actions of others. A journey with learnings and experiences.
In the first birth, Jai and Vijay were born as Hiranyakashyap and Hiranyaksha and Lord Vishnu was born as Narasimha to defeat and kill them.
In the 2nd birth, they were born as Ravana and Kumbhkarana, Lord Vishnu was Ram.
In the third and final birth, they were born as Shishupala and Dantavakra. And Krishna (Vishnu's incarnation) killed them both.
Would you like to hear more stories like these? Have you heard a different version of this? We'd love to know! Let us know in the comments section below.
