Vaisravan had been listening to regular and flawless complaints about the unethical conducts of his younger brother Ravan who was haunting the Devas and others and torturing them regularly. Vaisravana took it for his duty to counsel his brother. He sent a messenger to convey a few codes of conduct for Ravan to lead a proper life. Ravan took it as an insult and instantly chopped the messenger into pieces with his sword. “Why should he boast of himself?” Roared Ravan. “He thinks a lot of himself that he is a noble birth, richest on the earth and the lord of the north. And he sits in the extreme north and commands me. I shall show him who I am.”
Ravan in his impatient quest for a foe to conquer, there emerged this golden opportunity. He set out in haste to Alakapuri. On his way he met Rambha, the celestial courtesan that was proceeding to meet Kubera, his brother. Ravan prevented her and by force polluted her. He received her curse.Then Ravan overcame Vaisravan in war and capturing his Pushpaka Viman (plane), returned to the South.
As he was aviating over the periphery of Shri Kailasa, the abode of Lord Maheswara and Parvati, the plane was automatically stopped. Ravan descended from the plane and on foot proceeded towards the abode of the supreme lords.
Nandikeswara, the chief commander of Lord Shiva’s lieutenants prevented his journey because the divine couple was dancing in their courts. Ravan overpowered by anger abused Nandikeswara, who in turn cursed Ravan to meet his end through the monkeys.
Ravan then wished to lift the Mount Kailasa with his enormous hands. He applied all his strengths and tried to lift it. The mount was a bit tilted and quaked and the Goddess in her sudden tremor swung and hugged the Lord, who was highly pleased. The Lord, pressed the Mount mildly with his toe. The mount was reinstated into the former position and Ravan’s hands got jammed. With pain intolerable, he began to yell with roaring cry incessantly. The sound was so loud and hard. Even under the trauma of unbearable pain, Ravan composed a hymn on Lord Shiva and recited it.The rhymes and rhythms and the congruent meaning of the hymn immensely pleased the Lord. He appeared before Ravan and blessed him. Lord Shiva released Ravan from the clutches of the mount. He gifted his famous Chandrahasa sword to Ravan.Since his Rava (sound) was piercing the ears, the Lord named him Ravan, who was till then known as Dasamukha.
Sri Ram too worships Lord Shiva
Rameswaram is at the southern tip of Bharat. It is one of the holiest of pilgrim cities in Bharat. A large number of devotees throng here daily from all over the world. This city is considered to be the Kashi of the south. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity here.
It is believed by all the Hindus that dip in the ocean at Rameswaram and giving ablution to the departed souls would elevate the ancestors to the higher realms. Worshipping Lord Shiva of Rameswaram is considered to be a once in a life time wish of many devotees. Those devotees who worship Lord Shiva of Rameswaram are, it is believed widely, liberated from all sins.
Once a hamlet, Rameswaram today, has grown into a small trade city.
The main attraction and importance of this temple is that it was Sri Ram that consecrated the idol of Lord Shiva here.
Sri Ram sought the blessings of Lord Shiva in his efforts to cross the ocean which was a hundred Yogajas in length, building a bridge and victory over his impending war with Ravan.
KK Shanmukhan
( To be concluded )
