Ravana is the most well-known villain in the epic Ramayana in Indian mythology. But much more than his villainy is here for this mysterious character to be found. Ravana was an eminent scholar, a devotee of Lord Shiva, and a musician; his life was a complicated mingling of genius and delusional arrogance. Of all his achievements, one of the most fascinating is his conquest of Swarna-Lanka, the enchanted golden kingdom. And this is how Ravana had acquired and lost this marvellous palace.
Ravana: The Scholar and Devotee
Ravana or Dasanaan (the one with 10 heads) was an octogenarian of unsurpassed wisdom. His 10 heads were also not just figurative, they represented his authority over the four Vedas and the six Upanishads. Ravana, a brillant student, was also a fantastic veena player and an avid worshipper of Lord Shiva. He made his love for Shiva the key to his taking Swarna-Lanka.
The Birth of Swarna-Lanka
Swarna-Lanka starts off with Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati. In the icy Himalayas, Parvati tired of the life of a penitent. She asked Lord Shiva to construct them a good house, which seemed the wrong wish given Shiva’s disengagement. But Shiva was a good husband and so gave her the wish.
Shiva had assigned his most devoted disciple Ravana the task of designing a golden palace. Ravana, wanting to please his master, went looking for help from Kubera, the richest being in the universe and his half-brother. Kubera gave away the gold for the palace.
With everything ready, Ravana brought in Vishwakarma, the architect de divination. Vishwakarma’s art turned the palace into a masterpiece — Swaarna-Lanka. It was an architectonic wonder, gleaming with gold and intricately decorated, the greatest building ever built.
The Unexpected Transfer of Ownership
Once completed, Shiva made it his custom to do a Griha Pravesh Puja (house-warming ceremony) before moving into the palace. Ravana, a scholar and an ecclesiastic, was appointed the priest of the ceremony.
When it came to giving his dakshina (fee), Ravana asked for something bizarre: the golden palace itself as his bribe. This requirement jarred everybody. But Shiva, distant from wealth and perhaps thinking of it as God’s will, accepted Ravana’s wish. He distributed Swarna-Lanka and came back to Mount Kailash.
But not everyone was happy with Ravana’s deeds. Shiva’s close assistant Nandi was offended by Ravana’s avarice and pomp. Nandi cursed Ravana, saying that his gold palace would be demolished one day by a monkey.
Ravana’s Reign in Swarna-Lanka
Ravana became wealthier and more powerful than ever as the king of Swarna-Lanka. The golden palace had become a mark of his emirship. But Ravana’s narcissism spread over the years. His influence blinded him to justice and so he committed adharma (wrongness), the worst of which was the kidnapping of Lord Rama’s wife Sita.
This act of vanity was the beginning of Ravana’s escapade. And it was during the Ramayana that Nandi’s curse fulfilled.
The Fall of Swarna-Lanka
To save Sita, Lord Rama dispatched Hanuman, the monkey deity, to Swarna-Lanka. Hanuman was supposed to find Sita and bring Rama’s message to her. As Hanuman came to the golden palace, he was sequestered and brought to Ravana.
Ravana, being overly conceited, jibed at Hanuman and had his tail burned to hell. But Hanuman fled and with his heavenly forces burnt Swarna-Lanka in an eternal flame. The golden palace had been torn down to ash, as per Nandi’s curse.
The Legacy of Swarna-Lanka
The tale of Swarna-Lanka is also a stark illustration of the finite nature of material wealth and the perils of hubris. Ravana’s golden empire — so brilliant and devoted — had been destroyed by his unbridled pride.
Ravana’s life is like his golden palace: sublime and tragic. It teaches us that wisdom and might under the tutelage of modesty and goodness can make wonders. But when poisoned by vanity and pomp, they destroy.
We still hear Swarna-Lanka’s story warning us and energising us today, reminding us of the timeless lessons of dharma, humility and obedience.