The Ramayana describes Ravana’s Lanka as ‘Suvarna Nagari’, that is, the land of gold. To this day ‘Suvarna Nagari’ is synonymous with Lanka.
Ravana, apart from being learned and an intellectual, was a good administrator. It is well known that he was a great warrior. He had taken neighboring kings under him and whatever booty he earned, most of it was spent on the welfare of his kingdom and subject. So great was his personal strength and his vast army, that it said that even ‘Indradev’ (God Indra) was wary of him, even though Ravana’s half brother Kubera, was Indra’s treasurer. According to legends, the massive doors of the fort of Lanka were made of gold. It is natural that the palaces of Ravana and his brothers were full of gold, diamonds and other precious items. Every house hold in Lanka had something made of gold.
In comparison, Sri Ram’s Ayodhya was simple, known for its peace and was called ‘Ram Rajya’ which again is synonymous with justice and fair administration. But Ayodhya was nowhere near Lanka as far as prosperity was concerned. Where in Lanka people were prosperous, in Ayodhya, the subject was happy, content but ordinary beings. They had genuine liking for their king. Lanka boasted of big ‘Ashwashalas’ (horse sheds), ‘Gajashalas’ (elephant sheds), ‘Shastrashalas’ (armory). Ayodhya had ‘Gaushalas’ (cowsheds. Milk and butter was aplenty. Vast difference between the two and yet, even today any good administered place is known as ‘Ram Rajya’ and Lanka is synonymous with treachery.
Ravana, apart from being learned and an intellectual, was a good administrator. It is well known that he was a great warrior. He had taken neighboring kings under him and whatever booty he earned, most of it was spent on the welfare of his kingdom and subject. So great was his personal strength and his vast army, that it said that even ‘Indradev’ (God Indra) was wary of him, even though Ravana’s half brother Kubera, was Indra’s treasurer. According to legends, the massive doors of the fort of Lanka were made of gold. It is natural that the palaces of Ravana and his brothers were full of gold, diamonds and other precious items. Every house hold in Lanka had something made of gold.
In comparison, Sri Ram’s Ayodhya was simple, known for its peace and was called ‘Ram Rajya’ which again is synonymous with justice and fair administration. But Ayodhya was nowhere near Lanka as far as prosperity was concerned. Where in Lanka people were prosperous, in Ayodhya, the subject was happy, content but ordinary beings. They had genuine liking for their king. Lanka boasted of big ‘Ashwashalas’ (horse sheds), ‘Gajashalas’ (elephant sheds), ‘Shastrashalas’ (armory). Ayodhya had ‘Gaushalas’ (cowsheds. Milk and butter was aplenty. Vast difference between the two and yet, even today any good administered place is known as ‘Ram Rajya’ and Lanka is synonymous with treachery.
March 31, 2012 at 1:41 PM
What a lonely blog. Not many comments here. But this is fun stuff. I am blogging now on the Ramayana, you are welcome to come and make comments - but please interact with the posts and no sermons.
It is interesting that some versions demonize Ravana -- others it is more complex.