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 We have seen it already that Kamban varies his version of the story, adding a brick here and changing a structure there and intensifying the drama, sharpening the logic and honing the characters, while keeping the basic structure unchanged. Kavimani Desika Vinayakam Pillai sang of Kamban: Ayan padaipaith thiruthi oar azagu seidhan. (He modified the creation of Brahma and added beauty to it.) Kamban’s task was like adding a little more colour and fragrance to a lotus of thousand petals. And he did it. As Sri VVS Aiyar puts it:
"Now the plot in almost all its details is Valmiki’s. But if Kamban takes the situation from Valmiki, he has treated them absolutely in his own way. In the manner of developing the situations, in the gradation by which the climax of each situation is brought about, in the justesse, which knows how to bring out all its capabilities out of each situation, we feel the touch of the master artist. In the manner also in which the incidents have been joined together to form the whole, no ordinary skill has been displayed. Every limb of Kamban’s story is of course familiar to the student of Valmiki. But on going through the whole poem of Kamban, one is constrained to exclaim, ‘here is a building which is built on the same plan no doubt, and with the same materials, but which possesses a striking individuality of its own." (Kamba Ramayanam A Study – The Architectonics)
The crisis on the day one of the battle is one such event where Kamban shows the quick wit, judgement and valour of Hanuman coming into play. But before that we have to discuss the character of Ravana. Unless we do that, it will not be easy for anyone to understand the gravity of the situation, the kind predicament Lakshmana was in and how Maruti diffused it. Therefore, we will see a few highlights in his character (if they may be called highlights) just enough for the point in discussion.
 Ravana, son of Vichiravas, was the direct descendent of Brahma. Great grandson, so to say. He was the half-brother of Kubera, from whom he coveted the kingship of Lanka. The epic says the even the five elements changed their nature, on his order. For, such was his penance. Srinivasa Sastriyar remarks, "It (his penance) was out of the ordinary even for these mythical stories. He was born with ten heads, and it would appear that at end of every thousandth year of penance he sacrificed into the holy fire one of his heads. In this way he sacrificed nine, when nine thousand years were gone. When the ten thousandth year was gone, he was about to cut his tenth head and head and put it into the fire, when Brahma was gratified and asked what it was he wanted."
Ravana asked for immortality. As immortality was not possible, Brahma suggested that he could ask for invulnerability, instead. And then Ravana asked that he should not be killed by Devas, Asuras, Rakshasas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, etc. The list went on and on. Ravana did not include the puny creatures, men in the list. His contempt for men was so much that he considered it an insult to his person to include them in the list and ask for protection against them. Thus grew his might, his power and his kingdom.
Ravana is an example of a person who attains great heights, still managing to retain his baser qualities. Greatness without goodness.
(To be continued)
Hari Krishnan
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