Why Ravana didn't touch Sita?

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Ravana couldn’t touch Sita because he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and respected women? Wrong! He didn’t touch her because he couldn’t! To uncover the truth, we must delve into the various curses Ravana received and understand his complex character. Below verses illustrate how disrespectful Ravana was towards women.

A Life Marked by Curses

Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, was known for his immense power, intellect, and prowess. However, his arrogance and disrespect towards women led to several curses, ultimately shaping his destiny. Here are the significant curses that played a crucial role in his life:

1. Curse of Nalakubara
Ravana’s most relevant curse, concerning Sita, came from Nalakubara, the son of Kubera. Ravana once abducted Nalakubara’s wife, Rambha, and tried to force himself upon her. Rambha resisted and pleaded with Ravana, reminding him of his dharma (righteousness). Ignoring her pleas, Ravana faced the wrath of Nalakubara, who cursed him, declaring that if he ever tried to touch a woman against her will, his head would burst into a thousand pieces. This curse was pivotal in the Ramayana, preventing Ravana from violating Sita.

2. Curse of Vedavati
Vedavati was a devout woman meditating with the desire to marry Lord Vishnu. Ravana, infatuated by her beauty, tried to molest her. In her desperation, Vedavati immolated herself, vowing to be reborn to bring about Ravana’s destruction. She was reborn as Sita, ensuring Ravana’s doom was intertwined with his inability to touch her.

3. Curse of Nandi
Nandi, the divine bull and vehicle of Lord Shiva, cursed Ravana when the demon king mocked his monkey-like appearance. Nandi cursed that Ravana’s end would come through monkeys. This curse materialized when Hanuman, along with the monkey army, played a pivotal role in Ravana’s defeat.

4. Curse of King Anaranya
King Anaranya, a descendant of the Ikshvaku dynasty, cursed Ravana on his deathbed. After being defeated by Ravana, the king declared that Ravana would meet his end at the hands of a future member of his own lineage, which came true with Lord Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, who belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty.

Ravana: The Complex Character

While some portray Ravana in a positive light, seeing him as a great scholar and a devoted Shiva bhakta, it is crucial to remember his darker side. Ravana considered women as mere assets, an attitude that led to his numerous curses and eventual downfall. His abduction of Sita was not just an act of revenge against Rama but also an assertion of his misguided dominance over women.

Ravana Did Not Touch Sita: The Influence of His Curses

The primary reason “Ravana did not touch Sita” stems from the curse of Nalakubara. This curse was a divine safeguard for Sita, ensuring her purity and Ravana’s adherence to a boundary he dared not cross. Despite his immense power and ego, Ravana was bound by the fear of his head shattering into a thousand pieces, preventing him from violating Sita.

Ravana's Respect for Women: A Misleading Perception

It is a misconception to believe Ravana respected women. His actions towards Rambha, Vedavati, and numerous other women in his lifetime contradict this belief. Ravana’s treatment of women was marked by a sense of entitlement and ownership, viewing them as objects rather than individuals with autonomy. His inability to touch Sita was not out of respect but out of fear of the curses that loomed over him.

The tale of why Ravana didn’t touch Sita is deeply rooted in the curses he received due to his own misdeeds. These curses acted as a divine check, preserving Sita’s chastity and ensuring that Ravana’s downfall was inevitable. While Ravana remains a figure of immense complexity, his story serves as a timeless reminder of the consequences of arrogance and disrespect towards women.