By Pallavi Mishra
Victory was arduous – at times, it seemed beyond reach. Yet it had to be won. The might of the King of Lanka, Ravana, was immense and immeasurable. In every battle he fought, he proved himself invincible. As he himself proclaimed, each of his arms was like a vast ocean, overflowing with strength, beneath which countless valiant gods and men had been submerged. His arms had once lifted and violently shaken Mount Kailasha, and he had compelled the guardians of the eight directions to serve him in humility.
Ravana’s formidable prowess suggested he was not fighting alone. Lord Rama discerned that a powerful feminine energy – Shakti- was empowering Ravana, shielding him with divine strength. In the Krittivasi Ramayana, the central figure of the Ramakatha is not merely Rama or Ravana, but Shakti herself – the divine force behind the entire epic. Folk consciousness reveres the Stuti (praise) of Shakti by both Rama and Ravana, reflecting a shared metaphysical belief in the Divine Mother as a universal principle. This reverence finds deep resonance in Indian philosophy and folk traditions. While Brahma represents passive power, Shakti is the active force – dynamic and ever-present in creation, preservation, and destruction. A hymn from the Rig Veda honours this divine feminine energy:
“I spread the heavens over the Earth. I am the energy in Brahma; I am the mother of all. It is for me that Brahma resides in all intellects, and it is I who have penetrated all the worlds with My power and hold them in their places… Beyond the heavens and beyond all else, I remain the primal energy—intelligent, perfect, and untouched by the illusion of creation.”
Before the final battle, Rama performs a special worship of Goddess Durga, seeking her protection and blessings. This act, known as “Akal Bodhan”, is considered untimely because it occurs outside the traditional spring season for Durga worship. Yet it marks a profound moment in folk consciousness, linking Rama’s devotion, his eventual triumph, and the celebration of Durga Puja. According to the katha, it was the wise Jamvant who advised Rama to appease the Divine Feminine before confronting Ravana. The ritual involved offering 108 lotus flowers, which Hanuman was tasked to collect. When one flower went missing, Rama offered one of his own eyes as a substitute. Moved by his unwavering devotion, the Goddess appeared and granted him victory. For nine days, Rama worshipped the Goddess in her nine divine forms: Shailputri (Strength), Brahmacharini (Devotion), Chandraghanta (Courage), Kushmanda (Creation), Skandamata (Motherhood), Katyayani (Determination), Kalaratri (Fearlessness), Mahagauri (Purity), Siddhidatri (Fulfillment).
Rama’s Akal Bodhan stands as a testament to the transformative power of faith, devotion, and spiritual contemplation in overcoming adversity. The Krittivasi Ramayana further reveals that Sita is an incarnation of Kali, who took human form to ensure Ravana’s destruction. Across poetry, oral traditions, religious rituals, and social performances, folk consciousness has consistently revered the feminine Divine Shakti – as the ultimate force capable of achieving the impossible.
