Who Was Ravana in His Previous Life?

Ravana, the primary antagonist of the epic Ramayana, is a complex character with a rich background that spans multiple lives, according to Hindu Dharma. 

His previous life before being born as Ravana, the king of Lanka, is detailed in various texts and scriptures, most notably in the Ramayana and its other versions, as well as in some Puranic texts.

In his previous life, Ravana was said to be a gatekeeper of Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu, and his name was Jaya. 

Along with Vijaya, his fellow gatekeeper (both were considered to be Jaya-Vijaya, the two gatekeepers of the lord Vishnu's abode), he was cursed by the Four Kumaras - Sanaka (Ancient), Sanatana (Eternal), Sanandana (Ever Joyful) and Sanatkumara (Ever Young).

The Four Kumaras are manas-putras (mind-born sons) of Brahma, and they cursed them because they were stopped by Jaya and Vijaya from meeting Vishnu. 

Once four Kumaras went to Vaikunta to worship the lord Vishnu. The doorkeepers thought them to be inferior as they were infants (Due to the strength of their tapas, the four Kumaras appear to be mere children, though they are of great age).

The Kumaras, who appeared as young Brahmin boys, were not recognized by Jaya and Vijaya, who thus failed to honour them appropriately.

Angered by this disrespect, the Kumaras cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born on Earth and live as mortals. 

When Jaya and Vijaya pleaded for mercy, Vishnu gave them two options for the curse's resolution: they could choose to be born as his devotees for seven lifetimes or as his enemies for three. 

Jaya and Vijaya chose the latter, preferring to return to Vaikuntha sooner, even if it meant being adversaries of Vishnu in their mortal incarnations.

Thus, in one of their three births as Vishnu's enemies, Jaya was reborn as Ravana, and Vijaya as his brother Kumbhakarna, both of whom would become notorious for their opposition to Lord Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, in the Ramayana. 

This backstory serves to enrich the narrative of the Ramayana, providing a divine context for the conflict between Rama and Ravana, and illustrating the depth and interconnectedness of characters within Hindu mythology. 

The story of Jaya and Vijaya underscores themes of devotion, the cyclical nature of life and karma, and the profound mercy and justice of the gods. 

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