Ravana's Last Thoughts and the Role of Shiva and Vishnu

When considering Ravana's thoughts on his deathbed, one must delve into the intricate details of his personality and actions in the Ramayana. While it is commonly believed that Ravana might have thought of Lord Shiva, the text of the Ramacharitamanas and other scriptures strongly suggest that he was primarily preoccupied with Lord Shri Ram.

Shri Ram's Significance in Ravana's Last Moments

According to the Aranyakanda of Ramacharitamanas, Ravana had a profound conversation with his sister before his demise. In this conversation, he acknowledged the mighty force of Lord Shri Ram. He remarked, 'One who has killed mighty demons like Khara-dushan is no ordinary mortal; he must be God Himself. If God has incarnated, I will have enmity with him and die with the arrows of Shri Ram, attaining salvation as I cannot worship him due to my tamasic body.'

Ravana's Priorities and His Ultimate Goal

Ravana's goal was to engage in a confrontation with Shri Ram to attain liberation, not to think of Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu. He believed that only through this conflict would he gain the chance to meet his divine adversary and be freed from his sins.

Previous Birth and Curses

It is also mentioned that in a previous life, Ravana was a gatekeeper in Vaikuntha Loka and was cursed by four sages. Lord Sri Hari Vishnu promised him that he would incarnate on earth to fulfill his destiny and liberate Ravana. This promise further emphasizes the inevitability of Ravana's enmity with Shri Ram.

Lord Krishna's Assurance in Bhagavad Gita

Lord Krishna, another avatar of Lord Vishnu, reiterates the importance of this in the Bhagavad Gita. He reassures Ravana that his birth and subsequent battles were part of a divine plan to bring Ravana to the logical conclusion of his misdeeds.

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In the spiritual understanding of Hinduism, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are considered one and the same in different forms. Remembering Shiva is as good as remembering Vishnu, and vice versa. When Ravana was lying on his deathbed, considering the proximity of Lord Shri Ram, it is logical to assume he might have remembered Shiva and his teachings. However, his primary focus was on the impending death and the possibility of liberation through his encounter with Shri Ram.

Moreover, Ravana's self-realization occurred when he was pierced by the Kantastra arrow shot by Lord Shri Ram. He realized his mistakes and accepted his fate as a victim of six sins, leading to his merger with Shri Ram. In his final moments, Ravana must have deeply reflected on his actions and their consequences, which eventually led to his own undoing.

From a broader perspective, Ravana's misdeeds and their ultimate resolution highlight the importance of spiritual knowledge and the ultimate reality that all deities are manifestations of the same divine presence.

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Conclusion:

While one might speculate about Ravana's thoughts on his deathbed, the texts of the Ramacharitamanas and verses from the Bhagavad Gita indicate that his primary focus was on Lord Shri Ram, the embodiment of Vishnu. His ultimate realization came from the recognition of his errors and the inevitability of his fate, leading to a profound spiritual transformation in his final moments.