Eating Habits of Rakshasas Are Disgusting

We saw that Hanumanji reached Lanka, searched around and got an idea about the lay of land, released Mrityu Deva and Shani Deva whom Ravana had held captive, and after assuming a tiny form, tried to enter the capital of Ravana, which was on top of the middle peak of Trikuta Parvata.

He was stopped by Lankini, the protective goddess of Lanka. When she realized who he was, she allowed him inside and said that she will not protect Lanka anymore till its administration is handed over to someone good.

Hanumanji started his search for Seetha Matha inside Lankapuri. As we saw before, Lanka was a city of gold. The city was well planned and well organized. These Rakshasas were not living in caves. They were all living in houses made of gold. It was gold everywhere. Even the pathways, the floor – they were all made of gold. Lanka was prosperous. They had abundance.

So, one – the Rakshasi nature itself, then the arrogance of wealth – both were the reasons behind the Rakshasas harassing others. Particularly, there was a strong dislike in Rakshasas for tapaswis. When Kaikeyi asked that the Lord be sent for vanavasa for fourteen years, there was another condition – that his attire should be that of tapaswis. This was because then it would immediately catch the attention of the Rakshasa and they would attack him. This was required also. The Lord should be provoked so that it can lead to the destruction of Ravana.

Everything is pre-planned, you see. Saraswathy Devi was influencing the mind of Kaikeyi – not only Kaikeyi, Manthara also – to put up these conditions.

All the Rakshasas were well-built and huge. Each one was a warrior. But there were also camps where there were Rakshasa soldiers who stood well-armed and prepared to strike anytime Ravana wanted. The others off duty, they enjoyed their resting period.

There was a huge palace, really huge – the length of which extended from the east to west of Lanka. This was towards one end of the city. The gate was so tall that it touched the sky. Hanumanji went inside to check out. When he went inside, he realized that even the doors inside – they were also as tall as the gate. There were only three rooms in that palace.

In one of them, a huge Rakshasa was asleep – as huge as a mountain. Must be Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna sleeps for six months. In the second room, a Rakshasi, a little smaller than Kumbhakarna, was asleep. Must be his wife. The third room was stacked with barrels of liquor, which he would need as soon as he wakes up. Like bed coffee or bed tea, he would gulp down barrels of liquor as soon as he wakes up.

Both were snoring and it sounded like thousands of bulls were roaring together.

Hanumanji came out and went around. The main ones among the Rakshasas – Mahodara, Viroopaksha, Viduujjihwa, Vidyunmali, Vara Damshtra, Vajra Kaaya, Shuka Saarana, Jambumali, Sumali, Malyavan, Rashmi Ketu, Surya Shatru, Dhoomraksha, Meghanada – they all had big palaces which stood apart from others. At the entrances, their names were written with gems on golden planks.

Why so much of description? It is because you should not think that Rakshasas were like primitives. When you see the serials or movies based on Ramayana, you get a stereotyped image of a Rakshasa – dark, with horns, big red eyes, and wearing some animal skin or leaves around the waist. That was not it. Lanka was a prosperous city – dazzlingly beautiful.

But this was from outside. It was horrible to see. It was nauseating. No matter how much prosperity comes, the basic nature will not change.

Rakshasas had only a few activities – eating, drinking, womanizing, fighting, and sleeping. They had nothing else to do.

The lower ones in the hierarchy, they used to eat animals raw. Particularly, their favourites were buffaloes, donkeys, camels, goats, and bulls. The inside of their houses looked like slaughterhouses – with carcasses of these animals strewn around and pools of blood everywhere. There were animals alive. The Rakshas would simply catch them and chew them. Blood would be dripping down their chest. They took mouthfuls so huge that, once they shut their jaws, pieces of meat would be flying around and blood splashing across.

The more powerful of Rakshasas, occupying important positions – they also cooked and ate. But it was 100% different combinations of meat – animals, birds – everything. All of them drank – liquor and blood. They pushed down the huge chunks of meat with gulps of blood and liquor.

The tapaswis or even other innocent men – they were particularly interested in tapaswis. They would catch everyone, bring them to Lanka, and eat them raw. Men that they bring home to eat – when they cry in fear and pain – that was the music to their ears.

There were a number of Rakshasis in each household. There were maids. Rakshasas had abducted many women of Gandharvas, Kinnaras – many of them were abducted – and each Rakshasa kept them for their physical gratification.

After they finished their eating, the Rakshasas started with their pursuit for physical pleasure. It will be inappropriate to get into details in a forum like this. But the way scriptures describe them – you can look up for the meaning of the word 'orgy'. In modern terminology, this is what would suit their act.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi