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When Rāvana came to know of the insult of his sister, he kidnapped Rāma's wife Sītā with his cunning and deception. He kept Sītā at a separate place in his Ashoka garden. He tried his best to seduce her with various enticements and even offered her the position of chiefqueen but Sītā, the epitome of chastity, remained unmoved. But Rāvana never tried any physical assault on her modesty even once. But Hindu Rāmāyaṇas have no words of praise for this commendable act.
Rāvana was brave and conceited but not diplomatic. Rāma was brave, humble and affable but at the same time diplomatic as well. Helping Sugrīva against Bali, he gained sympathy of the Vānara and Rkša clans. They joined him against Rāvaņa. Similarly he made Vibhîşņa, the younger brother and minister of Rāvana, defect to his side adding to the vulnerability of Rāvana. A battle between Rāma and Rāvana ensued. Rāvana was killed and Rāma was victorious. This was not just a victory over the non-Aryan races of southern India but the victory of Aryan culture over the non-Aryan Rākśasa culture. This opened the way for spread of Aryan culture not only in southern India but also beyond that to areas like Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. The Aryan scriptures pronounced this as victory of truth over falsity. Painting Rāvaņa as a ten-headed demon, cruel, lustful, and unjust an organized effort to belittle him in the eyes of masses was made. The Rākśasa race was branded as uncivilized, cruel, cannibalistic, and extremely uncultured to an extent that a mere mention invoked hatred.
On the other hand Jain hagiographies present Rāma as a great religious person, protector of religion, moralist who in the end destroys karmas and attains the status of supreme-soul (Paramātmā). Every Jain takes his name each day when he chants Ņamo Siddhāņam (salutations to all Siddhas). Sītā has also been presented as gem of a woman singularly devoted and faithful to her husband Rāma. At the same time Rākšasa, Vānara, Řksa have been show as human races that were cultured, civilized, and experts of many special skills and powers. Rāvana is presented as very strong, scholarly, highly religious, able administrator, and a great emperor. Even after bringing Sītā into Lanka he did not even misbehave with her, what to say of violating her modesty. Jain hagiographies have provided a logical reason for this that he had resolved before an ascetic that he would not enjoy a woman by force without her consent.
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