Ravanothbhavam

English

When the dusk fell

English

When the dusk fell and when it was difficult to traverse further, Ravana let his forces to take rest and himself retired for relaxation.  At that time, during the night, he saw Rambha, who was passing by.

Brothers, well, what you befittingly said

English
Brothers, well, what you befittingly said –
thinking about those words – gives me immense happiness (sarcastic)
 
(Followed by normal culmination, circular culmination and Enclosed Culmination)
 
After having implored the Base of the Worlds, the Lord of Creation and the boons obtained from him by you –
Alas, the ones learning about it would feel supercilious
 

Hey the king of Rakshasas

English
King of Rakshas
(Follwed by “Indicative Prompting”.  On completion of his gestural communication, the act comes to a culmination and then proceeds to enact the stanza)
 
Hey the king of Rakshasas, the ten header,
the one who is merciless to enemies; nomble minded;
today I have (sought) the Lord of Worlds, God, lotus eyed, and the one without change !
 

Hey, the one with most prowesses

English
Hey, the one with most prowesses,
my elder brother one, listen to me. 
I had a lot of desires and all that have gone in vain
 
(Followed by a normal culminatory dance in the current rhythmic cycle)
 
Godlessness
 
(Follwed by “Indicative Prompting”.  On completion of his gestural communication, the act comes to a culmination and then proceeds to enact the stanza)
 

Hey the ones as great as oceans..

English
Narrator:
 
Having obtained the boons from the Lord of the Worlds (Brahma) and thus become powerful, Ravana decided to bring the universe and the gods under his command, approached his other brothers, who themselves have been blessed with boons, and spoke thus.
 
(Note: This scene starts with the Thiranottam (Introduction ) of Ravana followed by the famous self Enactment of Ravana called, 'Thapassattam' . The description of the enactment is given below as Reference.)
 

Ravanothbhavam

English

Ravanothbhavam, meaning the “Rise of Ravana”, is written by an 18th Century Malayalam scholar, Kallekkulangara Raghava Pisharody, a poetic adornment of Veera Kerala Varma, Ruler of Cochin Principality.  The play has been noted for its literary values as well as stage-worthiness.  Ravanothbhavam is said to have been staged first in the year 1776, under the command of Valiya Ittiri Panicker, a performer in Kaplingadan Schoold of Kathakali.  Later, the sequence of enactment was disseminated to Cheriya Ittiri Panicker of Kalladikkodan School of Kathakali and this is recorded as the f