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Story Of Vanara King Vali and Ravana In Jainism

The Jaina Padma Purana, give us a different version of story of King Vali and Ravana. Jainism incorporates two stories found in Hindu Puranas that of King Vali (Bali) and Shiva pressing down Kailash on Ravana.

The story in Jain religion tells us that Bali was the son of the Vidyadhara king, Sruyaraja and his queen Candramalini. Suryaraja abdicated and got initiated into the Digambara sect. When his son Bali became the king, he did not obey Ravana’s orders. Ravana advised Bali through a messenger not to disobey and give his sister in marriage to him.

Thinking of the bloodshed in the likelihood of war, King Vali gave the throne to his younger brother Sugriva and retired to the forest and sought refuge at the feet of a Digambara monk.

Sugriva married off his sister to Ravana and became faithful to him. Ravana married many other Vidyadhara damsels. While he was returning after marrying Ratnavali, daughter of the Vidyadhara king Nityavaloka and his queen Sridevi, his chariot stopped on mount Kailash.

One enquiring, his minister Marichi told him that some saint was engaged in penance there. Ravana descended to see him and recognized Bali. Threatening him, Ravana started uprooting Kailasha. Bali pressed his toe and Ravana felt crushed under the weight and started crying (and hence his name ‘Rautiti Ravanah). His queens also started crying. Out of compassion, Vali removed his toe and then Ravana heaved a sigh of relief. He went to Vali and begged for forgiveness.