Originally posted by: Bluekohl
Ramayana isn't a single text, Valmiki ramayan just happens to be the one which has been more popular. There are hundreds of versions, and some of them are even older than this. In many of them ravana was the righteous man, in fact we'd this essay I can't remember which went into the details and nuances, and comparisons between several versions.
P.S. your mom's a smart person. They weren't. At all. There are several instances where Pandavas are just too problematic. And i'll personally always be mad at calling a guy dharmaraja who bets his own wife.
Yep, in some Ravan had been Sita's father (Idk, mum's favourite version maybe because there was no conflict in terms of being pursued as a lover but also because of her own personal life - I never asked)
At least Krishna was honest about everything he influenced. (But he's one of my favs anyway)
I like Arjun but I'll always be mad that he let a misunderstanding and unconditional respect for his mum to ruin Draupati's life. True love but became responsibility in the end.
Glad we can discuss about them while distinguishing them as characters and gods.