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{{Short description|Important figure in the Hindu epic Ramayana}}
{{Short description|Primary antagonist in the Hindu epic Ramayana}}
{{Redirect|Ravan}}
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{{More citations needed|date=April 2015}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Redirect-several|Ravan}}
{{Infobox deity
{{Infobox deity
| type = hindu
| type = Hindu
| image = Ravana British Museum.jpg
| image = Ravana.jpg
| alt = A statue of Ravana with several heads and over a dozen arms
| alt =  
| caption = Sculpture of Ravana from the 18th century CE
| caption = Illustration depicting Ravana, circa 1920
| successor = [[Vibhishana]] (King of Lanka)
| successor = [[Vibhishana]] (King of Lanka)
| predecessor = [[Kubera]] (King of Lanka)
| predecessor = [[Kubera]] (King of Lanka)
| siblings = [[Kumbhakarna]], [[Vibhishana]], [[Khara (Ramayana)|Khara]], [[Ahiravana]], [[Dushana]], [[Shurpanakha]]
| siblings = {{bulleted list|[[Kumbhakarna]] (younger brother)|[[Vibhishana]] (younger brother)|[[Shurpanakha]] (younger sister)}}
| father = [[Vishrava]]
| father = [[Vishrava]]
| mother = [[Kaikashi]]
| mother = [[Kaikasi]]
| spouse = {{unbulleted list||[[Mandodari]]|[[Dhanyamalini]]}}
| spouse = {{bulleted list||[[Mandodari]] (chief-queen)|[[Dhanyamalini]] and a thousand junior wives<ref name = "thousand_wives" />}}
| children = [[Indrajit]], [[Atikaya]], [[Akshayakumara]], [[Narantaka-Devantaka|Narantaka]], [[Narantaka-Devantaka|Devantaka]], [[Trishira]]
| children = {{hlist|[[Meghanada]]|[[Atikaya]]|[[Akshayakumara]]|[[Narantaka-Devantaka|Narantaka]]| [[Narantaka-Devantaka|Devantaka]]||[[Trishira]]|[[Prahasta]] (sons)}}
| abode = [[Lanka]]
| abode = [[Lanka]]
| mount = [[Pushpaka chariot]]
| mount = [[Pushpaka Vimana]]
| affiliation = The King of [[Lanka]], [[Rakshasa]]
| affiliation = [[Shaivism]], [[Lanka]], [[Rakshasa]]
| texts = [[Ramayana]] and [[Ramayana versions|its versions]]
| texts = [[Ramayana]] and [[Ramayana versions|its versions]]
| Devanagari = रावण
| Devanagari = रावण
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Rāvaṇa
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Rāvaṇa
}}
<!-- Infobox does not support the following parameter:| Tamil = ராவணன் -->}}
{{Hinduism}}
{{Hinduism}}
'''Ravana''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɑː|v|ə|n|ə}};<ref>{{cite dictionary |title=Ravana |dictionary=[[Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary]] |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ravana}}</ref> {{Lang-sa|रावण}}, {{IAST3|Rāvaṇa}}, {{IPA-sa|ˈraːʋɐɳɐ|pron}}) is a [[rakshasa]] (a demonic creature in Hindu mythology) king<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Cartwright |first=Mark |title=Ravana |encyclopedia=[[World History Encyclopedia]] |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Ravana/ |access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref> of the island of [[Lanka]], and the chief antagonist of the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]'' and its adaptations.<ref>{{cite book |author=Wheeler, James Talboys |year=1869 |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages |volume=II The Rámáyana and the Vedic period |publisher=N.&nbsp;Trubner & Co. |page=281 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzAQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA281}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Brown, Nathan Robert |title=The Mythology of Supernatural: The signs and symbols behind the popular TV show |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lR_UXIkBfgC&q=ravana+rakshasa&pg=PT43 |date=2 August 2011 |publisher=Berkley Boulvard books, Newwork |isbn=9781101517529 |access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref>
'''Ravana''' ({{langx|sa|रावण|Rāvaṇa|roaring}}) is the principal antagonist of the ancient [[Mahakavya|Hindu epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]'' and its several [[Ramayana versions|other versions]]. He is traditionally depicted as a ten-headed [[rakshasa]] (demon) king of [[Lanka]] (present-day [[Sri Lanka]]).<ref>{{cite book |author=Wheeler, James Talboys |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzAQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA281 |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages |publisher=N.&nbsp;Trubner & Co. |year=1869 |volume=II The Rámáyana and the Vedic period |page=281}}</ref><ref name="Brown">{{cite book |author=Brown, Nathan Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lR_UXIkBfgC&q=ravana+rakshasa&pg=PT43 |title=The Mythology of Supernatural: The signs and symbols behind the popular TV show |date=2 August 2011 |publisher=Berkley Boulevard books, Newwork |isbn=9781101517529 |access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Henry_p.3">Justin W. Henry, ''Ravana's Kingdom: The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below'', Oxford University Press, p.3</ref> In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described as the eldest son of sage [[Vishrava]] and [[Kaikesi|Kaikasi]]. He abducted [[Rama]]'s wife, [[Sita]], and took her to his kingdom of [[Lanka]], where he held her in the [[Ashok Vatika|Ashoka Vatika]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sunderkand explanation |website=sunderkandsatsangsamuh.org |url=http://www.sunderkandsatsangsamuh.org/Sunderkand_Explanation.pdf |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718071828/http://www.sunderkandsatsangsamuh.org/Sunderkand_Explanation.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rama, with the support of [[vanara]] King [[Sugriva]] and his army of vanaras, launched a rescue operation for Sita against Ravana in Lanka. Ravana was subsequently slain, and Rama rescued his beloved wife Sita.<ref>{{cite web |author=Das, Subhamoy |title=The Ramayana |quote=Summary by Stephen Knapp |website=Learn Religions |url=https://www.learnreligions.com/the-ramayana-summary-by-stephen-knapp-4092441 |access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Ravana |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ravana |access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref>
 
In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage [[Vishrava]] and [[Rakshasa|rakshasi]] [[Kaikesi]]. He abducted Prince Rama's wife [[Sita]] and took her to his kingdom of [[Lanka]], where he held her in the [[Ashok Vatika]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sunderkand explanation |website=sunderkandsatsangsamuh.org |url=http://www.sunderkandsatsangsamuh.org/Sunderkand_Explanation.pdf |access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref> Later, Rama, with the support of [[vanara]] King [[Sugriva]] and his army of vanaras, launched an invasion against Ravana in Lanka. Ravana was subsequently slain and Rama rescued his beloved wife Sita.<ref>{{cite web |author=Das, Subhamoy |title=The Ramayana |quote=Summary by Stephen Knapp |website=Learn Religions |url=https://www.learnreligions.com/the-ramayana-summary-by-stephen-knapp-4092441 |access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Ravana |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ravana |access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref>


Ravana is widely portrayed to be an evil character, though he also has many qualities that make him a learned scholar. He was well-versed in the six [[shastra]]s and the four [[Vedas]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Ravana is also considered to be the most revered devotee of [[Shiva]]. Images of Ravana are seen associated with Shiva at some temples. He also appears in the Buddhist [[Mahayana]] text ''[[Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra]]'', in [[#Buddhist versions|Buddhist Ramayanas]] and [[Jataka tales|Jatakas]], as well as in [[Rama in Jainism|Jain Ramayanas]]. In some [[Hindu scriptures|scriptures]], he is depicted as one of [[Vishnu]]'s cursed doorkeepers.<ref name=Pankaj-2019-07-31-Stsmn/>
Ravana was well-versed in the six [[shastra]]s and the four [[Vedas]], including the [[Shiva Tandava Stotra]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Vālmīki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aWFEAQAAQBAJ&q=ramayan+ramesh+menon |title=The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic |last2=Menon |first2=Ramesh |date=2004-05-26 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-86547-695-0 |language=en}}</ref> Ravana is also considered to be the most revered devotee of [[Shiva]]. Images of Ravana are often seen associated with Shiva at temples. He also appears in the Buddhist [[Mahayana]] text [[Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra]], in Buddhist [[Jataka tales|Jatakas]], as well as in [[Rama in Jainism|Jain Ramayanas]]. In [[Hindu scriptures|Vaishnava scriptures]], he is depicted as one of [[Vishnu]]'s cursed doorkeepers.<ref name=Pankaj-2019-07-31-Stsmn/>


== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
[[File:Ravanan - King of Lanka.jpg|thumbnail|left|150px|Statue of Ravana at [[Koneswaram Temple|Koneswaram Hindu Temple]], [[Sri Lanka]]]]
[[File:Ravana British Museum.jpg|left|thumb|Statue of Ravana, South India, 18th century CE, [[British Museum]]]]
The word ''Rāvaṇa'' ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: रावण) means "''roaring''" (active), the opposite of [[Vaiśravaṇa]], meaning "''hear distinctly''" (passive).<ref name="Aiyangar Narayan 1909 p.413">Aiyangar Narayan (1909) "Essays On Indo-Aryan Mythology-Vol.", p.413</ref><ref name="sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw1026-vaivarNika.jpg |title=Cologne Scan |website=sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de}}</ref> Both ''Ravana'' and ''Vaiśravaṇa'', who is popularly known as [[Kubera]], are considered to be [[patronymic]]s derived as "sons of [[Vishrava]]".<ref name="Aiyangar Narayan 1909 p.413"/><ref name="sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de"/><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Ayodhyākāṇḍa |date=25 April 2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=9788120831636 |page=30 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YJGRP-otpdIC&pg=PA530 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=Edward Washburn |author-link=Edward Washburn Hopkins |year=1915 |title=Epic Mythology |place=Strassburg, DE |publisher=K.J. Trübner |page = 142 |url=https://archive.org/stream/epicmythology00hopkuoft#page/n147/mode/2up/search/Kubera}}</ref>
The word Rāvaṇa ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: रावण) means "Roaring" (active), the opposite of [[Vaiśravaṇa]] which means to "hear distinctly" (passive).<ref name="Aiyangar Narayan 1909 p.413">Aiyangar Narayan (1909) "Essays On Indo-Aryan Mythology-Vol.", p.413</ref><ref name="sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw1026-vaivarNika.jpg |title=Cologne Scan |website=sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de}}</ref> Both Ravana and Vaiśravaṇa, who is commonly known as [[Kubera]], are considered to be [[patronymic]]s derived from "sons of [[Vishrava]]".<ref name="Aiyangar Narayan 1909 p.413"/><ref name="sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de"/><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Ayodhyākāṇḍa |date=25 April 2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=9788120831636 |page=30 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YJGRP-otpdIC&pg=PA530 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=Edward Washburn |author-link=Edward Washburn Hopkins |year=1915 |title=Epic Mythology |place=Strassburg, DE |publisher=K.J. Trübner |page = 142 |url=https://archive.org/stream/epicmythology00hopkuoft#page/n147/mode/2up/search/Kubera}}</ref>


''Rāvana'' was a title taken on later by Dashānana, and it means "the one with ten(dasha) faces(anana)". Further, ''roravana'' is Sanskrit for "loud roaring." In Abhinava Gupta's Krama Shaiva scripture, ''yāsām rāvanam'' is used as an expression to mean people who are truly aware in terms of the materialism of their environment.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
Dashānana was a title later taken on by Ravana, and it means "the one with ten (dasha) Heads (anana)". Further, roravana is Sanskrit for "loud roaring." In Abhinava Gupta's Krama Shaiva scripture, yāsām rāvanam is used as an expression to mean people who are truly aware of the materialism of their environment.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}


Ravana has many other popular names, such as Dasis Ravana, Dasis Sakvithi Maha Ravana, Dashaanan, Ravula, Lankapati, Lankeshwar, Lankeshwaran, Ravanasura, Ravanaeshwaran, and Eela Vendhar.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Names of Ravana |website=LifeStalker |url=http://www.lifestalker.com/2014/10/the-10-names-of-ravana.html |access-date=2021-05-18 |lang=en}}</ref>
Ravana is also known by several other names including Dasis Ravana, Dasis Sakvithi Maha Ravana, Dashaanan, Ravula, Lankapati, Lankeshwara, Ravanasura and Ravanaeshwara.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Names of Ravana |work=LifeStalker |date=6 October 2014 |url=http://www.lifestalker.com/2014/10/the-10-names-of-ravana.html |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>


== Iconography ==
== Iconography ==
Ravana is depicted and described as having ten heads, although sometimes he is shown with only nine heads, as he cut one off to convince Shiva.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-26 |title=When Ravana tore his head and a hand to apologize to Lord Shiva |url=https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/28124-when-ravana-tore-his-head-and-a-hand-to-apologize-to-lord-shiva.html |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.mensxp.com |language=en-IN}}</ref> He is described as a devout follower of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler and a maestro of the [[Veena]] (pronounced veh-nah; a chordophone instrument). Ravana is also depicted as the author of the ''Ravana Samhita'', a book on [[Hindu astrology]], and the ''Arka Prakasham'', a book on [[Siddha medicine]] and treatment. Ravana possessed a thorough knowledge of [[Siddha]] and [[political science]]. He is said to have possessed the nectar of immortality, which was stored inside his belly, thanks to a celestial boon by [[Brahma]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Ramayana |author=[[Valmiki]]}} {{cite book |title=[[Ramcharitmanas]] |author=[[Tulsidas]] |editor1=Vibhishana, Lanka Kanda |editor2=Samvaad, Rama }}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2020}}
Ravana is depicted and described as having ten heads, although he is sometimes shown with only nine heads since he cut one off to convince Shiva.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 October 2015 |title=When Ravana tore his head and a hand to apologize to Lord Shiva |url=https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/28124-when-ravana-tore-his-head-and-a-hand-to-apologize-to-lord-shiva.html |access-date=5 May 2022|work=Mensxp}}</ref> He is described as a devout follower of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler, and a maestro of the [[Veena]]. Ravana is also depicted as the author of the ''Ravana Samhita'', a book on [[Hindu astrology]], and the ''Arka Prakasham'', a book on [[Siddha medicine]] and treatment. Ravana possessed a thorough knowledge of [[Siddha]] and [[political science]]. In some later versions, he is said to have possessed the nectar of immortality, which was stored inside his belly thanks to a celestial boon from [[Brahma]]. In the War with Lord Rama, Ravana was killed by a powerful Brahma's weapon shot by Rama which was gifted to Rama by Sage Agstya.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ramayana |author=[[Valmiki]]}} {{cite book |title=[[Ramcharitmanas]] |author=[[Tulsidas]] |editor1=Vibhishana, Lanka Kanda |editor2=Samvaad, Rama }}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2020}}


== Life and legends ==
== Biography ==
=== Birth ===
=== Birth ===
Ravana was born to the great sage [[Vishrava]], and his wife, the [[Rakshasa]] princess [[Kaikesi]] in the [[Treta Yuga]]. People of [[Bisrakh]] village in [[Uttar Pradesh]] claim that Bisrakh was named after Vishrava, and that Ravana was born there.<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Dutta, Prabhash K. |date=10 October 2016 |title=Did you know? Ravana was born in Greater Noida West |magazine=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ravana-greater-noida-demon-king-delhi-ncr-bishrakh-dussehra-345906-2016-10-10 |access-date=2 July 2020 |lang=en}}</ref> But according to [[Hela (people)|Hela]] historical sources and folklore, Ravana was born in Lanka, where he later became king.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-11 |title=Unknown Interesting Hidden Mythological Facts About Ravana |url=https://shiprocket.social/blog/lesser-known-facts-ravana-raavan/ |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=Shiprocket Social Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Ravi Varma-Ravana Sita Jathayu.jpg|thumb|Painting depicting Ravana cutting off [[Jatayu]]'s wing while abducting [[Sita]], by [[Raja Ravi Varma]]]]


Ravana's grandfather on his father's side, the sage [[Pulastya]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R.K.K.|year=2018|title=Woven Threads of the Rāmāyaṇa The Early Āḻvārs on Brahmā and Rāvaṇa|url=https://www.academia.edu/37599459|journal=Romanian Journal of Indian Studies|volume=2|pages=9–45}}</ref> was one of the ten [[Prajapati|Prajapatis]] or mind-born sons of [[Brahma]] and one of the [[Saptarishi]] (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the first [[Manvantara]] (age of [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]]). His maternal grandfather was [[Sumali]] (or Sumalaya); the king of the Rakshasas and the son of Sukesha. Sumali had ten sons and four daughters. Sumali wished Kaikeshi to marry the most powerful being in the mortal world, so as to produce an exceptional heir. He rejected the kings of the world, as they were less powerful than he. Kaikesi searched among the sages and finally chose Vishrava, the father of Kubera. Ravana and his siblings were born to the couple. They completed their education from their father, with Ravana being a great scholar of the Vedas.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
Ravana was born to the [[Brahmin]] sage [[Vishrava]] and the [[Daitya]] princess [[Kaikesi|Kaikasi]] in [[Treta Yuga]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VoXEQAAQBAJ&dq=vishrava+brahmin&pg=PT19 | title=The Brahmin | isbn=978-93-5776-137-6 | last1=Etteth | first1=Ravi Shankar | date=4 March 2024 | publisher=Westland }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Shastri |first1=Jagdish Lal |last2=Kunst |first2=Arnold |title=Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology: Brahma Purāṇa |date=1986 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0271-1 |page=164 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Ancient_Indian_Tradition_Mythology_Brahm/MeJjAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Daitya+Kaikesi&dq=Daitya+Kaikesi&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> Villagers from [[Bisrakh]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]] claim that Bisrakh was named after Vishrava, and that Ravana was born there.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dutta, Prabhash K. |date=10 October 2016 |title=Did you know? Ravana was born in Greater Noida West |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ravana-greater-noida-demon-king-delhi-ncr-bishrakh-dussehra-345906-2016-10-10 |access-date=2 July 2020 |lang=en}}</ref>


=== Boon of Ravana ===
Ravana's paternal grandfather, the sage [[Pulastya]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R.K.K.|year=2018|title=Woven Threads of the Rāmāyaṇa The Early Āḻvārs on Brahmā and Rāvaṇa|url=https://www.academia.edu/37599459|journal=Romanian Journal of Indian Studies|volume=2|pages=9–45}}</ref> was one of the ten [[Prajapati]]s, or mind-born sons of [[Brahma]], and one of the [[Saptarishi]] (seven great sages) in the first [[Manvantara]] (age of [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]]). His maternal grandfather was [[Sumali]] (or Sumalaya), the king of the Rakshasas and the son of Sukesha. Sumali had ten sons and four daughters. Sumali wished for Kaikasi to marry the most powerful being in the mortal world, so as to produce an exceptional heir. He rejected the kings of the world, as they were less powerful than him. Kaikasi searched among the sages and finally chose Vishrava, the father of Kubera. Ravana and his siblings were born to the couple and they completed their education from their father, with Ravana being a great scholar of the Vedas.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
Ravana and his two brothers ''Kumbhakarna''  and ''Vibhishana'' performed penances on Mt Gokarna for 11,000 years and won boons from Brahma. Ravana was blessed with a boon that would make him invincible to all the creations of Brahma, except for humans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manglik |first=Reshu |date=29 September 2017 |title=Happy Dussehra 2017: 11&nbsp;important facts to know about Ravana, primary antagonist of epic Ramayana |website=indiatvnews.com |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/books-culture-dussehra-2017-king-ravana-important-facts-from-ramayana-403950 |access-date=14 July 2020 |lang=en}}</ref> He also received weapons, a chariot as well as the ability to shapeshift from Brahma. Ravana later usurped Lanka from his half-brother Kubera and became the King of Lanka. He appointed Shukracharya as his priest and learned the [[Arthashastra]] (Science of Politics) from him.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
 
=== Boon from Brahma ===
Ravana and his two brothers, [[Kumbhakarna]] and [[Vibhishana]], performed penance on Mount Gokarna for 10,000 years and won boons from Brahma. Ravana was blessed with a boon that would make him invincible to all the creations of Brahma, except for humans.<ref>{{cite web |last=Manglik |first=Reshu |date=29 September 2017 |title=Happy Dussehra 2017: 11&nbsp;important facts to know about Ravana, primary antagonist of epic Ramayana |work=India TV |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/books-culture-dussehra-2017-king-ravana-important-facts-from-ramayana-403950 |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref> He also received weapons, a chariot, as well as the ability to shapeshift from Brahma.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} According to the ''Ramayana'', demigods approached Brahma since Ravana was causing harm on Earth. Lord Vishnu appeared and gave blessings that Rama would incarnate as a human and kill Ravana since his invincibility boon did not include humans.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rosen |first=Steven |title=Essential Hinduism |date=2006 |publisher=Praeger |isbn=0-275-99006-0 |location=Westport, Conn. |pages=68–69 |oclc=70775665}}</ref>


=== Devotee of Shiva ===
=== Devotee of Shiva ===
{{See also|Ravananugraha}}
{{See also|Ravananugraha}}
[[File:RavanKailashAndolan.jpg|left|thumb|255x255px|Ravananugraha theme]]
[[File:RavanKailashAndolan.jpg|left|thumb|Ravananugraha theme]]
One of the most popular images of Shiva is called "Ravananugraha", which was popular in the [[Gupta era]] and depicts Ravana beneath [[Mount Kailash]] playing the veena made out of his head and hand with strings made out of his tendons while Shiva and Parvati sit on top of the mountain.<ref name="kala">Kala pp. 38–42</ref>{{full citation|date=July 2022|reason=no such ref "Kala"}} According to scriptures, Ravana once tried to lift Mount Kailash, but Shiva pushed the mountain into place and trapped Ravana beneath it. For a thousand years, the imprisoned Ravana sang hymns ([[Shiva Tandava Stotra]]) in praise of Shiva, who finally blessed him and granted him an invincible sword and a powerful [[linga]] (Shiva's iconic symbol, Atmalinga) to worship.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rathore, Vinod |date=29 June 2020 |title=Know the unique story of Ravana's devotion to Shiva |website=News Track |url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/ravan-shiv-bhakti-ravan-and-shiv-katha-hindi-me-sc91-nu612-ta272-1103191-1.html |access-date=14 July 2020 |lang=en}}</ref><ref name="kala"/>
 
One of the most popular images of Shiva is called "Ravananugraha", which was popular in the [[Gupta era]]. It depicts Ravana beneath [[Mount Kailash]] playing a veena made out of his head and hands, and strings made out of his tendons, while Shiva and Parvati sit on top of the mountain.<ref name="kala">Kala pp. 38–42</ref>{{full citation needed|date=July 2022|reason=no such ref "Kala"}} According to scriptures, Ravana once tried to lift Mount Kailash, but Shiva pushed the mountain into place and trapped Ravana beneath it. For a thousand years, the imprisoned Ravana sang [[Shiva Tandava Stotra]], a hymn in praise of Shiva, who finally blessed him and granted him an invincible sword and a powerful [[linga]] (Shiva's iconic symbol, Atmalinga) to worship. But this incident has little to no evidence in Valmiki Ramayana.<ref name="kala"/><ref>{{cite web |author=Rathore, Vinod |title=Know the unique story of Ravana's devotion to Shiva |website=News Track |url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/ravan-shiv-bhakti-ravan-and-shiv-katha-hindi-me-sc91-nu612-ta272-1103191-1.html |access-date=14 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref>


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=== Family ===
=== Family ===
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf op de aan Brahma gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016175.jpg|thumb|right|Queen [[Mandodari]] and the women of Lanka mourning the death of Ravana. Bas-relief of 9th century [[Prambanan]] temple, Java, Indonesia.]]
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf op de aan Brahma gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016175.jpg|thumb|Queen [[Mandodari]] and the women of Lanka mourning the death of Ravana. Bas-relief of 9th century from [[Prambanan]] Temple, Java, Indonesia]]
Ravana's family are hardly mentioned outside the ''Ramayana'', which is viewed by some as being only the point of view of Rama devotees. According to that:
* Ravana's granduncle was [[Malyavan]], who was against the war with Rama and Lakshmana. He also had another granduncle named Mali who was killed by Lord [[Vishnu]].<ref name=Mittal-2006-p200>{{cite book |last=Mittal |first=J.P. |date=2006 |title=History of Ancient India (a new version: From 7300&nbsp;BC to 4250&nbsp;BC |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0615-4 |lang=en |page=200 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7gOBW8oDFgC&pg=PA200}}</ref>
* Ravana's parents were sage [[Vishrava]] (son of [[Pulastya]]) and [[List of characters in Ramayana#Kaikashi|Kaikesi]] (daughter of [[Sumali]] and [[Tataka]] or [[Ketumati (Ramayana)|Ketumati]]). Kaikesi had ten brothers, the famous generals in Lanka's army being [[List of characters in Ramayana#Dhumraksha|Dhumraksha]], [[Prahastha]] and [[Akampana]], and also [[Maricha]] and [[Subahu]] which would effectively make them Ravana's uncles and three aunts named [[Kumbinashi]], [[Puspotkata]], and [[Raka (Ramayana)|Raka]]. [[Kaikesi]]'s father, [[Sumali]], was instrumental in making Ravana the king of Lanka by advising him to get boons from Brahma, defeat Kubera, and establish the [[Rakshasa]] rule in the three worlds.<ref name=Mittal-2006-p200/>
* Ravana had seven brothers and two sisters:{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}


# [[Kubera]] – The King of the North direction and the Guardian of Heavenly Wealth. He was an older half-brother of Ravana. Kubera was born to Vishrava's other wife, [[Ilavida]].
Ravana's parents were the sage [[Vishrava]] (son of [[Pulastya]]) and [[List of characters in Ramayana#Kaikashi|Kaikesi]] (daughter of [[Sumali]] and [[Ketumati (Ramayana)|Ketumati]]). Ravana had seventeen maternal uncles and three maternal aunts. [[List of characters in Ramayana#Dhumraksha|Dhumraksha]], [[Prahastha]], [[Akampana]], [[Vajramushti]], [[Suparshwa]] and [[Virupaksha]], a few of his maternal uncles, were generals in the Lanka army. The other grandsons of Sumali, through his other daughters, namely [[List of characters in Ramayana#K|Khara]], [[Dushana]], [[Mahodara]], and [[Mahaparshwa]] were equally powerful lieutenants in Ravana’s army, and given the first two were responsible to govern the territories of Janasthana. [[Kaikesi]]'s father, [[Sumali]] and uncle, [[Malyavan]] were instrumental in making Ravana the king of Lanka by advising him to receive boons from Brahma, defeat Kubera, and establish [[rakshasa]] rule in the [[Trailokya|three worlds]].<ref name="Mittal-2006-p200">{{cite book |last=Mittal |first=J.P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7gOBW8oDFgC&pg=PA200 |title=History of Ancient India (a new version: From 7300&nbsp;BC to 4250&nbsp;BC |date=2006 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0615-4 |page=200 |language=en}}</ref>
# [[Kumbhakarna]] – One of the most jovial [[demon]]s in Hindu mythology. When offered a boon by [[Brahma]], he was tricked into asking for eternal sleep. A horrified Ravana, out of brotherly love, persuaded Brahma to amend the boon. Brahma mitigated the power of the boon by making Kumbhakarna sleep for six months and being awake for the rest six months of a year (in some versions, he is awake for one day out of the year). During the war with Rama, Kumbhakarna was untimely awakened from his sleep. He tried to persuade Ravana to open negotiations with Rama and return Sita to him. But he too failed to mend the ways of Ravana. However, bound by a brother's duty, he fought on the side of Ravana and was killed in the battlefield. Before dying he met Vibhishana and blessed him for following the path of righteousness.
# [[Vibhishana]] – A follower of Rama and one of the most important characters in the ''Ramayana''. As a minister and brother of Ravana, he spoke the truth without fear and advised Ravana to return the kidnapped Sita and uphold [[Dharma]]. Ravana not only rejected this sane advice but also banished him from his kingdom. Vibhishana sought protection from Rama, which was granted without hesitation.
# [[Khara (Ramayana)|Khara]] – King of Janasthan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Nasik/histroy_hindus.html#1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809040052/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Nasik/histroy_hindus.html#1|archive-date=9 August 2011|title=History Hindus}}</ref> He was a cousin of Ravana and the son of Kaikesi's sister Raka.
# [[Dushana]] – Viceroy of Janasthan. Cousin of Ravana and twin brother of Khara.
# [[Ahiravan]] – In [[Krittivasi Ramayan]], Ahiravan was king of the [[Underworld]] ruled by the rakshasas by Ravana and the demon king Maya.
# Kumbhini – The older half-sister of Ravana and the wife of the demon [[Madhu-Kaitabha|Madhu]], King of [[Mathura]]. She was the mother of [[Lavanasura]].
# [[Sahastra Ravana]] - He is mentioned in [[Adbhuta Ramayana]] as the elder brother of Ravana, one thousand armed and thousand-headed, living on an island named Pushkar, he was much more powerful than his younger brother. He is slain by Sita who takes the form of [[Mahakali]] to slay him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/super-shocking-how-sita-saved-rama-and-killed-greater-ravana|title = Super Shocking How Sita Saved Rama and killed Greater Ravana}}</ref>
# [[Shurpanakha]] – The sister of Ravana. She was the ultimate root of the kidnapping of Sita. She was the one who instigated her brothers to wage a war against Rama.
* Ravana was married to [[Mandodari]], the daughter of the celestial architect [[Mayasura|Maya]], Dhanyamalini, and a third wife. His sons from his three wives were as follows:{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}


# [[Indrajit|Meghnaad]] (also known as ''Indrajit'' because he defeated [[Indra]]), the most powerful son of Ravana. He was born to Ravana's elder consort Mandodari.
Ravana's granduncle was [[Malyavan]], who opposed the war with Rama and Lakshmana. He also had another granduncle named Mali who was killed by [[Vishnu]].<ref name="Mittal-2006-p200" />
# [[Atikaya]]
# [[Akshayakumara]]
# [[Narantaka]]
# [[Devantaka]]
# [[Trishira]]
# [[Prahasta]]


* In the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] ballad "[[Meghnad Bodh Kavya]]" by [[Michael Madhusudan Dutt]], ''Beerbahu'' is said to be Ravana's son.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
According to ''[[Sundara Kanda]]'' of ''Valmiki Ramayana'', Ravana had over a thousand wives, with [[Mandodari]], the daughter of the celestial architect [[Mayasura|Maya]], being his chief queen.<ref name = "thousand_wives">{{Cite book |last=Kant |first=Anjani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-5nkRZXjPMC&dq=ravana+thousand+wives&pg=PA45 |title=Women and the Law |date=2008 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-7648-456-5 |language=en}}</ref> His sons were [[Indrajit|Meghanada]], [[Atikaya]], [[Akshayakumara]], [[Narantaka]], [[Devantaka]] and [[Trishira]].


=== Priestly ministers ===
=== Priestly ministers ===
Ravana is said in some version to have had Shukracharya, the priest of the Asuras, as his minister, and in some versions [[Brihaspati]], the priest of the Devas.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
In some accounts, Ravana is said to have had [[Shukracharya]], the priest of the Asuras, as his minister, and in other accounts, [[Brihaspati]], the priest of the Devas.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}


One of the most original, which is not found in earlier manuscripts, tells how Ravana orders his court priest Brhaspati (all the gods being his slaves) to read the Chandi stava (mantras of Chandi), that is, the ''Devi Mahatmya'', in order to stave off defeat if he can recite it. According to the ''Krttivasa'' text, Ravana arranged for a peaceful [[yajna]] (sacrifice) and to start the recitation of Chandi, Brihaspati was invited. Accordingly, Brihaspati recited the same correctly.<ref>{{cite book |first=Shanti Lal |last=Nagar |title=Genesis and Evolution of the Rāma Kathā in Indian Art, Thought, Literature, and Culture: From the earliest period to modern times |volume=2}}</ref>{{full citation|date=July 2022|reason=publisher, date, page}}
One account narrates how Ravana ordered Brihaspati to recite the Chandi stava (mantras of Chandi), more specifically the Devi Mahatmya, in order to stave off defeat. According to the Krttivasa text, Ravana arranged for a peaceful [[yajna]], and invited Brihaspati to start the recitation of Chandi.<ref>{{cite book |first=Shanti Lal |last=Nagar |title=Genesis and Evolution of the Rāma Kathā in Indian Art, Thought, Literature, and Culture: From the earliest period to modern times |volume=2}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=July 2022|reason=publisher, date, page}}
[[File:Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana.jpg|Ravana in [[Sanskrit]] drama of [[Kerala]], India- [[Kutiyattam]]. Artist: Guru ''Nātyāchārya'' [[Māni Mādhava Chākyār]]<ref>{{cite book | author = Chākyār, Māni Mādhava  | author-link = Māni Mādhava Chākyār | year = 1996 | title = Nātyakalpadrumam  | title-link = Nātyakalpadrumam | place = New Delhi, IN | publisher = Sangeet Natak Akademi | page = 6}}</ref>|thumb|right]]


[[File:Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana.jpg|Ravana in [[Sanskrit]] drama of [[Kerala]], India- [[Kutiyattam]]. Artist: Guru ''Nātyāchārya'' [[Māni Mādhava Chākyār]].<ref>
== Other legends ==
{{cite book
=== Vishnu's cursed doorkeeper ===
| author = Chākyār, Māni Mādhava  | author-link = Māni Mādhava Chākyār
In the [[Bhagavata Purana]], Ravana and his brother [[Kumbhakarna]] are said to be reincarnations of [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya and Vijaya]], gatekeepers at [[Vaikuntha]] (the abode of [[Vishnu]]), and were cursed to be born on Earth for their insolence.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Ninan |first=M.M. |date=2008-06-23 |df=dmy-all |title=The Development of Hinduism |publisher=Madathil Mammen Ninan |isbn=978-1-4382-2820-4 |pages=241 |language=en  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-8RTZcjg9awC&dq=Ravana+Kumbhakarna+cursed+born+on+earth&pg=PA241}}</ref>
| year = 1996
 
| title = Nātyakalpadrumam  | title-link = Nātyakalpadrumam
These gatekeepers refused entry to the [[Catursana|Sanatha Kumara]] monks who, because of their powers and austerity, appeared as young children. For their insolence, the monks cursed them to be expelled from [[Vaikuntha]] and to be born on Earth.<ref name="Pankaj-2019-07-31-Stsmn" /><ref name=":0" />
| place = New Delhi, IN
 
| publisher = Sangeet Natak Akademi
Vishnu agreed that they should be punished and gave them two options. First, that they could be born seven times as normal mortals and devotees of Vishnu, or be born three times as strong and powerful beings, but as enemies of Vishnu. Eager to be back with the Lord, they chose the latter option. The curse of the first birth was fulfilled by [[Hiranyakashipu]] and his brother [[Hiranyaksha]] in [[Satya Yuga]], when they were both vanquished by earlier avatars of Vishnu (Hiranyaksha by [[Varaha]], and Hiranyakashipu by [[Narasimha]]). Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna were born to fulfill the curse in their second birth as enemies of Vishnu in [[Treta Yuga]]. The curse of the third birth was fulfilled by [[Dantavakra]] and [[Shishupala]] in the [[Dvapara Yuga]], when they both were slain by [[Krishna]], the eighth avatar.<ref name=Pankaj-2019-07-31-Stsmn>{{cite news |author=Pankaj, Bhavana |date=31 July 2019 |title=Where Ravana is Vishnu's true Bhakta |newspaper=The Statesman |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/religion/ravana-vishnus-true-bhakta-1502783704.html |access-date=1 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
| page = 6
 
}}
=== Other conflicts ===
</ref>|thumb|right]]
 
Ravana had fought with the demons named [[Nivatakavacha]] along with his army for an entire year but was unable to kill them due to Brahma's boon. The war was stopped by Brahma and Ravana formed an alliance with them, he learnt several magical tricks or maya from those demons.<ref name="valmikiramayan.net">{{Cite web | title=Valmiki Ramayana | url=https://www.valmikiramayan.net/ | access-date=2025-08-05 | website=www.valmikiramayan.net}}</ref>
 
Ravana had defeated the vanara warriors namely Hanuman, Sugriva, Neela and even Rama's brother Lakshmana twice during his war with Rama.<ref name="valmikiramayan.net"/> As per the original six books of Valmiki Ramayana, only lord Rama the incarnation of Vishnu defeated Ravana and killed him after several days of single duel.


== Other legends ==
He killed Anaranya, the king of [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]], although he cursed Ravana to be slain by Rama.  
=== As Vishnu's cursed doorkeeper ===
In the [[Bhagavata Purana]], Ravana and his brother, [[Kumbhakarna]], were said to be reincarnations of [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya and Vijaya]], gatekeepers at [[Vaikuntha]] (the abode of [[Vishnu]]) and were cursed to be born on Earth for their insolence.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ninan |first=M.M. |date=2008-06-23 |df=dmy-all |title=The Development of Hinduism |publisher=Madathil Mammen Ninan |isbn=978-1-4382-2820-4 |pages=241 |lang=en  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-8RTZcjg9awC&dq=Ravana+Kumbhakarna+cursed+born+on+earth&pg=PA241}}</ref>


These gatekeepers refused entry to the [[Catursana|Sanatha Kumara]] monks — who, because of their powers and austerity, appeared as young children. For their insolence, the monks cursed them to be expelled from [[Vaikuntha]] and to be born on Earth.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
Ravana had wrestled his brother [[Kubera]] and vanquished him for the [[Vimana|Pushpaka Vimana]].


Vishnu agreed that they should be punished. They were given two choices, that they could be born seven times as normal mortals and devotees of Vishnu, or three times as powerful and strong people, but as enemies of Vishnu. Eager to be back with the Lord, they choose the latter one. Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna were born to fulfill the curse on the second birth as enemies of Vishnu in the [[Treta Yuga]]. The curse of first birth was fulfilled by [[Hiranyakashipu]] and his brother [[Hiranyaksha]] in [[Satya Yuga]] when they were both vanquished by earlier avatars of Vishnu (Hiranyaksha by [[Varaha]] and Hiranyakashipu by [[Narasimha]]) and the curse of third birth was fulfilled by [[Dantavakra]] and [[Sisupala|Shishupala]] in the [[Dvapara Yuga]] when they both were slain by [[Krishna]], the eighth avatar.<ref name=Pankaj-2019-07-31-Stsmn>{{cite news |author=Pankaj, Bhavana |date=31 July 2019 |title=Where Ravana is Vishnu's true Bhakta |newspaper=The Statesman |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/religion/ravana-vishnus-true-bhakta-1502783704.html |access-date=1 July 2020 |lang=en}}</ref>
=== Immolation of Vedavati===
Ravana found [[Vedavati]] sitting in meditation as a ''[[Tapas (Indian religions)|tapasvini]]'' and was captivated by her beauty. He proposed his hand in marriage to her, and was rejected. Ravana, firmly rejected at every turn, grabbed her hair and tried assaulting her.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uXCYDwAAQBAJ&dq=ravana+rape+Vedavati&pg=PA907 |title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume VI: Yuddhakāṇḍa |date=2017-01-24 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-17398-6 |pages=907 |language=en}}</ref> The furious [[Vedavati]] cursed Ravana that she would be born once more, and would be the cause of his death.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Stuti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B3oEEAAAQBAJ&dq=Vedavati+ravana&pg=PA42 |title=Magical Mythology |date=2020-11-10 |publisher=Sristhi Publishers & Distributors |isbn=978-81-947908-6-0 |language=en}}</ref> She subsequently leapt into the ritual [[Homa (ritual)|havan]] that was present in her vicinity, immolating herself.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Stuti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B3oEEAAAQBAJ&dq=Vedavati+havan&pg=PA42 |title=Magical Mythology |date=2020-11-10 |publisher=Sristhi Publishers & Distributors |isbn=978-81-947908-6-0 |language=en}}</ref>


=== Conflict with other kings and Asuras ===
=== Rape of Rambha ===
Ravana had gotten into a conflict with some other major Asuras.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
Ravana is regarded to have once caught sight of the [[apsara]] [[Rambha (apsara)|Rambha]] and was filled with lust. Even as the apsara resisted his advances by asserting that she was his daughter-in-law, he raped her. When she reported this to her husband, [[Nalakuvara]], he cursed Ravana to be unable to cause violence to any woman who did not consent to being with him, his head splitting into a number of pieces if he did so. This incident is stated to explain why Ravana could not force the abducted Sita to submit to his desire.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iM_QAgAAQBAJ&dq=Ravana+rape+Rambha&pg=PA535 |title=On Hinduism |date=March 2014 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-936007-9 |pages=535 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Vālmīki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h1g6fWIu-kAC&pg=PA393 |title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Araṇyakāṇḍa |date=2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=978-81-208-3164-3 |pages=393 |language=en}}</ref>
# In [[Maheshwar]], Madhya Pradesh is where he is said to have fought, but lost, to [[Kartavirya Arjuna]], and he was tied up; later Kartavirya got the name Daśagrivajayi (the conqueror of Ravana just like [[Indrajit]] got his name by defeating [[Indra]]) and released him on the request of his grandfather sage [[Pulastya]]. Ravana vanquished.
# Marutta (Chakravarti King of Ushiraviga),
# Gadhi ([[Vishwamitra]]'s father),
# [[Dushyanta]] ([[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]]'s father),
# Suratha (King of [[Vidarbha]]),
# Gaya (Chakravarti king of Dharmaranya), and
# [[Paurava]] (King of [[Anga]]).
# Ravana killed Anaranya, the king of [[Ayodhya]] although the latter cursed Ravana to be slain by Rama.
# Ravana was vanquished by the [[Ikshvaku]] King [[Mandhata]], an ancestor of [[Rama]].
# Ravana had wrestled his brother [[Kubera]] for the [[Vimana|Pushpaka Vimana]].
# In the ''Ramayana'', he fought [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vali]] the [[Kishkindha]] king, but was defeated by him, because of Vali's boon to obatin half the strength of anyone he fought.<ref>{{cite book |author=Vālmīki |editor-last=Venkatesananda |editor-first=Swami |date=January 1988 |title=The Concise Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-88706-862-1 |lang=en |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkSzznK3VuEC&q=vali+vs+ravana&pg=PA371}}</ref>
# He also fought with the [[Nivatakavachas]], the descendants of [[Prahlada]], but being unable to defeat them, struck an alliance with them.
# Another time he was vanquished by the sage [[Kapila]].
# One time, upon hearing a discourse from Sage [[Sanatkumara]], Ravana attempted to invade [[Vaikuntha]]. Only Ravana managed to enter Vaikuntha's capital Shwetadwipa where he was hopelessly outmatched by the inhabitants over there and was forced to retreat.


== Worship and temples ==
== Worship and temples ==
[[File:Phu Yak.jpg|thumb|150px|Thotsakan (Ravana)'s sculpture as a guardian of [[Wat Phra Kaew]], [[Thailand]]]]
[[File:Phu Yak.jpg|thumb|Thotsakan (Ravana)'s sculpture as a guardian of [[Wat Phra Kaew]], [[Thailand]]]]


=== Worship ===
=== Worship ===
As he is considered one of the most revered devotees of Shiva, Ravana is worshiped in several places.<ref name="spectrum"/> There are some Shiva temples where Ravana is worshiped.<ref name = "spectrum">{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071021/spectrum/society1.htm |title=Ravana has his temples, too |newspaper=The Sunday Tribune |department=Spectrum |date=21 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Vachaspati, S. |title=Ravana Brahma |year=2005 |publisher=Rudrakavi Sahitya Peetham, Gandhi Nagar |place=Tenali, India |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Dave, Kamalesh Kumar |year=2008 |title=Dashanan |publisher=Akshaya Jyotish Anusandan Kendra |place=[[Jodhpur]], India |language=Hindi}}</ref>
Ravana is worshipped as one of Shiva's most revered followers,<ref name="spectrum"/> and he is even worshipped in some Shiva temples.<ref name = "spectrum">{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071021/spectrum/society1.htm |title=Ravana has his temples, too |newspaper=The Sunday Tribune |department=Spectrum |date=21 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Vachaspati, S. |title=Ravana Brahma |year=2005 |publisher=Rudrakavi Sahitya Peetham, Gandhi Nagar |place=Tenali, India |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Dave, Kamalesh Kumar |year=2008 |title=Dashanan |publisher=Akshaya Jyotish Anusandan Kendra |place=[[Jodhpur]], India |language=Hindi}}</ref>


The Kanyakubja Brahmins of the Vidisha district worship Ravana; they personify him as a symbol of prosperity and regard him as a saviour, claiming that Ravana was also a Kanyakubja Brahmin. Thousands of [[Kanyakubja]] [[Brahmin]]s of the village Ravangram of Netaran, in the [[Vidisha]] District of [[Madhya Pradesh]], perform daily [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] (worship) in the Ravana temple and offer naivedyam / [[bhog]] (a ritual of sacrifice to the Gods). Centuries ago King Shiv Shankar built a Ravana temple at [[Kanpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The Ravana temple is opened once a year, on [[Dashehra]] Day, to perform puja for the welfare of Ravana.<ref>{{cite news |first=Faiz |last=Siddiqui |date=10 October 2016 |title=A temple where demon king has his day |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/A-temple-where-demon-king-has-his-day/articleshow/54772663.cms |access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref>
King Shiv Shankar built a Ravana temple in [[Kanpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The Ravana temple is open once a year, on the day of [[Vijayadashami|Dashera]], to perform puja for the welfare of Ravana.<ref>{{cite news |first=Faiz |last=Siddiqui |date=10 October 2016 |title=A temple where demon king has his day |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/A-temple-where-demon-king-has-his-day/articleshow/54772663.cms |access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref>


Ravana is also worshiped by Hindus of [[Bisrakh]], who claim their town to be his birthplace.<ref>{{cite news |title=Only the elderly come to mourn Ravana in 'birthplace' Bisrakh |date=4 October 2014 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/only-the-elderly-come-to-mourn-ravana-in-birthplace-bisrakh/ |access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref>
Ravana is also worshipped by Hindus of [[Bisrakh]], who claim their town to be his birthplace.<ref>{{cite news |title=Only the elderly come to mourn Ravana in 'birthplace' Bisrakh |date=4 October 2014 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/only-the-elderly-come-to-mourn-ravana-in-birthplace-bisrakh/ |access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref>


The Sachora Brahmins of Gujarat also claim to be descendants of Ravana, and sometimes have "Ravan" as their surnames.<ref>{{cite book |title=People of India |volume=4: A–G |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=3061}}</ref>
The Sachora Brahmins of Gujarat claim to be descendants of Ravana, and sometimes have "Ravan" as their surnames.<ref>{{cite book |title=People of India |volume=4: A–G |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=3061}}</ref>


Some Saraswat Brahmins from Mathura claim Ravana as a saraswat Brahmin as per his lineage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mathura lawyer seeks ban on burning of Ravana effigies |date=26 September 2017 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mathura-lawyer-seeks-ban-on-burning-of-ravana-effigies-4862479/}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Qureshi, Siraj |date=12 October 2016 |title=A Dussehra without burning Ravana: This Brahmin community in Agra wants an end to practice |magazine=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/raavan-vijay-dashmi-agra-saraswat-caste-brahmins-346178-2016-10-12}}</ref>
Saraswat Brahmins from Mathura claim Ravana as a saraswat Brahmin as per his lineage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mathura lawyer seeks ban on burning of Ravana effigies |date=26 September 2017 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mathura-lawyer-seeks-ban-on-burning-of-ravana-effigies-4862479/}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Qureshi, Siraj |date=12 October 2016 |title=A Dussehra without burning Ravana: This Brahmin community in Agra wants an end to practice |magazine=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/raavan-vijay-dashmi-agra-saraswat-caste-brahmins-346178-2016-10-12}}</ref>


There is also reference to "Ravani", the lineage of Upadhyaya Yasastrata&nbsp;II, who was of the Gautama gotra and was a son of Acharya Vasudatta, and described as "born of Ravani".<ref>{{cite journal |title={{grey|[no title cited]}} |journal=Indian Culture: Journal of the Indian Research Institute |volume=15 |publisher=I.B. Corporation}}</ref>{{full citation|date=July 2022|reason=author, title, issue, page(s)}}
The [[Gondi people]] of central India claim to be descendants of Ravana, and have temples for him, his wife Mandodari, and their son Meghnad. They also state that Ravana was an ancient Gond king, the tenth ''dharmaguru'' of their tribe, and the eighteenth lingo (divine teacher). Annually on [[Dussehra]], the Gondis from the village of [[Paraswadi]] carry an image of Ravana riding on an elephant in a procession.<ref>{{cite news |author=Rashid, Omar |date=24 October 2015 |title=Celebrating Ravan |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/omar-rashid-on-ravan-worship/article7799972.ece}}</ref>
 
The [[Gondi people]] of central India claim to be descendants of Ravana, and they have temples set up for him, his wife Mandodari, and their son Meghnad. They also state that Ravana was an ancient Gond king, the tenth ''dharmaguru'' of their tribe, and the eighteenth lingo (divine teacher). Every year on [[Dussehra]], the Gondis of the village of [[Paraswadi]] carry an image of Ravana riding on an elephant in a procession<ref>{{cite news |author=Rashid, Omar |date=24 October 2015 |title=Celebrating Ravan |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/omar-rashid-on-ravan-worship/article7799972.ece}}</ref>


=== Temples ===
=== Temples ===
There are a number of temples in India for Ravana as a shaiva bhakth,
The following temples in India are for Ravana as a Shiva Bhakta.
* Dashanan Temple, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11>{{cite news |title=Five temples of Ravana in India where demon king is worshipped |date=11 October 2016 |publisher=India TV |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-five-temples-of-ravana-in-india-where-demon-king-is-worshipped-351861}}</ref>
* Dashanan Temple, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11>{{cite news |title=Five temples of Ravana in India where demon king is worshipped |date=11 October 2016 |publisher=India TV |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-five-temples-of-ravana-in-india-where-demon-king-is-worshipped-351861}}</ref>
* Ravana Mandir, Bisrakh, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11/>
* Ravana Temple, Bisrakh, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11/>
* Kakinada Ravana temple, Andhra Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11/>
* Kakinada Ravana Temple, Andhra Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11/>
* Ravangram Ravana Temple, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11/>
* Ravangram Ravana Temple, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11/>
* Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11/>
* Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh<ref name=IndiaTV-2016-10-11/>
* Mandore Ravan Temple, Jodhpur<ref name="Native Planet">{{cite web |title=Unique Ravana temples in India |date=27 April 2018 |website=Native Planet |department=Travel guide |url=https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/unique-ravana-temples-in-india-001812.html}}</ref>
* Mandore Ravan Temple, Jodhpur<ref name="Native Planet">{{cite web |title=Unique Ravana temples in India |date=27 April 2018 |website=Native Planet |department=Travel guide |url=https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/unique-ravana-temples-in-india-001812.html}}</ref>
* Baijanath Temple, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh<ref name="Native Planet"/>
* Baijanath Temple, Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh<ref name="Native Planet"/>
* Ravaleshwara temple- Malavalli, mandya district of Karnataka


== Influence on culture and art ==
== Influence on culture and art ==
[[File:Hanuman and Ravana in Tholu Bommalata, the shadow puppet tradition of Andhra Pradesh, India.JPG|thumb|270px|Ravana with [[Hanuman]] in ''[[tholu bommalata]]'', a [[shadow puppet]] tradition of [[Andhra Pradesh]], India]]
[[File:Hanuman and Ravana in Tholu Bommalata, the shadow puppet tradition of Andhra Pradesh, India.JPG|thumb|Ravana with [[Hanuman]] in ''[[tholu bommalata]]'', a [[shadow puppet]] tradition of [[Andhra Pradesh]], India]]
[[File:Ravana Carnival.jpg|thumb|203x203px|A carnival of Ravana]]
A [[Ramleela]] actor wears the traditional attire of Ravana. One of the most important literary works of ancient India, the ''Ramayana'' has had a profound impact on art and culture in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Celebrate the festive season by catching Ram Leela in these locations |newspaper=[[Times of India]] |department=Travel |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/celebrate-the-festive-season-by-catching-ram-leela-in-these-locations/as66143966.cms |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>


=== Ravana-Dahan (burning effigy of Ravana) ===
=== Ravana-Dahan (burning effigy of Ravana) ===
[[File:Ravana_fizzles.jpg|thumb|An effigy of Ravana with burning sparklers on [[Dusshera]]. ''Dashehra Diwali Mela'' in Manchester, England, 2006.]]
[[File:Ravana_fizzles.jpg|thumb|An effigy of Ravana with burning sparklers on [[Dusshera]]. ''Dashehra Diwali Mela'' in Manchester, England, 2006]]
Effigies of Ravana are burned on [[Vijayadashami]] in many places throughout India. It is said that this symbolizes Rama's triumph over evil (i.e., Ravana).<ref>{{cite news |title=Dussehra 2018: What is the significance Of Ravana Dahan? |website=NDTV.com |department=Dehli news |url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/ravana-dahan-2018-what-is-the-significance-of-ravana-dahan-1934573 |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>
 
Effigies of Ravana are burned on [[Vijayadashami]] in many places throughout India to symbolize Rama's triumph over evil.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dussehra 2018: What is the significance Of Ravana Dahan? |website=NDTV.com |department=Dehli news |url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/ravana-dahan-2018-what-is-the-significance-of-ravana-dahan-1934573 |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>


=== Ravanahatha ===
=== Ravanahatha ===
The ''[[ravanahatha]]'', an ancient bowed-[[string instrument]], continues to be used as a Rajasthani folk instrument. Mythology credits this instrument as a creation of Ravana.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lankan revives Ravana's musical instrument |date=9 March 2008 |website=[[The Island (Sri Lanka)|The Island]] |place=Sri Lanka |url=http://www.island.lk/2008/03/09/news11.html}}</ref>
According to mythology, the ''[[ravanahatha]]'', an ancient bowed [[string instrument]], was created by Ravana and is still used as a Rajasthani folk instrument.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lankan revives Ravana's musical instrument |date=9 March 2008 |website=[[The Island (Sri Lanka)|The Island]] |place=Sri Lanka |url=http://www.island.lk/2008/03/09/news11.html}}</ref>


== In other religions ==
== In other religions ==
[[File:130 Ramakien Murals (9150183848).jpg|thumb|Mural painting depicting Thotsakan (Ravana) at [[Wat Phra Kaew]], [[Thailand]].]]
In the Rin-spuns-pa Tibetan Ramayana, it is prophesied that Ravana will return as the Buddha incarnation of Vishnu in Kali Yuga.
The Arunachal Pradesh Tai Khamti Ramayana (Phra Chow Lamang) shows Rama as a Bodhisattva who was reborn so Ravana could torture him.
In the Laotian Buddhist text [[Phra Lak Phra Lam]], Rama is a Bodhisattva and the embodiment of virtues, while Ravana is a Brahmin ("''mahabrahma''") son of Virulaha who is highly materialistic.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
In the Cambodian Buddhist text [[Reamker|Preah Ream]], Buddha is an incarnation of Rama and Ravana is a rakshasa.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
In the Thai Buddhist text [[Ramakien]], Ravana is a rakshasa<ref>{{Cite book|title=Prachi Darshan|last=Vyas|first=Lallan Prasad|pages=98}}</ref> known as "Thotsakan" (ทศกัณฐ์, from Sanskrit दशकण्ठ, Daśakaṇṭha, "ten necks"), and is depicted with green skin.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}


=== Jain version ===
In the [[Karandavyuha Sutra]], [[Yama]] asks if the visitor in hell (Avalokitesvara), whom he hasn't seen yet, is a god or a demon, and whether he is Vishnu, [[Maheśvara (Buddhism)|Mahesvara]], or the rakshasa Ravana.
 
=== Jainism ===
{{Further|Salakapurusa}}
{{Further|Salakapurusa}}
[[Jain]] accounts vary from the traditional Hindu accounts of ''Ramayana''. The incidents are placed at the time of the 20th [[Tirthankara]], [[Munisuvrata]]. According to Jain version, both Rama as well as Ravana were devout Jains.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sharma |first=S.R. |year=1940 |title=Jainism and Karnataka Culture |publisher=Karnatak Historical Research Society |location=Dharwar, IN |page=76 }}</ref> Ravana was a [[Vidyadhara]] King who had magical powers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |year=2010 |title=Hinduism: An alphabetical guide |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] India |page=338 |isbn=9780143414216  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC}}</ref> Also, as per the Jain accounts, Ravana was killed by Lakshmana and not Rama in the end.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramanujan |first=A.K. |year=1991 |editor=Paula Richman |title=Many Rāmāyaṇas: The diversity of a narrative tradition in south Asia |page=35 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-07589-4 |chapter=Three hundred Rāmāyaṇas: Five examples and Three thoughts on Translation |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkifYfljHP4C}}</ref>
[[File:Jain Universal History Diorama in Jain Museum of Madhuban 44.jpg|thumb|A diorama in Jain Museum of Madhuban depicting Ravana]]
[[Jain]] accounts vary from the traditional Hindu accounts of the Ramayana. The incidents are placed at the time of the 20th [[Tirthankara]], [[Munisuvrata]]. In Jainism, both Rama and Ravana were devout Jains.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sharma |first=S.R. |year=1940 |title=Jainism and Karnataka Culture |publisher=Karnatak Historical Research Society |location=Dharwar, IN |page=76 }}</ref> Ravana was a [[Vidyadhara]] king who had magical powers,<ref>{{cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |year=2010 |title=Hinduism: An alphabetical guide |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] India |page=338 |isbn=9780143414216  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC}}</ref> and Lakshmana, not Rama, was the one who ultimately killed Ravana.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramanujan |first=A.K. |year=1991 |editor=Paula Richman |title=Many Rāmāyaṇas: The diversity of a narrative tradition in south Asia |page=35 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-07589-4 |chapter=Three hundred Rāmāyaṇas: Five examples and Three thoughts on Translation |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkifYfljHP4C}}</ref>


=== In Ayyavazhi version ===
=== Dravidian movement ===
In the [[Ayyavazhi]] version, Ravana is considered an [[Asura]], not a [[Rakshasa]].{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
[[Pulavar Kuzhanthai]]'s Ravana Kaaviyam is a [[panegyric]] on Ravana that is made up of 3,100 poetic stanzas in which Ravana is the hero. The book was released in 1946, and was subsequently banned by India's [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] led government. The ban was later lifted in 1971.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Pandian, M.S.S. |date=2 November 1998 |title=Ravana as antidote |magazine=Outlook India |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/ravana-as-antidote/206446 |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135407/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/ravana-as-antidote/206446 |archive-date=2018-01-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Nalankilli, Thanjai |date=April 2006 |title=Censorship of Dravidian voices in Tamil Nadu (India) in 1948, 1949 |magazine=Tamil Tribune |url=http://www.tamiltribune.com/06/0401.html |url-status=dead <!-- presumed --> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108182839/http://www.tamiltribune.com/06/0401.html |archive-date=8 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sivapriyan |first=E.T.B. |title=Ram Temple: Tamilians praise Ravana on ''Twitter'' |newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]] |date=5 August 2020 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/ram-temple-tamilians-praise-ravana-on-twitter-869883.html |access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref>


=== Dravidian movement ===
==In popular culture==
[[Pulavar Kuzhanthai]]'s Ravana Kaaviyam, is a [[panegyric]] on Ravana. The book is made of 3100 poetic stanzas in which Ravana is the hero. The book was released in 1946. The book was banned by the then Congress state government. The ban was lifted only in 1971.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Pandian, M.S.S. |date=2 November 1998 |title=Ravana as antidote |magazine=Outlook India |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/ravana-as-antidote/206446 |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135407/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/ravana-as-antidote/206446 |archive-date=2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Nalankilli, Thanjai |date=April 2006 |title=Censorship of Dravidian voices in Tamil Nadu (India) in 1948, 1949 |magazine=Tamil Tribune |url=http://www.tamiltribune.com/06/0401.html |url-status=dead <!-- presumed --> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108182839/http://www.tamiltribune.com/06/0401.html |archive-date=8 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sivapriyan |first=E.T.B. |title=Ram Temple: Tamilians praise Ravana on ''Twitter'' |newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]] |date=5 August 2020 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/ram-temple-tamilians-praise-ravana-on-twitter-869883.html |access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref>
Sri Lanka named its first satellite [[Raavana 1]] after Ravana.<ref>{{cite web |last=Yamunan |first=Sruthisagar |date=6 July 2019 |title=Why Sri Lanka named its first-ever satellite after Ravana |website=Scroll.in |url=https://scroll.in/article/929015/why-sri-lanka-named-its-first-ever-satellite-after-ravana |access-date=2 July 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>


Ravana is honoured in the [[Dravidian movement]] as an ancestral king and a hero, in [[Anti-Brahminism|opposition]] to Rama and perceived dominance by Brahmins and North Indians.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murali |first=Poornima |date=5 August 2020 |title=Why 'Tamil Pride Ravana' is trending on the day of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan in Ayodhya |website=News18 (news18.com) |url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/why-tamil-pride-ravana-is-trending-on-the-day-of-ram-mandir-bhumi-pujan-in-ayodhya-2760047.html |access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref> In one incident, the activist [[Periyar]] once hosted a festival to celebrate Ravana and burned statues of Rama and Sita to protest Indo-Aryan domination.<ref name="Periyar-2">{{cite web |title= About Periyar: A biographical sketch from 1950 to 1972 |publisher=Dravidar Kazhagam |url=http://www.periyar.org/html/ap_bios_eng4.asp |access-date=21 November 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226073013/http://www.periyar.org/html/ap_bios_eng4.asp |archive-date=21 November 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Ravana appears as the primary antagonist in [[Ramayana#In modern popular culture|films and television series based on the ''Ramayana'']]. Movies like ''Bhakta Ravana'' (1938) and its [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ([[Bhookailas (1940 film)|1940]] and [[Bhookailas (1958 film)|1958]]) and [[Kannada]] ([[Bhookailasa (film)|1958]]) adaptations as well as television series ''[[Raavan (TV series)|Raavan]]'' (2006-2008)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/nov/nov192.htm|title=Zee TV enters new genre with 'Ravan' on Saturdays at 9|work=Indiantelevision.com|date=16 November 2006}}</ref> are focused on the tale on Ravana. The [[Tamil language|Tamil]] film ''[[Raavanan (2010 film)|Raavanan]]'' (2010) and its [[Hindi]] counterpart ''[[Raavan (2010 film)|Raavan]]'' (2010) narrate the epic from Ravana's perspective in a modern setting.


==Depictions in popular culture==
Author [[Anand Neelakantan]] published the novel ''[[Asura: Tale of the Vanquished]]'' in 2012, in which the character Ravana is depicted as a human-like figure.
* Sri Lanka named its first satellite [[Raavana 1]] after Ravana.<ref>{{cite web |last=Yamunan |first=Sruthisagar |date=6 July 2019 |title=Why Sri Lanka named its first-ever satellite after Ravana |website=Scroll.in |url=https://scroll.in/article/929015/why-sri-lanka-named-its-first-ever-satellite-after-ravana |access-date=2 July 2020 |lang=en-US}}</ref>


=== Films ===
Author [[Amish Tripathi]]'s 2019 novel ''[[Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta]]'' chronicles the life of Ravana until the time he kidnaps [[Sita]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/amish-tripathi-s-raavan-enemy-of-aryavarta-hits-stands-119070200545_1.html|title=Amish Tripathi's 'Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta' hits stands|work=Business Standard|date=2 July 2019|accessdate=4 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/amish-tripathis-raavan-enemy-of-aryavarta-to-release-in-july/articleshow/69230605.cms|title=Amish Tripathi's 'Raavan- Enemy of Aryavarta' to release in July|work=The Times of India|date=8 May 2019|accessdate=4 July 2019}}</ref> It is the third book in Tripathi's Ram Chandra Series.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/excerpt-raavan-enemy-of-aryavarta-by-amish/story-xCkBcVXzW7hEniZaQvETxH.html|title=Excerpt: Raavan; Enemy of Aryavarta by Amish|work=Hindustan Times|date=29 June 2019|accessdate=4 July 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Title
!Played by
|-
|''[[Rambaan]]''
|Chandra Mohan
|-
|[[Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958 film)|''Sampoorna Ramayanam'']]
|[[T. K. Bhagavathi]]
|-
|''[[Sampoorna Ramayana]]''
|[[B. M. Vyas]]
|-
|''[[Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961 film)|Sita Rama Kalyanam]]''
|[[N. T. Rama Rao]]
|-
|''[[Indrajeet (Sati Sulochana)]]''
|[[S. V. Ranga Rao]]
|-
|[[Sita Kalyanam (1976 film)|''Sita Kalyanam'']]
|[[Kaikala Satyanarayana]]
|-
|[[Bajrangbali (film)|''Bajrangbali'']]
|[[Prem Nath]]
|-
|''[[Sri Rama Pattabhishekam]]''
|[[N. T. Rama Rao]]
|-
|''[[Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama]]''
|[[Amrish Puri]] (voice)
|-
|[[Ramayanam (1996 film)|''Ramayanam'']]
|[[Swathi Baalineni]]
|-
|[[Raavanan (2010 film)|''Raavanan'']]
|[[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] (Based on Ravana's character)
|-
|''[[Ramayana: The Epic]]''
|[[Ashutosh Rana]] (voice)
|-
|''[[Adipurush]]''
|[[Saif Ali Khan]]
|}


=== Television ===
Hardeep Singh portrayed him in the 2024 Hindi film ''[[Singham Again]]''.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title !! Played by!! Channel !! Country
|-
|[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|''Ramayan'']]||[[Arvind Trivedi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/arvind-trivedi-did-not-want-to-play-raavan-in-ramayan-but-this-veteran-actor-convinced-him-2586677.html|title=Arvind Trivedi Did Not Want to Play Ravan in Ramayan But This Veteran Actor Convinced Him|date=21 April 2020|website=News18}}</ref>||[[DD National]]|| rowspan="15" | [[India]]
|-
|''[[Bharat Ek Khoj]]''
|[[Om Puri]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/media/story/19880930-bharat-ek-khoj-the-making-of-most-extravagant-serial-ever-797739-1988-09-30|title=Bharat Ek Khoj: The making of most extravagant serial ever|first=Madhu|last=Jain|date=30 September 1988|website=India Today}}</ref>
|DD National
|-
|[[Jai Hanuman (1997 TV series)|''Jai Hanuman'']]
|Anil Yadav
|[[DD Metro]]
|-
|[[Vishnu Puran (TV series)|''Vishnu Puran'']]
|[[Nimai Bali]]
|Zee TV<br>DD National
|-
|[[Ramayan (2002 TV series)|''Ramayan'']]
|[[Surendra Pal]]
|[[Zee TV]]
|-
|''[[Raavan (TV series)|Raavan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/nov/nov192.htm|title=Zee TV enters new genre with 'Ravan' on Saturdays at 9|work=Indiantelevision.com|date=16 November 2006}}</ref>''
|[[Narendra Jha]]
|Zee TV
|-
|[[Ramayan (2008 TV series)|''Ramayan'']]||[[Akhilendra Mishra]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/actors-who-played-raavan-role-in-ramayan-arvind-trivedi-paras-tarun-akhilendra-sc90-nu904-ta904-ta272-1083938-1.html|title=These actors who played Raavan role in Ramayana|date=11 April 2020|website=News Track}}</ref>||[[NDTV Imagine]]
|-
|''[[Jai Jai Jai Bajrang Bali]]''
|[[Nimai Bali]]
|[[Sahara One]]
|-
|''[[Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev]]''
|[[Tarun Khanna (actor)|Tarun Khanna]]<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/ravan-number-1-why-these-actors-would-play-ravan-over-ram-anyday/articleshow/60883944.cms|title=Ravan number 1: Why these actors would play Ravan over Ram anyday|website=The Times of India}}</ref>
|[[Life OK]]
|-
|[[Ramayan (2012 TV series)|''Ramayan'']]||Sachin Tyagi||Zee TV
|-
|''[[Ramleela – Ajay Devgn Ke Saath]]''
|[[Aman Verma (actor)|Aman Verma]]
|Life OK
|-
|''[[Siya Ke Ram]]''||[[Karthik Jayaram]]<ref name="auto1" />||[[Star Plus]]
|-
|''[[Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan]]''
|[[Aarya Babbar]] / [[Saurav Gurjar]]
|[[Sony Entertainment Television]]
|-
|''[[Vighnaharta Ganesha]]''
|[[Paras Chhabra]]<ref name="auto" />
|Sony Entertainment Television
|-
|''[[Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush]]''||[[Shalin Bhanot]]||[[Colors TV]]
|-
|[[Ravana (TV Derana)|''Ravana'']]||[[Januka Rajapaksha]]||[[TV Derana]]||Sri Lanka
|}


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Asura]]
* {{anl|Asura}}
* [[Daitya]]
* {{anl|Bull Demon King}}
* [[Danava (Hinduism)]]
* {{anl|Daitya}}
* [[Raksasa]]
* {{anl|Danava (Hinduism)}}
* {{anl|Keibu Keioiba}}
* {{anl|Rakshasa}}


==Footnotes==
==References==
{{notelist}}
 
==References==  
{{reflist|25em}}
{{reflist|25em}}


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* {{cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy |author-link=Wendy Doniger |year=1993 |title=Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and transformation in Hindu and Jaina texts |publisher=[[SUNY Press]] |isbn=9780791413814  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-kZFzHCuiFAC |via=Google Books}}
* {{cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy |author-link=Wendy Doniger |year=1993 |title=Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and transformation in Hindu and Jaina texts |publisher=[[SUNY Press]] |isbn=9780791413814  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-kZFzHCuiFAC |via=Google Books}}
* {{cite book |last=Udayakumar |first=S.P. |year=2005 |title=Presenting the Past: Anxious history and ancient future in Hindutva India |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group}}
* {{cite book |last=Udayakumar |first=S.P. |year=2005 |title=Presenting the Past: Anxious history and ancient future in Hindutva India |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group}}


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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ravana}}
{{Commons category|Rāvaṇa}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}


* {{cite web |title=Rawana the Historical King of Heladiwa |website=Ramayana Research |url=http://www.ramayanaresearch.com/rawana.html  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708195310/http://www.ramayanaresearch.com/rawana.html |archive-date=2013-07-08}}
* {{cite web |title=Rawana the Historical King of Heladiwa |website=Ramayana Research |url=http://www.ramayanaresearch.com/rawana.html  |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708195310/http://www.ramayanaresearch.com/rawana.html |archive-date=2013-07-08}}


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
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[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Danavas]]
[[Category:Danavas]]
[[Category:Evil deities]]
[[Category:Demons in Hinduism]]
[[Category:People whose existence is disputed]]
[[Category:Evil gods]]
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Legendary monarchs]]
[[Category:Rakshasa in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Rakshasa in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Salakapurusa]]
[[Category:Salakapurusa]]
[[Category:Legendary creatures with supernumerary body parts]]
[[Category:Sinhalese Buddhist deities]]

Latest revision as of 19:42, 20 March 2026


Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Ravan (disambiguation).
Ravana
Illustration depicting Ravana, circa 1920
Devanagariरावण
Sanskrit transliterationRāvaṇa
AffiliationShaivism, Lanka, Rakshasa
PredecessorKubera (King of Lanka)
SuccessorVibhishana (King of Lanka)
AbodeLanka
MountPushpaka Vimana
TextsRamayana and its versions
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Ravana (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is the principal antagonist of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana and its several other versions. He is traditionally depicted as a ten-headed rakshasa (demon) king of Lanka (present-day Sri Lanka).[2][3][4] In the Ramayana, Ravana is described as the eldest son of sage Vishrava and Kaikasi. He abducted Rama's wife, Sita, and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her in the Ashoka Vatika.[5] Rama, with the support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanaras, launched a rescue operation for Sita against Ravana in Lanka. Ravana was subsequently slain, and Rama rescued his beloved wife Sita.[6][7]

Ravana was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas, including the Shiva Tandava Stotra.[8] Ravana is also considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva. Images of Ravana are often seen associated with Shiva at temples. He also appears in the Buddhist Mahayana text Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, in Buddhist Jatakas, as well as in Jain Ramayanas. In Vaishnava scriptures, he is depicted as one of Vishnu's cursed doorkeepers.[9]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Statue of Ravana, South India, 18th century CE, British Museum

The word Rāvaṇa (Sanskrit: रावण) means "Roaring" (active), the opposite of Vaiśravaṇa which means to "hear distinctly" (passive).[10][11] Both Ravana and Vaiśravaṇa, who is commonly known as Kubera, are considered to be patronymics derived from "sons of Vishrava".[10][11][12][13]

Dashānana was a title later taken on by Ravana, and it means "the one with ten (dasha) Heads (anana)". Further, roravana is Sanskrit for "loud roaring." In Abhinava Gupta's Krama Shaiva scripture, yāsām rāvanam is used as an expression to mean people who are truly aware of the materialism of their environment.[citation needed]

Ravana is also known by several other names including Dasis Ravana, Dasis Sakvithi Maha Ravana, Dashaanan, Ravula, Lankapati, Lankeshwara, Ravanasura and Ravanaeshwara.[14]

Iconography[edit | edit source]

Ravana is depicted and described as having ten heads, although he is sometimes shown with only nine heads since he cut one off to convince Shiva.[15] He is described as a devout follower of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler, and a maestro of the Veena. Ravana is also depicted as the author of the Ravana Samhita, a book on Hindu astrology, and the Arka Prakasham, a book on Siddha medicine and treatment. Ravana possessed a thorough knowledge of Siddha and political science. In some later versions, he is said to have possessed the nectar of immortality, which was stored inside his belly thanks to a celestial boon from Brahma. In the War with Lord Rama, Ravana was killed by a powerful Brahma's weapon shot by Rama which was gifted to Rama by Sage Agstya.[16][page needed]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Birth[edit | edit source]

Painting depicting Ravana cutting off Jatayu's wing while abducting Sita, by Raja Ravi Varma

Ravana was born to the Brahmin sage Vishrava and the Daitya princess Kaikasi in Treta Yuga.[17][18] Villagers from Bisrakh in Uttar Pradesh claim that Bisrakh was named after Vishrava, and that Ravana was born there.[19]

Ravana's paternal grandfather, the sage Pulastya,[20] was one of the ten Prajapatis, or mind-born sons of Brahma, and one of the Saptarishi (seven great sages) in the first Manvantara (age of Manu). His maternal grandfather was Sumali (or Sumalaya), the king of the Rakshasas and the son of Sukesha. Sumali had ten sons and four daughters. Sumali wished for Kaikasi to marry the most powerful being in the mortal world, so as to produce an exceptional heir. He rejected the kings of the world, as they were less powerful than him. Kaikasi searched among the sages and finally chose Vishrava, the father of Kubera. Ravana and his siblings were born to the couple and they completed their education from their father, with Ravana being a great scholar of the Vedas.[citation needed]

Boon from Brahma[edit | edit source]

Ravana and his two brothers, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana, performed penance on Mount Gokarna for 10,000 years and won boons from Brahma. Ravana was blessed with a boon that would make him invincible to all the creations of Brahma, except for humans.[21] He also received weapons, a chariot, as well as the ability to shapeshift from Brahma.[citation needed] According to the Ramayana, demigods approached Brahma since Ravana was causing harm on Earth. Lord Vishnu appeared and gave blessings that Rama would incarnate as a human and kill Ravana since his invincibility boon did not include humans.[22]

Devotee of Shiva[edit | edit source]

See also: Ravananugraha
Ravananugraha theme

One of the most popular images of Shiva is called "Ravananugraha", which was popular in the Gupta era. It depicts Ravana beneath Mount Kailash playing a veena made out of his head and hands, and strings made out of his tendons, while Shiva and Parvati sit on top of the mountain.[23][full citation needed] According to scriptures, Ravana once tried to lift Mount Kailash, but Shiva pushed the mountain into place and trapped Ravana beneath it. For a thousand years, the imprisoned Ravana sang Shiva Tandava Stotra, a hymn in praise of Shiva, who finally blessed him and granted him an invincible sword and a powerful linga (Shiva's iconic symbol, Atmalinga) to worship. But this incident has little to no evidence in Valmiki Ramayana.[23][24]

Family[edit | edit source]

Queen Mandodari and the women of Lanka mourning the death of Ravana. Bas-relief of 9th century from Prambanan Temple, Java, Indonesia

Ravana's parents were the sage Vishrava (son of Pulastya) and Kaikesi (daughter of Sumali and Ketumati). Ravana had seventeen maternal uncles and three maternal aunts. Dhumraksha, Prahastha, Akampana, Vajramushti, Suparshwa and Virupaksha, a few of his maternal uncles, were generals in the Lanka army. The other grandsons of Sumali, through his other daughters, namely Khara, Dushana, Mahodara, and Mahaparshwa were equally powerful lieutenants in Ravana’s army, and given the first two were responsible to govern the territories of Janasthana. Kaikesi's father, Sumali and uncle, Malyavan were instrumental in making Ravana the king of Lanka by advising him to receive boons from Brahma, defeat Kubera, and establish rakshasa rule in the three worlds.[25]

Ravana's granduncle was Malyavan, who opposed the war with Rama and Lakshmana. He also had another granduncle named Mali who was killed by Vishnu.[25]

According to Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, Ravana had over a thousand wives, with Mandodari, the daughter of the celestial architect Maya, being his chief queen.[1] His sons were Meghanada, Atikaya, Akshayakumara, Narantaka, Devantaka and Trishira.

Priestly ministers[edit | edit source]

In some accounts, Ravana is said to have had Shukracharya, the priest of the Asuras, as his minister, and in other accounts, Brihaspati, the priest of the Devas.[citation needed]

One account narrates how Ravana ordered Brihaspati to recite the Chandi stava (mantras of Chandi), more specifically the Devi Mahatmya, in order to stave off defeat. According to the Krttivasa text, Ravana arranged for a peaceful yajna, and invited Brihaspati to start the recitation of Chandi.[26][full citation needed]

Ravana in Sanskrit drama of Kerala, India- Kutiyattam. Artist: Guru Nātyāchārya Māni Mādhava Chākyār[27]

Other legends[edit | edit source]

Vishnu's cursed doorkeeper[edit | edit source]

In the Bhagavata Purana, Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna are said to be reincarnations of Jaya and Vijaya, gatekeepers at Vaikuntha (the abode of Vishnu), and were cursed to be born on Earth for their insolence.[28]

These gatekeepers refused entry to the Sanatha Kumara monks who, because of their powers and austerity, appeared as young children. For their insolence, the monks cursed them to be expelled from Vaikuntha and to be born on Earth.[9][28]

Vishnu agreed that they should be punished and gave them two options. First, that they could be born seven times as normal mortals and devotees of Vishnu, or be born three times as strong and powerful beings, but as enemies of Vishnu. Eager to be back with the Lord, they chose the latter option. The curse of the first birth was fulfilled by Hiranyakashipu and his brother Hiranyaksha in Satya Yuga, when they were both vanquished by earlier avatars of Vishnu (Hiranyaksha by Varaha, and Hiranyakashipu by Narasimha). Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna were born to fulfill the curse in their second birth as enemies of Vishnu in Treta Yuga. The curse of the third birth was fulfilled by Dantavakra and Shishupala in the Dvapara Yuga, when they both were slain by Krishna, the eighth avatar.[9]

Other conflicts[edit | edit source]

Ravana had fought with the demons named Nivatakavacha along with his army for an entire year but was unable to kill them due to Brahma's boon. The war was stopped by Brahma and Ravana formed an alliance with them, he learnt several magical tricks or maya from those demons.[29]

Ravana had defeated the vanara warriors namely Hanuman, Sugriva, Neela and even Rama's brother Lakshmana twice during his war with Rama.[29] As per the original six books of Valmiki Ramayana, only lord Rama the incarnation of Vishnu defeated Ravana and killed him after several days of single duel.

He killed Anaranya, the king of Ayodhya, although he cursed Ravana to be slain by Rama.

Ravana had wrestled his brother Kubera and vanquished him for the Pushpaka Vimana.

Immolation of Vedavati[edit | edit source]

Ravana found Vedavati sitting in meditation as a tapasvini and was captivated by her beauty. He proposed his hand in marriage to her, and was rejected. Ravana, firmly rejected at every turn, grabbed her hair and tried assaulting her.[30] The furious Vedavati cursed Ravana that she would be born once more, and would be the cause of his death.[31] She subsequently leapt into the ritual havan that was present in her vicinity, immolating herself.[32]

Rape of Rambha[edit | edit source]

Ravana is regarded to have once caught sight of the apsara Rambha and was filled with lust. Even as the apsara resisted his advances by asserting that she was his daughter-in-law, he raped her. When she reported this to her husband, Nalakuvara, he cursed Ravana to be unable to cause violence to any woman who did not consent to being with him, his head splitting into a number of pieces if he did so. This incident is stated to explain why Ravana could not force the abducted Sita to submit to his desire.[33][34]

Worship and temples[edit | edit source]

Thotsakan (Ravana)'s sculpture as a guardian of Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand

Worship[edit | edit source]

Ravana is worshipped as one of Shiva's most revered followers,[35] and he is even worshipped in some Shiva temples.[35][36][37]

King Shiv Shankar built a Ravana temple in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Ravana temple is open once a year, on the day of Dashera, to perform puja for the welfare of Ravana.[38]

Ravana is also worshipped by Hindus of Bisrakh, who claim their town to be his birthplace.[39]

The Sachora Brahmins of Gujarat claim to be descendants of Ravana, and sometimes have "Ravan" as their surnames.[40]

Saraswat Brahmins from Mathura claim Ravana as a saraswat Brahmin as per his lineage.[41][42]

The Gondi people of central India claim to be descendants of Ravana, and have temples for him, his wife Mandodari, and their son Meghnad. They also state that Ravana was an ancient Gond king, the tenth dharmaguru of their tribe, and the eighteenth lingo (divine teacher). Annually on Dussehra, the Gondis from the village of Paraswadi carry an image of Ravana riding on an elephant in a procession.[43]

Temples[edit | edit source]

The following temples in India are for Ravana as a Shiva Bhakta.

  • Dashanan Temple, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh[44]
  • Ravana Temple, Bisrakh, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh[44]
  • Kakinada Ravana Temple, Andhra Pradesh[44]
  • Ravangram Ravana Temple, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh[44]
  • Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh[44]
  • Mandore Ravan Temple, Jodhpur[45]
  • Baijanath Temple, Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh[45]
  • Ravaleshwara temple- Malavalli, mandya district of Karnataka

Influence on culture and art[edit | edit source]

Ravana with Hanuman in tholu bommalata, a shadow puppet tradition of Andhra Pradesh, India

Ravana-Dahan (burning effigy of Ravana)[edit | edit source]

An effigy of Ravana with burning sparklers on Dusshera. Dashehra Diwali Mela in Manchester, England, 2006

Effigies of Ravana are burned on Vijayadashami in many places throughout India to symbolize Rama's triumph over evil.[46]

Ravanahatha[edit | edit source]

According to mythology, the ravanahatha, an ancient bowed string instrument, was created by Ravana and is still used as a Rajasthani folk instrument.[47]

In other religions[edit | edit source]

Mural painting depicting Thotsakan (Ravana) at Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand.

In the Rin-spuns-pa Tibetan Ramayana, it is prophesied that Ravana will return as the Buddha incarnation of Vishnu in Kali Yuga.

The Arunachal Pradesh Tai Khamti Ramayana (Phra Chow Lamang) shows Rama as a Bodhisattva who was reborn so Ravana could torture him.

In the Laotian Buddhist text Phra Lak Phra Lam, Rama is a Bodhisattva and the embodiment of virtues, while Ravana is a Brahmin ("mahabrahma") son of Virulaha who is highly materialistic.[citation needed]

In the Cambodian Buddhist text Preah Ream, Buddha is an incarnation of Rama and Ravana is a rakshasa.[citation needed]

In the Thai Buddhist text Ramakien, Ravana is a rakshasa[48] known as "Thotsakan" (ทศกัณฐ์, from Sanskrit दशकण्ठ, Daśakaṇṭha, "ten necks"), and is depicted with green skin.[citation needed]

In the Karandavyuha Sutra, Yama asks if the visitor in hell (Avalokitesvara), whom he hasn't seen yet, is a god or a demon, and whether he is Vishnu, Mahesvara, or the rakshasa Ravana.

Jainism[edit | edit source]

Further information: Salakapurusa
A diorama in Jain Museum of Madhuban depicting Ravana

Jain accounts vary from the traditional Hindu accounts of the Ramayana. The incidents are placed at the time of the 20th Tirthankara, Munisuvrata. In Jainism, both Rama and Ravana were devout Jains.[49] Ravana was a Vidyadhara king who had magical powers,[50] and Lakshmana, not Rama, was the one who ultimately killed Ravana.[51]

Dravidian movement[edit | edit source]

Pulavar Kuzhanthai's Ravana Kaaviyam is a panegyric on Ravana that is made up of 3,100 poetic stanzas in which Ravana is the hero. The book was released in 1946, and was subsequently banned by India's Congress led government. The ban was later lifted in 1971.[52][53][54]

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

Sri Lanka named its first satellite Raavana 1 after Ravana.[55]

Ravana appears as the primary antagonist in films and television series based on the Ramayana. Movies like Bhakta Ravana (1938) and its Telugu (1940 and 1958) and Kannada (1958) adaptations as well as television series Raavan (2006-2008)[56] are focused on the tale on Ravana. The Tamil film Raavanan (2010) and its Hindi counterpart Raavan (2010) narrate the epic from Ravana's perspective in a modern setting.

Author Anand Neelakantan published the novel Asura: Tale of the Vanquished in 2012, in which the character Ravana is depicted as a human-like figure.

Author Amish Tripathi's 2019 novel Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta chronicles the life of Ravana until the time he kidnaps Sita.[57][58] It is the third book in Tripathi's Ram Chandra Series.[59]

Hardeep Singh portrayed him in the 2024 Hindi film Singham Again.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kant, Anjani (2008). Women and the Law. APH Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7648-456-5.
  2. ↑ Wheeler, James Talboys (1869). The History of India from the Earliest Ages. Vol. II The Rámáyana and the Vedic period. N. Trubner & Co. p. 281.
  3. ↑ Brown, Nathan Robert (2 August 2011). The Mythology of Supernatural: The signs and symbols behind the popular TV show. Berkley Boulevard books, Newwork. ISBN 9781101517529. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Justin W. Henry, Ravana's Kingdom: The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below, Oxford University Press, p.3
  5. ↑ "Sunderkand explanation" (PDF). sunderkandsatsangsamuh.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  6. ↑ Das, Subhamoy. "The Ramayana". Learn Religions. Retrieved 12 May 2020. Summary by Stephen Knapp
  7. ↑ "Ravana". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  8. ↑ Vālmīki; Menon, Ramesh (26 May 2004). The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-86547-695-0.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Pankaj, Bhavana (31 July 2019). "Where Ravana is Vishnu's true Bhakta". The Statesman. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Aiyangar Narayan (1909) "Essays On Indo-Aryan Mythology-Vol.", p.413
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Cologne Scan". sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de.
  12. ↑ The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Ayodhyākāṇḍa. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. 25 April 2007. p. 30. ISBN 9788120831636 – via Google Books.
  13. ↑ Hopkins, Edward Washburn (1915). Epic Mythology. Strassburg, DE: K.J. Trübner. p. 142.
  14. ↑ "10 Names of Ravana". LifeStalker. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "When Ravana tore his head and a hand to apologize to Lord Shiva". Mensxp. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  16. ↑ Valmiki. Ramayana. Tulsidas. Vibhishana, Lanka Kanda; Samvaad, Rama (eds.). Ramcharitmanas.
  17. ↑ Etteth, Ravi Shankar (4 March 2024). The Brahmin. Westland. ISBN 978-93-5776-137-6.
  18. ↑ Shastri, Jagdish Lal; Kunst, Arnold (1986). Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology: Brahma Purāṇa. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 164. ISBN 978-81-208-0271-1.
  19. ↑ Dutta, Prabhash K. (10 October 2016). "Did you know? Ravana was born in Greater Noida West". India Today. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  20. ↑ Rajarajan, R.K.K. (2018). "Woven Threads of the Rāmāyaṇa The Early Āḻvārs on Brahmā and Rāvaṇa". Romanian Journal of Indian Studies. 2: 9–45.
  21. ↑ Manglik, Reshu (29 September 2017). "Happy Dussehra 2017: 11 important facts to know about Ravana, primary antagonist of epic Ramayana". India TV. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  22. ↑ Rosen, Steven (2006). Essential Hinduism. Westport, Conn.: Praeger. pp. 68–69. ISBN 0-275-99006-0. OCLC 70775665.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Kala pp. 38–42
  24. ↑ Rathore, Vinod. "Know the unique story of Ravana's devotion to Shiva". News Track. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Mittal, J.P. (2006). History of Ancient India (a new version: From 7300 BC to 4250 BC. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 200. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4.
  26. ↑ Nagar, Shanti Lal. Genesis and Evolution of the Rāma Kathā in Indian Art, Thought, Literature, and Culture: From the earliest period to modern times. Vol. 2.
  27. ↑ Chākyār, Māni Mādhava (1996). Nātyakalpadrumam. New Delhi, IN: Sangeet Natak Akademi. p. 6.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Ninan, M.M. (23 June 2008). The Development of Hinduism. Madathil Mammen Ninan. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-4382-2820-4.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Valmiki Ramayana". www.valmikiramayan.net. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  30. ↑ The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume VI: Yuddhakāṇḍa. Princeton University Press. 24 January 2017. p. 907. ISBN 978-0-691-17398-6.
  31. ↑ Gupta, Stuti (10 November 2020). Magical Mythology. Sristhi Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-947908-6-0.
  32. ↑ Gupta, Stuti (10 November 2020). Magical Mythology. Sristhi Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-947908-6-0.
  33. ↑ Doniger, Wendy (March 2014). On Hinduism. OUP USA. p. 535. ISBN 978-0-19-936007-9.
  34. ↑ Vālmīki (2007). The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Araṇyakāṇḍa. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 393. ISBN 978-81-208-3164-3.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Ravana has his temples, too". Spectrum. The Sunday Tribune. 21 October 2007.
  36. ↑ Vachaspati, S. (2005). Ravana Brahma. Tenali, India: Rudrakavi Sahitya Peetham, Gandhi Nagar.
  37. ↑ Dave, Kamalesh Kumar (2008). Dashanan (in Hindi). Jodhpur, India: Akshaya Jyotish Anusandan Kendra.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  38. ↑ Siddiqui, Faiz (10 October 2016). "A temple where demon king has his day". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  39. ↑ "Only the elderly come to mourn Ravana in 'birthplace' Bisrakh". The Indian Express. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  40. ↑ People of India. Vol. 4: A–G. Oxford University Press. p. 3061.
  41. ↑ "Mathura lawyer seeks ban on burning of Ravana effigies". The Indian Express. 26 September 2017.
  42. ↑ Qureshi, Siraj (12 October 2016). "A Dussehra without burning Ravana: This Brahmin community in Agra wants an end to practice". India Today.
  43. ↑ Rashid, Omar (24 October 2015). "Celebrating Ravan". The Hindu.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 "Five temples of Ravana in India where demon king is worshipped". India TV. 11 October 2016.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Unique Ravana temples in India". Travel guide. Native Planet. 27 April 2018.
  46. ↑ "Dussehra 2018: What is the significance Of Ravana Dahan?". Dehli news. NDTV.com. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  47. ↑ "Sri Lankan revives Ravana's musical instrument". The Island. Sri Lanka. 9 March 2008.
  48. ↑ Vyas, Lallan Prasad. Prachi Darshan. p. 98.
  49. ↑ Sharma, S.R. (1940). Jainism and Karnataka Culture. Dharwar, IN: Karnatak Historical Research Society. p. 76.
  50. ↑ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An alphabetical guide. Penguin Books India. p. 338. ISBN 9780143414216.
  51. ↑ Ramanujan, A.K. (1991). "Three hundred Rāmāyaṇas: Five examples and Three thoughts on Translation". In Paula Richman (ed.). Many Rāmāyaṇas: The diversity of a narrative tradition in south Asia. University of California Press. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-520-07589-4.
  52. ↑ Pandian, M.S.S. (2 November 1998). "Ravana as antidote". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  53. ↑ Nalankilli, Thanjai (April 2006). "Censorship of Dravidian voices in Tamil Nadu (India) in 1948, 1949". Tamil Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018.
  54. ↑ Sivapriyan, E.T.B. (5 August 2020). "Ram Temple: Tamilians praise Ravana on Twitter". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  55. ↑ Yamunan, Sruthisagar (6 July 2019). "Why Sri Lanka named its first-ever satellite after Ravana". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  56. ↑ "Zee TV enters new genre with 'Ravan' on Saturdays at 9". Indiantelevision.com. 16 November 2006.
  57. ↑ "Amish Tripathi's 'Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta' hits stands". Business Standard. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  58. ↑ "Amish Tripathi's 'Raavan- Enemy of Aryavarta' to release in July". The Times of India. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  59. ↑ "Excerpt: Raavan; Enemy of Aryavarta by Amish". Hindustan Times. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.

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Preceded by
Kubera 		Emperor of Lanka Succeeded by
Vibhisana
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