Ravana This page contains Indic text . Without rendering support , you may see irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts . More ... A dipiction of Ravana , Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hindu mythology , Ravana ( Devanagari : रावण , IAST Rāvaṇa ; sometimes transliterated Raavana and as Ravan ) is the principal antagonist of the Hindu epic , the Ramayana . According to Ramayana , he was a king of Lanka many thousands of years ago . Ravana is depicted in art with up to ten heads , signifying that he had knowledge spanning all the ten directions . His ten heads also earned him the name `` Dasamukha '' ( The ten-faced ) and `` Dasagriva '' ( The ten-headed ) Although the stories tell of a person with 10 heads , it can be translated to someone capable of doing 10 men 's work . Taking into consideration , the thinking ability of the king , who is said to have made a prosperous land during his time . The myths tell of a wagon which flew by air , named `` Dandu-Monara '' . Still , the location names in Sri Lanka match to the description of a landing zone of such a vehicle , `` Wariyapola '' , ( The place where airborne carriages land ) is one such place , which has contuors of a plateu , ideal for landing an airplane . Birth Ravana was born to the sage known as Vishrava . His mother was the Asura princess Kaikesi . Kaikesi 's father , Sumali wished her 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 their power was less than his . Kaikesi searched among the sages , and finally chose Vishrava . Vishrava warned her that as she approached him at an inappropriate time , their children would be evil , but accepted her nevertheless . As such , Ravana was partly asura , and partly Brahmin . Ravana was the eldest of Kaikesi 's children , given the name Dasagriva at birth - he was born with ten heads . His brothers were Kumbhakarna and Vibheeshana . Through his mother , he was related to the demons Maricha and Subahu . Kaikesi also produced a daughter , Shoorpanakha . His father Vishrava noted that while he was aggressive and arrogant as an individual , he was also an exceptional and exemplary scholar . Under his ( Vishrava's ) tutelage , Ravana masters the Vedas and the holy books and also the arts and ways of Kshatriyas . Penance Following his training , Ravana decided to augment his abilities so as to be undefeatable . He performed a great penance to the god Brahma , a penance that lasted several thousand years . Brahma appeared before him , offering him a boon . Ravana initially requested immortality , which Brahma refused . Ravana then asked for supreme invulnerability and invincibility when facing gods and celestials , other demons , serpents and wild beasts . In his contempt for humans ( mortals ) , he did not ask for protection from them . Brahma gave him this boon , and additionally granted him great power by way of sorcery and knowledge of divine weapons . King of Lanka After winning these boons , Ravana seeks out his grandfather , Sumali the demon king of the Netherworld , and assumes leadership over his army . He then sets his sights on Lanka . Lanka belonged to Ravana 's half-brother Kubera , the treasurer of the Gods . Kubera was the son of Vishrava , and had generously shared all that he owned with Kaikesi 's children . Ravana however , demanded Lanka wholly from his brother , and threatened to take it by force . Vishrava advised Kubera to give it up to him , as he was now undefeatable . While Ravana usurped Lanka to begin with , he was nevertheless regarded as a benevolent and effective ruler . Lanka flourished under his rule - it is said the poorest of houses had vessels of gold to eat and drink off , and hunger was unknown in the kingdom . Devotee of Shiva Following his conquest of Lanka , Ravana encounters Lord Shiva at his abode in Kailash . Unknowingly , Ravana attempts to uproot and move the mountain on a whim . Shiva , annoyed by Ravana 's pride and arrogance , merely presses his little toe on Kailash , pins him firmly ( and painfully ) under the same . His ganas inform Ravana of whom he has crossed , upon which Ravana becomes penitent . He composes and sings songs praising Shiva , and is said to have done so for several years , till Shiva releases him from his bondage . Pleased with his bravery and devotion , Shiva grants him further strength , culminating in his gifting him the Chandrahas ( Moon-blade ) , an immensely powerful sword . Ravana in turn became a lifelong devotee of Lord Shiva . Ravana is known for his dance worship Shiva Tandava Stotra ( a form of Stuti ) to lord Shiva.Ravana was a great scholar Emperor of the Three Worlds His abilities now truly awe-inspiring , Ravana proceeds on a series of campaigns , conquering humans , celestials and other demons . Conquering the netherworld completely , he leaves his son Ahiravana as king . He becomes supreme overlord of all asuras in the three worlds , making an alliance with the Nivatakavachas and Kalakeyas ( two clans he is unable to subdue ) . Conquering several kingdoms of the human world , he performs the suitable sacrifices and is crowned Emperor . When his brother Kuvera rebukes him for his cruelty Ravana is severly angered . Proceeding to the heavens , he fights and defeats the gods , singling Kuvera out for particular humiliation . By force he gains command over the gods , celestials and the serpent races . At the time of the Ramayana , several years later , Ravana is shown as dominating all human and divine races - so much so that he can command the Sun as to his rising and setting . Women Ravana was known for his virility as well as his aggressive conquests of women . Ravana had several wives , foremost of whom was Mandodari ( she got her name from Mandore , jodhpur her parents ruled Mandore ) - daughter of Mayasura and an apsara . Mandodari was renowned for her wisdom and grace as well as beauty . In addition to his wives , Ravana maintained a harem of incredible size , populated with women whom he captured in his many conquests . Ravana forced himself upon any woman who rejected his advances . Two significant encounters occurred that would shape the course of the Ramayana . The first was the molestation of the sage-woman Vedavati . Vedavati had been performing penance with the intention of winning Lord Vishnu for a husband . Ravana met her at her hermitage , her beauty enhanced by the austerities she had performed . She , however , rejected his advances . Ravana proceeded to forcibly take her , upon which she prophecied that she would return to the mortal world as the cause of his death . She then created a pyre and let herself be consumed in it . She was re-born as Sita , thus becoming Vishnu 's ( as Rama ) wife , and the cause of Ravana 's defeat . The other was the molestation of the apsara ( celestial dancing girl ) Rambha , who turned out to be betrothed to Kuvera 's son . Ravana was enamoured of her , and not even this plea deterred him . Kuvera 's son then cursed Ravana 's heads to fall off , if ever he forced himself on any woman . This curse is said to have kept Sita chaste , while she was Ravana 's captive for nearly a year . Assessment Some , however , regard Ravana as having been a wise and benevolent ruler . Another opposing argument can also state that even tyrants may have some good qualities but their overall character is bad . The notion of Ravana as good is a contested argument . In fact , the view of him as good may only be a recent movement , for political reasons . Nevertheless , from puranic sources , Ravana was a great devotee of Shiva and is supposed to have composed the Shiva Tandava Stotra . His actions and behaviour , as told in the Ramayana , though , show that `` piety without virtue is useless '' . The poem 's characterisation of Ravana serves as an example of the dangers of lust and ego . The Ayya Vazhi religion , a sect of Hinduism in Tamil Nadu believes that Ravana is indeed a manifestation of evil and goes even further . First , the followers of Ayyavazhi differ from other Hindus in that they recognise a Satan-like figure , Kroni , who is the primordial manifestation of evil in this world . This same Kroni manifests in various forms , for example , Ravana and Duryodhana , in different ages or yugas . In response to such manifestations of evil , God as Vishnu incarnates in his avatars , Rama , Krishna , etc. , to destroy this evil . Kroni , the spirit of Kali Yuga is said to be omnipresent in this age and that is why one of the reasons , followers of Ayya Vazhi , like other Hindus , believe that the current yuga , Kali Yuga is so degraded . In Scriptures The Ramayana is not the only religious scripture that views Ravana as evil . In the Bhagavata Purana , Ravana and his brother , Kumbakarna were said to be reincarnations of Jaya and Vijaya , gatekeepers at Vaikunta , the abode of Vishnu and were cursed to be born in Earth for their insolence . 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 Vaikunta and to be born in Earth . The all-merciful Vishnu agreed that they should be punished but agreed to mitigate their curse . He asked them whether they would want to be undergo seven births as devotees of Vishnu or three births as enemies of the Lord . Since they wanted to get back as soon as possible , they agreed to be born in three births as enemies of God . In the first birth , Jaya and Vijaya were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha . Vishnu incarnated as Varaha and Narasimha and killed them both . In Treta Yuga they were b orn as Ravana and Kumbhakarna and were killed by Rama . Then in Dwapara yuga , and in their final birth , Jaya and Vijaya they were born as Shishupala and Dantavakra and killed by Sri Krishna . After the end of three births , they returned to Vaikunta . Ravana 's family This section deals with many members of Ravana 's family . Since they are hardly mentioned outside the Ramayana , not much can be said about them . They are presented here as they are in the Ramayana , which is viewed by some as being only the point of view of Rama devotees , but is the most complete account of the story that is known . Ravana was married to Mandodari , the daughter of the celestial architect Maya . He had seven sons : Indrajit Prahasta Atikaya Akshayakumara Devantaka Narantaka Trishira Ravana 's paternal grandfather was Pulastya , son of Brahma . Ravana 's maternal grandfather was Malyavan , who was against the war with Rama , and his maternal grandmother was Tataka . Ravana also had a maternal uncle , Maricha . Ravana had six brothers and two sisters : Kubera - the King of Uttaradisha and the Guardian of Heavenly Wealth . He was an older step-brother of Ravana : they were born to the same father by different mothers . He gave a curse to Ravana , that if he raped another women , he would die that instant . Vibhishana - A great follower of Rama and one of the most important characters in the Ramayan . He was exiled by his brother , Ravana for supporting Rama and opposing the abduction of Sita . During the battle , he sided with Rama and provided him with insights which ultimately led Rama win the war . Kumbhakarna - one of the most jovial demons in Hindu mythology . When offered a boon by Brahma , he was tricked into asking for unending sleep ! A horrified Ravana , who wanted to be able to avail of Kumbakarna 's immense strength , persuaded Brahma to amend the so-called boon and grant that Kumbhakarna be granted a day of wakefulness every six months . Khara - King of Janasthan . He protected the southern kingdom of Lanka in the mainland and his kingdom bordered with the Kosala Kingdom , the kingdom of Rama . He was well-known for his superior skills in warfare . Dushana - Viceroy of Janasthan . Ahiravan - made king of the Underworld ruled by the rakshasas by Ravana and Demon King Maya . Kumbhini - the sister of Ravana and the wife of the demon Madhu , King of Mathura , she was the mother of Lavanasura . She was renowned for her beauty and later retired to the sea for penance . Surpanakha - the evil sister of Ravana . She was the ultimate root of the kidnapping of Sita Devi . She was the one who instigated her brothers to wage a war against Rama . 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