Ravana

Important figure in the Hindu epic Ramayana

"Ravan" redirects here. For other uses, see Ravan (disambiguation).

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Ravana

File:Ravana British Museum.jpg

Sculpture of Ravana from the 18th century CE

Devanagari| रावण
Sanskrit transliteration| Rāvaṇa
Affiliation| The King of Lanka, Rakshasa
Predecessor| Kubera (King of Lanka)
Successor| Vibhishana (King of Lanka)
Abode| Lanka
Mount| Pushpaka chariot
Texts| Ramayana and its versions
Personal information
Parents|

* Vishrava (father)
* Kaikashi (mother)

Siblings| Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, Khara, Ahiravana, Dushana, Shurpanakha
Spouse|

* Mandodari
* Dhanyamalini

Children| Indrajit, Atikaya, Akshayakumara, Narantaka, Devantaka, Trishira

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Ravana (/ˈrɑːvənə/;[1] Sanskrit: रावण, IAST: Rāvaṇa, pronounced [ˈraːʋɐɳɐ]) is a rakshasa (a demonic creature in Hindu mythology) king[2] of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana and its adaptations.[3][4]

In the Ramayana, Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and 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.[5] 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.[6][7]

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 shastras and the four Vedas.[citation needed] 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 Ramayanas and Jatakas, as well as in Jain Ramayanas. In some scriptures, he is depicted as one of Vishnu's cursed doorkeepers.[8]

## Contents

* 1 Etymology
* 2 Iconography
* 3 Life and legends
* 3.1 Birth
* 3.2 Boon of Ravana
* 3.3 Devotee of Shiva
* 3.4 Family
* 3.5 Priestly ministers
* 4 Other legends
* 4.1 As Vishnu's cursed doorkeeper
* 4.2 Conflict with other kings and Asuras
* 5 Worship and temples
* 5.1 Worship
* 5.2 Temples
* 6 Influence on culture and art
* 6.1 Ravana-Dahan (burning effigy of Ravana)
* 6.2 Ravanahatha
* 7 In other religions
* 7.1 Jain version
* 7.2 Dravidian movement
* 8 Depictions in popular culture
* 8.1 Films
* 8.2 Television
* 9 See also
* 10 Footnotes
* 11 References
* 12 Bibliography
* 13 External links

## Etymology[edit | edit source]

File:Ravanan - King of Lanka.jpg

Statue of Ravana at Koneswaram Hindu Temple, Sri Lanka

The word Rāvaṇa (Sanskrit: रावण) means "roaring" (active), the opposite of Vaiśravaṇa, meaning "hear distinctly" (passive).[9][10] Both Ravana and Vaiśravaṇa, who is popularly known as Kubera, are considered to be patronymics derived as "sons of Vishrava".[9][10][11][12]

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]

Ravana has many other popular names, such as Dasis Ravana, Dasis Sakvithi Maha Ravana, Dashaanan, Ravula, Lankapati, Lankeshwar, Lankeshwaran, Ravanasura, Ravanaeshwaran, and Eela Vendhar.[13]

## Iconography[edit | edit source]

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.[14] 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.[15][page needed]

## Life and legends[edit | edit source]

### Birth[edit | edit source]

File:The Abduction.jpg

The Abduction

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.[16] But according to Hela historical sources and folklore, Ravana was born in Lanka, where he later became king.[17]

Ravana's grandfather on his father's side, the sage Pulastya,[18] was one of the ten Prajapatis or mind-born sons of Brahma and one of the Saptarishi (Seven Great Sages Rishi) 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 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]

### Boon of Ravana[edit | edit source]

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.[19] 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]

### Devotee of Shiva[edit | edit source]

See also: Ravananugraha

File:RavanKailashAndolan.jpg

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.[20][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 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.[21][20]

### Family[edit | edit source]

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf op de aan Brahma gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016175.jpg

Queen Mandodari and the women of Lanka mourning the death of Ravana. Bas-relief of 9th century 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.[22]
* Ravana's parents were sage Vishrava (son of Pulastya) and Kaikesi (daughter of Sumali and Tataka or Ketumati). Kaikesi had ten brothers, the famous generals in Lanka's army being 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. 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.[22]
* Ravana had seven brothers and two sisters:[citation needed]

1. 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.
2. Kumbhakarna – One of the most jovial demons 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.
3. 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.
4. Khara – King of Janasthan.[23] He was a cousin of Ravana and the son of Kaikesi's sister Raka.
5. Dushana – Viceroy of Janasthan. Cousin of Ravana and twin brother of Khara.
6. Ahiravan – In Krittivasi Ramayan, Ahiravan was king of the Underworld ruled by the rakshasas by Ravana and the demon king Maya.
7. Kumbhini – The older half-sister of Ravana and the wife of the demon Madhu, King of Mathura. She was the mother of Lavanasura.
8. 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.[24]
9. 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 Maya, Dhanyamalini, and a third wife. His sons from his three wives were as follows:[citation needed]

1. Meghnaad (also known as Indrajit because he defeated Indra), the most powerful son of Ravana. He was born to Ravana's elder consort Mandodari.
2. Atikaya
3. Akshayakumara
4. Narantaka
5. Devantaka
6. Trishira
7. Prahasta

* In the Bengali ballad "Meghnad Bodh Kavya" by Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Beerbahu is said to be Ravana's son.[citation needed]

### Priestly ministers[edit | edit source]

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]

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.[25][full citation needed]

File:Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana.jpg

Ravana in Sanskrit drama of Kerala, India- Kutiyattam. Artist: Guru Nātyāchārya Māni Mādhava Chākyār.[26]

## Other legends[edit | edit source]

### As Vishnu's cursed doorkeeper[edit | edit source]

In the Bhagavata Purana, Ravana and his brother, Kumbhakarna, were 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.[27]

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.[citation needed]

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 Shishupala in the Dvapara Yuga when they both were slain by Krishna, the eighth avatar.[8]

### Conflict with other kings and Asuras[edit | edit source]

Ravana had gotten into a conflict with some other major Asuras.[citation needed]

1. 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.
2. Marutta (Chakravarti King of Ushiraviga),
3. Gadhi (Vishwamitra's father),
4. Dushyanta (Bharata's father),
5. Suratha (King of Vidarbha),
6. Gaya (Chakravarti king of Dharmaranya), and
7. Paurava (King of Anga).
8. Ravana killed Anaranya, the king of Ayodhya although the latter cursed Ravana to be slain by Rama.
9. Ravana was vanquished by the Ikshvaku King Mandhata, an ancestor of Rama.
10. Ravana had wrestled his brother Kubera for the Pushpaka Vimana.
11. In the Ramayana, he fought Vali the Kishkindha king, but was defeated by him, because of Vali's boon to obatin half the strength of anyone he fought.[28]
12. He also fought with the Nivatakavachas, the descendants of Prahlada, but being unable to defeat them, struck an alliance with them.
13. Another time he was vanquished by the sage Kapila.
14. 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[edit | edit source]

File:Phu Yak.jpg

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

### Worship[edit | edit source]

As he is considered one of the most revered devotees of Shiva, Ravana is worshiped in several places.[29] There are some Shiva temples where Ravana is worshiped.[29][30][31]

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 Brahmins of the village Ravangram of Netaran, in the Vidisha District of Madhya Pradesh, perform daily 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.[32]

Ravana is also worshiped by Hindus of Bisrakh, who claim their town to be his birthplace.[33]

The Sachora Brahmins of Gujarat also claim to be descendants of Ravana, and sometimes have "Ravan" as their surnames.[34]

Some Saraswat Brahmins from Mathura claim Ravana as a saraswat Brahmin as per his lineage.[35][36]

There is also reference to "Ravani", the lineage of Upadhyaya Yasastrata II, who was of the Gautama gotra and was a son of Acharya Vasudatta, and described as "born of Ravani".[37][full citation needed]

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[38]

### Temples[edit | edit source]

There are a number of temples in India for Ravana as a shaiva bhakth,

* Dashanan Temple, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh[39]
* Ravana Mandir, Bisrakh, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh[39]
* Kakinada Ravana temple, Andhra Pradesh[39]
* Ravangram Ravana Temple, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh[39]
* Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh[39]
* Mandore Ravan Temple, Jodhpur[40]
* Baijanath Temple, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh[40]

## Influence on culture and art[edit | edit source]

File:Hanuman and Ravana in Tholu Bommalata, the shadow puppet tradition of Andhra Pradesh, India.JPG

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

File:Ravana Carnival.jpg

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.[41]

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

File:Ravana fizzles.jpg

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).[42]

### Ravanahatha[edit | edit source]

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.[43]

## In other religions[edit | edit source]

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

The Tai Khamti Ramayana (Phra Chow Lamang) of Arunachal Pradesh as well describes Rama as a Bodhisattva incarnated to get tortured by Ravana.

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. He is a rakshasa.[citation needed]

In the Thai Buddhist text Ramakien, Rāvana is a rakshasa.[44] There, he is instead known as "Thotsakan" (ทศกัณฐ์, from Sanskrit दशकण्ठ, Daśakaṇṭha, "ten necks"), and he is depicted with green skin.[citation needed]

In the Lankavatara Sutra, Gautama Buddha pays a visit to Lanka, and in the scripture he is addressed as a Rakshasa. He is normally identified as a demon.

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

### Jain version[edit | edit source]

Further information: 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.[45] Ravana was a Vidyadhara King who had magical powers.[46] Also, as per the Jain accounts, Ravana was killed by Lakshmana and not Rama in the end.[47]

### Dravidian movement[edit | edit source]

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.[48][49][50]

## Depictions in popular culture[edit | edit source]

* Sri Lanka named its first satellite Raavana 1 after Ravana.[51]

### Films[edit | edit source]

Title  | Played by

|

Rambaan | Chandra Mohan
Sampoorna Ramayanam | T. K. Bhagavathi
Sampoorna Ramayana | B. M. Vyas
Sita Rama Kalyanam | N. T. Rama Rao
Indrajeet (Sati Sulochana) | S. V. Ranga Rao
Sita Kalyanam | Kaikala Satyanarayana
Bajrangbali | Prem Nath
Sri Rama Pattabhishekam | N. T. Rama Rao
Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama | Amrish Puri (voice)
Ramayanam | Swathi Baalineni
Raavanan | Vikram (Based on Ravana's character)
Ramayana: The Epic | Ashutosh Rana (voice)
Adipurush | Saif Ali Khan

### Television[edit | edit source]

Title | Played by | Channel | Country

|
|
|

Ramayan | Arvind Trivedi[52] | DD National | India
Bharat Ek Khoj | Om Puri[53] | DD National
Jai Hanuman | Anil Yadav  | DD Metro
Vishnu Puran | Nimai Bali | Zee TV
DD National
Ramayan | Surendra Pal | Zee TV
Raavan[54] | Narendra Jha | Zee TV
Ramayan | Akhilendra Mishra[55] | NDTV Imagine
Jai Jai Jai Bajrang Bali | Nimai Bali | Sahara One
Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev | Tarun Khanna[56] | Life OK
Ramayan | Sachin Tyagi | Zee TV
Ramleela – Ajay Devgn Ke Saath | Aman Verma | Life OK
Siya Ke Ram | Karthik Jayaram[56] | Star Plus
Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan | Aarya Babbar / Saurav Gurjar | Sony Entertainment Television
Vighnaharta Ganesha | Paras Chhabra[55] | Sony Entertainment Television
Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush | Shalin Bhanot | Colors TV
Ravana | Januka Rajapaksha | TV Derana | Sri Lanka

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Asura
* Daitya
* Danava (Hinduism)
* Raksasa

## Footnotes[edit | edit source]

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ "Ravana". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
2. ^ Cartwright, Mark. "Ravana". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
3. ^ 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.
4. ^ Brown, Nathan Robert (2 August 2011). The Mythology of Supernatural: The signs and symbols behind the popular TV show. Berkley Boulvard books, Newwork. ISBN 9781101517529. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
5. ^ "Sunderkand explanation" (PDF). sunderkandsatsangsamuh.org. 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. ^ a b Pankaj, Bhavana (31 July 2019). "Where Ravana is Vishnu's true Bhakta". The Statesman. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
9. ^ a b Aiyangar Narayan (1909) "Essays On Indo-Aryan Mythology-Vol.", p.413
10. ^ a b "Cologne Scan". sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de.
11. ^ The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Ayodhyākāṇḍa. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. 25 April 2007. p. 30\. ISBN 9788120831636 - via Google Books.
12. ^ Hopkins, Edward Washburn (1915). Epic Mythology. Strassburg, DE: K.J. Trübner. p. 142.
13. ^ "10 Names of Ravana". LifeStalker. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
14. ^ "When Ravana tore his head and a hand to apologize to Lord Shiva". www.mensxp.com. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
15. ^ Valmiki. Ramayana. Tulsidas. Vibhishana, Lanka Kanda; Samvaad, Rama (eds.). Ramcharitmanas.
16. ^ Dutta, Prabhash K. (10 October 2016). "Did you know? Ravana was born in Greater Noida West". India Today. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
17. ^ "Unknown Interesting Hidden Mythological Facts About Ravana". Shiprocket Social Blog. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
18. ^ 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.
19. ^ Manglik, Reshu (29 September 2017). "Happy Dussehra 2017: 11 important facts to know about Ravana, primary antagonist of epic Ramayana". indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
20. ^ a b Kala pp. 38–42
21. ^ Rathore, Vinod (29 June 2020). "Know the unique story of Ravana's devotion to Shiva". News Track. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
22. ^ a b 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.
23. ^ "History Hindus". Archived from the original on 9 August 2011.
24. ^ "Super Shocking How Sita Saved Rama and killed Greater Ravana".
25. ^ 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.
26. ^ Chākyār, Māni Mādhava (1996). Nātyakalpadrumam. New Delhi, IN: Sangeet Natak Akademi. p. 6.
27. ^ Ninan, M.M. (23 June 2008). The Development of Hinduism. Madathil Mammen Ninan. p. 241\. ISBN 978-1-4382-2820-4.
28. ^ Vālmīki (January 1988). Venkatesananda, Swami (ed.). The Concise Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-862-1.
29. ^ a b "Ravana has his temples, too". Spectrum. The Sunday Tribune. 21 October 2007.
30. ^ Vachaspati, S. (2005). Ravana Brahma. Tenali, India: Rudrakavi Sahitya Peetham, Gandhi Nagar.
31. ^ Dave, Kamalesh Kumar (2008). Dashanan (in Hindi). Jodhpur, India: Akshaya Jyotish Anusandan Kendra.
32. ^ Siddiqui, Faiz (10 October 2016). "A temple where demon king has his day". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
33. ^ "Only the elderly come to mourn Ravana in 'birthplace' Bisrakh". The Indian Express. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
34. ^ People of India. Vol. 4: A–G. Oxford University Press. p. 3061.
35. ^ "Mathura lawyer seeks ban on burning of Ravana effigies". The Indian Express. 26 September 2017.
36. ^ Qureshi, Siraj (12 October 2016). "A Dussehra without burning Ravana: This Brahmin community in Agra wants an end to practice". India Today.
37. ^ "[no title cited]". Indian Culture: Journal of the Indian Research Institute. I.B. Corporation. 15.[no+title+cited]&rft.volume=15&rfr_id=info:sid/justapedia.org:Ravana" class="Z3988">
38. ^ Rashid, Omar (24 October 2015). "Celebrating Ravan". The Hindu.
39. ^ a b c d e "Five temples of Ravana in India where demon king is worshipped". India TV. 11 October 2016.
40. ^ a b "Unique Ravana temples in India". Travel guide. Native Planet. 27 April 2018.
41. ^ "Celebrate the festive season by catching Ram Leela in these locations". Travel. Times of India. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
42. ^ "Dussehra 2018: What is the significance Of Ravana Dahan?". Dehli news. NDTV.com. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
43. ^ "Sri Lankan revives Ravana's musical instrument". The Island. Sri Lanka. 9 March 2008.
44. ^ Vyas, Lallan Prasad. Prachi Darshan. p. 98.
45. ^ Sharma, S.R. (1940). Jainism and Karnataka Culture. Dharwar, IN: Karnatak Historical Research Society. p. 76.
46. ^ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An alphabetical guide. Penguin Books India. p. 338\. ISBN 9780143414216.
47. ^ 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.
48. ^ Pandian, M.S.S. (2 November 1998). "Ravana as antidote". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
49. ^ 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.
50. ^ Sivapriyan, E.T.B. (5 August 2020). "Ram Temple: Tamilians praise Ravana on Twitter". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
51. ^ Yamunan, Sruthisagar (6 July 2019). "Why Sri Lanka named its first-ever satellite after Ravana". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
52. ^ "Arvind Trivedi Did Not Want to Play Ravan in Ramayan But This Veteran Actor Convinced Him". News18. 21 April 2020.
53. ^ Jain, Madhu (30 September 1988). "Bharat Ek Khoj: The making of most extravagant serial ever". India Today.
54. ^ "Zee TV enters new genre with 'Ravan' on Saturdays at 9". Indiantelevision.com. 16 November 2006.
55. ^ a b "These actors who played Raavan role in Ramayana". News Track. 11 April 2020.
56. ^ a b "Ravan number 1: Why these actors would play Ravan over Ram anyday". The Times of India.

## Bibliography[edit | edit source]

* Doniger, Wendy (1993). Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and transformation in Hindu and Jaina texts. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791413814 - via Google Books.

* Udayakumar, S.P. (2005). Presenting the Past: Anxious history and ancient future in Hindutva India. Greenwood Publishing Group.

## External links[edit | edit source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ravana.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Ravana.

* "Rawana the Historical King of Heladiwa". Ramayana Research. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013.

Preceded by

Kubera

|  Emperor of Lanka  | Succeeded by

Vibhisana

|
|

* v
* t
* e

Ramayana

Ikshvaku dynasty|

* Dasharatha
* Kausalya
* Sumitra
* Kaikeyi
* Shanta
* Rama
* Bharata
* Lakshmana
* Shatrughna
* Sita
* Urmila
* Mandavi
* Shrutakirti
* Lava
* Kusha
* (genealogy)

File:Ramapanchayan, Raja Ravi Varma (Lithograph).jpg

Vanara|

* Hanuman
* Sugriva
* Vali
* Angada
* Tara
* Rumā
* Nala
* Nila
* Kesari
* Anjana
* Makaradhwaja

Rakshasa|

* Ravana
* Vibhishana
* Kumbhakarna
* Indrajit
* Akshayakumara
* Atikaya
* Kabandha
* Khara
* Dushana
* Mandodari
* Dhanyamalini
* Lavanasura
* Malyavan
* Maricha
* Mayasura
* Narantaka-Devantaka
* Prahasta
* Sarama
* Subahu
* Sulochana
* Sumali
* Shurpanakha
* Tataka
* Trijata
* Trishira
* Viradha

Sages|

* Agastya
* Ahalya
* Arundhati
* Bharadwaja
* Kambhoja
* Parashurama
* Vasishtha
* Vishvamitra
* Rishyasringa
* Valmiki

Other characters
and concepts|

* Lakshmana rekha
* Jambavan
* Janaka
* Kushadhwaja
* Jatayu
* Manthara
* Maya Sita
* Sampati
* Shabari
* Shravan
* Vedavati
* Shambuka

Places|

* Ayodhya
* Mithila
* Dandakaranya
* Kishkindha
* Lanka
* Oshadhiparvata

Books/Kandas|

* Bala
* Ayodhya
* Aranya
* Kishkindha
* Sundara
* Yuddha
* Uttara

Versions|

* Adbhuta Ramayana
* Adhyathmaramayanam
* Adhyatma Ramayana
* Ananda Ramayana
* Bhanubhakta Ramayana
* Bhaṭṭikāvya
* Hikayat Seri Rama
* Jagamohana Ramayana
* Kakawin Ramayana
* Kamba Ramayanam
* Krittivasi Ramayana
* Maharadia Lawana
* Phra Lak Phra Ram
* Raghunatha Ramayana
* Ramakien
* Ramcharitmanas
* Ranganatha Ramayanamu
* Reamker
* Saptakanda Ramayana
* Sri Ramayana Darshanam
* Sri Ramayanamu
* Bilanka Ramayana
* Yama Zatdaw

Related|

* Ramlila

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