Rāvaṇa
Sign in to saveRavana () 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). 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. 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 Si
AI overview
Rāvaṇa is the ten-headed demon king and main villain of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, known for abducting the wife of the hero Rama and triggering the epic's central conflict. His character has endured as a significant figure in Hindu mythology and culture, representing the archetypal antagonist whose defeat by Rama is a foundational narrative in Hindu tradition.
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Key facts
- Deity.type
- Hindu
- Deity.image
- Ravana.jpg
- Deity.caption
- Illustration depicting Ravana, circa 1920
- Deity.successor
- Vibhishana (King of Lanka)
- Deity.predecessor
- Kubera (King of Lanka)
- Deity.father
- Vishrava
- Deity.mother
- Kaikasi
- Deity.abode
- Lanka
- Deity.mount
- Pushpaka Vimana
- Deity.affiliation
- Shaivism, Lanka, Rakshasa
- Deity.texts
- Ramayana and its versions
- Deity.Devanagari
- रावण
- Deity.Sanskrit_transliteration
Article
27 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Iconography
- Biography
- Birth
- Boon from Brahma
- Devotee of Shiva
- Family
- Priestly ministers
- Other legends
- Vishnu's cursed doorkeeper
- Other conflicts
- Immolation of Vedavati
- Rape of Rambha
- Worship and temples
- Worship
- Temples
- Influence on culture and art
- Ravana-Dahan (burning effigy of Ravana)
- Ravanahatha
- In other religions
- Jainism
- Dravidian movement
- In popular culture
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Ravana () 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). 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. 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. Hindu festivals show his epic defeat in Ramayana by beheading or burning a large statue depicting a 10-headed Ravana.
Ravana was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas, including the Shiva Tandava Stotra. 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.