Ravana (deity)
Ravana is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology, depicted as a ten-headed and twenty-armed demon king, known for his immense power, wisdom, and cruel nature. He is the son of the sage Vishrava and the demon princess Kaikesi. Ravana’s story is central to the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, where he leads an army of flesh-eating demons called Rakshasas and wages war against both deities and humans. His quest for immortality, granted by the creator god Brahma, results in his arrogance and eventual downfall when he kidnaps Sita, the wife of Rama, the human incarnation of the deity Vishnu. The ensuing battle between Rama and Ravana culminates in Ravana's defeat, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Despite his portrayal as a villain, some view Ravana as a tragic figure, admired for his devotion to Shiva and his wisdom. In modern India, the festival of Dussehra commemorates his defeat with celebrations that include the burning of effigies of Ravana, while in certain regions, he is revered and honored as a hero. Temples dedicated to Ravana exist, and he is worshipped by some for his qualities as a ruler and his deep devotion, showcasing the complexity of his character within the cultural narrative.
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Subject Terms
Ravana (deity)
Culture:Hindu mythology
Mother:Kaikesi
Father:Vishrava
Siblings:Surpanakha (sister); Kumbhini (sister); Kumbhakarna (brother); Vibhishana (brother); Khara (brother); Dushana (brother); Ahiravan (brother); Kubera (half brother)
Sons:Meghnada; Atikaya; Trishira; Akshayakumara; Devantaka; Narantaka; Prahasta
Overview
Ravana is the ten-headed, twenty-armed demon king of Hindu mythology. Ravana was the son of a great sage and a demon princess and possessed great power, wisdom, and cruelty. He requested the gift of immortality from the Hindu creator god Brahma, but through his own arrogance, left open the door to his eventual downfall. Leading an army of flesh-eating demons known as Rakshasas, Ravana waged war upon both heaven and earth. His battle and ultimate defeat at the hands of Rama, the human incarnation of the deity Vishnu, is the central conflict of the Hindu epic the Ramayana.
In the modern era, the battle of Rama and Ravana is noted each year in India with a festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Despite his role as a legendary villain in Hindu myth, Ravana is seen by some as a tragic figure and revered in parts of India for his wisdom and strength.
In Mythology
Ravana was born to Vishrava, a renowned rishi, or sage, and Kaikesi, the beautiful daughter of a giant demon king. The Ramayana tells that Kaikesi's father, Sumali, wanted her to marry a powerful mortal and set up a chance meeting with Vishrava so that Kaikesi might seduce him. When Vishrava saw Kaikesi, he was struck by her beauty, but he was also aware of her intentions. He warned her that the first children they produced would be forces of evil, but their fourth child would be a wise and holy man.
When Kaikesi gave birth to their first child, Ravana, the earth shook and omens of destruction were seen. Because Ravana was born with ten heads and twenty arms, his parents named him Dashanana, which means "ten heads." Ravana was a ferocious and aggressive child, but he was also devoted to learning and studied the Hindu holy texts. After performing a ritual of penance and humility that lasted thousands of years, Ravana was granted a wish by Lord Brahma, the god of Hindu creation. Ravana asked for immortality, requesting that no deity, demon, or spiritual force be able to harm him. Arrogantly, he did not ask to be protected from humans because he felt them weak beings.
With the powers of invincibility, Ravana assumed control of an army of Rakshasas and conquered the island kingdom of Lanka, which had been ruled by his half brother, Kubera. Filled with pride, Ravana then attempted to move the celestial mountain Kailasha, which, unknown to him, was the home of the deity Shiva. Angered, Shiva placed the mountain upon Ravana's arms, pinning him underneath and forcing him to cry out in pain. This was how he acquired his name, as Ravana in Sanskrit means he who emits a terrifying roar. Realizing his mistake, Ravana begged Shiva for forgiveness and sang his praises. Eventually, Shiva released Ravana and granted him more power in return for his devotion.
Emboldened by the power of Shiva, Ravana began a terrifying campaign of conquest. He captured several human kingdoms and even invaded the heavens and defeated the celestial beings knowns as the Devas. Because Brahma had granted Ravana invincibly to all beings but humans, the gods were powerless to stop him. Vishnu, one of the supreme Hindu deities, answered the call of the other gods and decided to battle Ravana. He incarnated himself on earth as a human named Rama. Rama was the son of a king and married to the beautiful Sita.
Battle with Rama.One day, Ravana's sister, Surpanakha, came upon Rama and his brother, Lakshmana, in a forest. She was captivated by the men and wanted to marry one of them. When they refused, Surpanakha threatened to kill Sita, causing Lakshmana to cut off her nose and ears as punishment. Surpanakha went back to her brother and told him what had happened. Enraged at the treatment of his sister, and intrigued by the stories of Sita's beauty, Ravana kidnapped Sita and took her back to his kingdom.
Rama and Lakshmana searched everywhere for Sita but could not find her. With the help of a monkey warrior named Hanuman, they were eventually able to track Ravana to the island of Lanka. Rama and his army offered Ravana a chance at peace, asking that he return Sita, but Ravana refused.
After a long and deadly battle, Rama's army of men and monkey warriors beat back the demon hordes of Ravana. With his Rakshasas defeated, Ravana was forced to battle Rama himself. As the warriors squared off, Rama dealt Ravana a grievous injury, but being a fair and just man, he allowed the demon king to fall back and recover. In their next battle, Ravana attacked Rama with his full power. Rama hacked at Ravana and cut off his heads, but as each one fell, a new one grew back. Finally, Ravana's fourth sibling, Vibhishana, the one foretold to be a great holy sage, revealed the secret of Ravana's power to Rama. Taking aim with his celestial bow, Rama shot a powerful arrow into Ravana's heart, killing him.
Origins & Cults
The central battle of Rama and Ravana is honored each September or October in India during the festival of Dussehra. The celebration marks the triumph of good over evil and is a public holiday in the nation. Revelers set off fireworks and light large bonfires upon which paper and wood effigies of Ravana are burned. While Dussehra celebrates Ravana's defeat, there are some in India who revere him for his devotion to Shiva, his qualities as a just king to his subjects, and his great wisdom. Numerous temples are devoted to the demon king and some worship him as a god. In the northern Indian village of Bisrakh—the legendary birthplace of Ravana—residents celebrate Dussehra by honoring the demon king as a hero. In the city of Vidisha in central India, the village Ravangram was named as a tribute to Ravana.
Bibliography
The Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇa: Concise English Version. Trans. Chandan Lal Dhody. New Delhi: MD Publications Pvt Ltd, 1995. Print.
"Dashanana, or the Ten Headed Demon King of Lanka." Exotic India. Exotic India. Web. 9 May 2016.
Ladage, Rutu. "6 Ravana Temples in India You Need to Visit at Least Once in Your Life." India.com. India WebPortal Private Limited. 22 Oct. 2015. Web. 9 May 2016.
Ramen, Fred. Indian Mythology. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2008. Print.
"Ravana." UCLA College of Social Sciences. University of California, Los Angeles. Web. 9 May 2016.