Ravana
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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 contours of a plateau, ideal for landing an airplane.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Devotee of Lord 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
[edit] 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 severely 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 born 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.
[edit] 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:
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.
| The Rāmāyaņa by Valmiki |
|---|
| Characters |
| Dasaratha | Kausalya | Sumitra | Kaikeyi | Janaka | Manthara | Rama | Bharata | Lakshmana | Shatrughna | Sita | Urmila | Mandavi | Shrutakirti | Viswamitra | Ahalya | Jatayu | Sampati | Hanuman | Sugriva | Vali | Angada | Jambavantha | Vibhishana | Tataka | Surpanakha | Maricha | Subahu | Khara | Ravana | Kumbhakarna | Mandodari | Mayasura | Indrajit | Prahasta | Akshayakumara | Atikaya | Lava | Kusha |
| Other |
| Ayodhya | Mithila | Lanka | Sarayu | Treta Yuga | Raghuvamsa | Lakshman Rekha | Aditya Hridayam | Oshadhiparvata | Sundara Kanda | Pushpaka Vimana | Vedavati | Vanara |
| Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Itihasa | Image:Hindu swastika.svg |
|---|---|
| Female Deities: Gayatri | Saraswati | Lakshmi | Dakshayani | Parvati | Durga | Shakti | Kali | Sita | Devi | Radha | Mahavidya | more... | |
| Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Kartikeya | Hanuman | Lakshmana | Indra | Surya | more... | |
| Texts: Vedas | Upanishads | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata | |
