Ravana: The Ten-headed Demon of Lanka

In Hindu mythology, Ravana is a ten headed demon king of Lanka. He is actually one-part Brahmin and one-part demon from his rich ancestry. He is considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva.

The Sanskrit word “Ravana” means “screamer” or “loud roaring”.  Ravana is the son to Vishrava (son of Pulastya) and Nikasa, a demon and mother of the Pisitasanas (a race of cannabalistic demons). His siblings are Kuberan, Kuvera, Vibhishana, Kumbhakaran, Kharan, Dushana, Ahiravan, Kumbhini and Shurpanakha. He married Mandodari (daughter of the celestial architect Maya). Ravana also married two other wives and they bore him seven sons.

Appearance:  Ravana possesses a total of ten (10) heads and twenty (20) arms. His eyes are copper-colored with a bright white set of teeth and a huge form. His body is covered with the scars of battle wounds. This demon can stand as tall as a mountain with the bearing of a regal. It is also said that with one look, he can stop the sun and the moon in their paths.

 

Abilities:

• Ravana can assume whatever form he desires ranging from humans to mountains to even death itself.
• He can cause storms and earthquakes.
• Ravana was cunning. It was stated that he deceived his half-brother Kuvera and stole his magical chariot to leave the Island of Sri Lanka and cause trouble in all parts of the world.
• Ravana’s gift of immortality:

As a dedicated scholar, Ravana performed an intense penance to Shiva. He chopped off his head 10 times as a sacrifice to him. Meanwhile, each time his head was chopped off, a new head arose thus enabling him to continue his penance. At last, Shiva decided to bless him and offered him a boon. He offered him a nectar of immortality which was stored under his naval. With this he could not be vanquished for as long as it lasted.

 

Once this gift of immortality was gotten, he waged a great war on the gods, capturing several of them and enslaving them on the Island of Lanka until they escaped and plotted their revenge.

 

The conflict between Ravana and Rama               

Ravana’s greatest foe and arch enemy is Rama. One story has it that Rama, his wife Sita, and great friend Laksmana were at Pancavati along the river Godavari, an area plagued by demons. On one occasion, Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana, fell in love with Rama, and when her advances were resisted by Rama, she attacked Sita (his wife) in revenge.

Laksmana was the first to react and cut off the ears and nose of Surpanakha. Not pleased with this treatment, the enraged demoness gathered an army of demons to attack Laksmana, Sita and Rama. In a great battle Rama defeated them all; however, Surpanakha was not finished with the matter, and she persuaded Ravana that Sita was a girl worth fighting for.

Accordingly, the demon king sought out Rama’s home, and while Rama was distracted in the hunt for a deer (who was actually Ravana’s magician Maricha in disguise), he abducted Sita and took her to Lanka in his magical chariot to be kept captive in the beautiful Ashoka garden of his palace.

Rama chased after them and he was assisted by Hanuman, the son of the wind who could travel long distance taking any form he wished. Hanuman magically transported Rama and his force to Lanka, crossing the rocky bridge built by the skilled general Nala, which became known as Rama’s Bridge. A series of titanic battle occurred between Rama’s forces and Ravana’s demons. Sometimes Ravana got the upper hand, at other times Rama.

In one fight, Rama managed to cut off one of Ravana’s heads with an arrow but another immediately grew to replace it. Finally, another of Rama’s arrows was a direct hit on Ravana’s naval. The arrow went straight through the demon, traveled over the seas and there was great trembling. When Ravana died, he was given a proper funeral.

Up until today, the images of Ravana are seen associated with Shiva at some places. Some temples dedicated to him can be seen in Kakinada. Effigy of Ravana is burnt on Vijayadashami, in India at many places. It is said that it is symbolization of triumph over evil (i.e. Ravana) by Rama.

 

 

Citations:

• https://www.ancient.eu/Ravana/
• https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-unknown-interesting-facts-about-Ravana
• http://www.bl.uk/learning/cult/inside/gallery/ravanadeath/ravanaheads.html
• http://www.srilanka.travel/ravana
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ravana
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravana
• The Encyclopedia of Demons and Demonology