Ravana

File:Ravanan - King of Lanka.jpg, Sri Lanka]]

The word Rāvaṇa (Sanskrit: रावण) means "Roaring" (active), the opposite of Vaiśravaṇa which means to "hear distinctly" (passive).Aiyangar Narayan (1909) "Essays On Indo-Aryan Mythology-Vol.", p.413{{Cite web |url=https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw1026-vaivarNika.jpg |title=Cologne Scan |website=sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de}} Both Ravana and Vaiśravaṇa, who is commonly known as Kubera, are considered to be patronymics derived from "sons of Vishrava".{{Cite book |title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Ayodhyākāṇḍa |date=25 April 2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=9788120831636 |page=30 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YJGRP-otpdIC&pg=PA530 |via=Google Books}}{{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=Edward Washburn |author-link=Edward Washburn Hopkins |year=1915 |title=Epic Mythology |place=Strassburg, DE |publisher=K.J. Trübner |page = 142 |url=https://archive.org/stream/epicmythology00hopkuoft#page/n147/mode/2up/search/Kubera}}

Ravana was a title later taken on 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 of the materialism of their environment.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Ravana has many other popular names such as Dasis Ravana, Dasis Sakvithi Maha Ravana, Dashaanan, Ravula, Lankapati, Lankeshwar, Lankeshwaran, Ravanasura and Ravanaeshwaran.{{cite web|title=10 Names of Ravana |website=LifeStalker |date=6 October 2014 |url=http://www.lifestalker.com/2014/10/the-10-names-of-ravana.html |access-date=2021-05-18 |language=en}}

Ravana is depicted and described as having ten heads, although he is sometimes shown with only nine heads since he cut one off to convince Shiva.{{Cite web |date=2015-10-26 |title=When Ravana tore his head and a hand to apologize to Lord Shiva |url=https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/28124-when-ravana-tore-his-head-and-a-hand-to-apologize-to-lord-shiva.html |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.mensxp.com |language=en-IN}} He is described as a devout follower of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler, and a maestro of the Veena. 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. In some later versions, he is said to have possessed the nectar of immortality, which was stored inside his belly thanks to a celestial boon from Brahma. In the War with Lord Rama, Ravana was killed by a powerful Brahma's weapon shot by Rama which was gifted to Rama by Sage Agstya.{{cite book |title=Ramayana |author=Valmiki}} {{cite book |title=Ramcharitmanas |author=Tulsidas |editor1=Vibhishana, Lanka Kanda |editor2=Samvaad, Rama }}{{page needed|date=July 2020}}

File:Ravi Varma-Ravana Sita Jathayu.jpg's wing while abducting Sita, by Raja Ravi Varma]]

Ravana was born to the Brahmin sage Vishrava and the Rakshasa princess Kaikasi in Treta Yuga.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VoXEQAAQBAJ&dq=vishrava+brahmin&pg=PT19 | title=The Brahmin | isbn=978-93-5776-137-6 | last1=Etteth | first1=Ravi Shankar | date=4 March 2024 | publisher=Westland }} Villagers from Bisrakh in Uttar Pradesh claim that Bisrakh was named after Vishrava, and that Ravana was born there.{{Cite magazine |author=Dutta, Prabhash K. |date=10 October 2016 |title=Did you know? Ravana was born in Greater Noida West |magazine=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ravana-greater-noida-demon-king-delhi-ncr-bishrakh-dussehra-345906-2016-10-10 |access-date=2 July 2020 |lang=en}}

Ravana's paternal grandfather, the sage Pulastya,{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R.K.K.|year=2018|title=Woven Threads of the Rāmāyaṇa The Early Āḻvārs on Brahmā and Rāvaṇa|url=https://www.academia.edu/37599459|journal=Romanian Journal of Indian Studies|volume=2|pages=9–45}} was one of the ten Prajapatis, or mind-born sons of Brahma, and one of the Saptarishi (seven great sages) 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 for Kaikasi 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 him. Kaikasi searched among the sages and finally chose Vishrava, the father of Kubera. Ravana and his siblings were born to the couple and they completed their education from their father, with Ravana being a great scholar of the Vedas.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Ravana and his two brothers, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana, performed penance on Mount Gokarna for 10,000 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.{{Cite web |last=Manglik |first=Reshu |date=29 September 2017 |title=Happy Dussehra 2017: 11 important facts to know about Ravana, primary antagonist of epic Ramayana |website=indiatvnews.com |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/books-culture-dussehra-2017-king-ravana-important-facts-from-ramayana-403950 |access-date=14 July 2020 |language=en}} He also received weapons, a chariot, as well as the ability to shapeshift from Brahma.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} According to the Ramayana, demigods approached Brahma since Ravana was causing harm on Earth. Lord Vishnu appeared and gave blessings that he will incarnate as a human (Rama) and kill Ravana since his invincibility boon did not include humans.{{Cite book |last=Rosen |first=Steven |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/70775665 |title=Essential Hinduism |date=2006 |publisher=Praeger |isbn=0-275-99006-0 |location=Westport, Conn. |pages=68–69 |oclc=70775665}}

{{See also|Ravananugraha}}

File:RavanKailashAndolan.jpg

One of the most popular images of Shiva is called "Ravananugraha", which was popular in the Gupta era. It depicts Ravana beneath Mount Kailash playing a veena made out of his head and hands, and strings made out of his tendons, while Shiva and Parvati sit on top of the mountain.Kala pp. 38–42{{full citation needed|date=July 2022|reason=no such ref "Kala"}} 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 Shiva Tandava Stotra, a hymn 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. But this incident has little to no evidence in Valmiki Ramayana.{{cite web |author=Rathore, Vinod

|title=Know the unique story of Ravana's devotion to Shiva |website=News Track |url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/ravan-shiv-bhakti-ravan-and-shiv-katha-hindi-me-sc91-nu612-ta272-1103191-1.html |access-date=14 July 2020 |language=en}}

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File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf op de aan Brahma gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016175.jpg and the women of Lanka mourning the death of Ravana. Bas-relief of 9th century Prambanan Temple, Java, Indonesia]]Ravana's parents were the sage Vishrava (son of Pulastya) and Kaikesi (daughter of Sumali and Ketumati). Ravana had seventeen maternal uncles and three maternal aunts. Dhumraksha, Prahastha, Akampana, Vajramushti, Suparshwa and Virupaksha, a few of his maternal uncles, were generals in the Lanka army. Kaikesi's father, Sumali and uncle, Malyavan were instrumental in making Ravana the king of Lanka by advising him to receive boons from Brahma, defeat Kubera, and establish rakshasa rule in the three worlds.{{cite book |last=Mittal |first=J.P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7gOBW8oDFgC&pg=PA200 |title=History of Ancient India (a new version: From 7300 BC to 4250 BC |date=2006 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0615-4 |page=200 |language=en}}

Ravana's granduncle was Malyavan, who opposed the war with Rama and Lakshmana. He also had another granduncle named Mali who was killed by Vishnu.

According to Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, Ravana had over a thousand wives, with Mandodari, the daughter of the celestial architect Maya, being his chief queen.{{Cite book |last=Kant |first=Anjani |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=Z-5nkRZXjPMC&pg=PA45&dq=ravana+thousand+wives&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiw9pWjrquOAxUWV2wGHWmfAKIQ6AF6BAgNEAM#v=onepage&q=ravana%20thousand%20wives&f=false |title=Women and the Law |date=2008 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-7648-456-5 |language=en}} His sons were Meghanada, Atikaya, Akshayakumara, Narantaka, Devantaka and Trishira.

In some accounts, Ravana is said to have had Shukracharya, the priest of the Asuras, as his minister, and in other accounts, Brihaspati, the priest of the Devas.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

One account narrates how Ravana ordered Brihaspati to recite the Chandi stava (mantras of Chandi), more specifically the Devi Mahatmya, in order to stave off defeat. According to the Krttivasa text, Ravana arranged for a peaceful yajna, and invited Brihaspati to start the recitation of Chandi.{{cite book |first=Shanti Lal |last=Nagar |title=Genesis and Evolution of the Rāma Kathā in Indian Art, Thought, Literature, and Culture: From the earliest period to modern times |volume=2}}{{full citation needed|date=July 2022|reason=publisher, date, page}}

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

{{cite book

| author = Chākyār, Māni Mādhava | author-link = Māni Mādhava Chākyār

| year = 1996

| title = Nātyakalpadrumam | title-link = Nātyakalpadrumam

| place = New Delhi, IN

| publisher = Sangeet Natak Akademi

| page = 6

}}

|thumb|right]]

In the Bhagavata Purana, Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna are 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.{{cite book |last=Ninan |first=M.M. |date=2008-06-23 |df=dmy-all |title=The Development of Hinduism |publisher=Madathil Mammen Ninan |isbn=978-1-4382-2820-4 |pages=241 |language=en |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-8RTZcjg9awC&dq=Ravana+Kumbhakarna+cursed+born+on+earth&pg=PA241}}

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.

Vishnu agreed that they should be punished and gave them two options. First, that they could be born seven times as normal mortals and devotees of Vishnu, or be born three times as strong and powerful beings, but as enemies of Vishnu. Eager to be back with the Lord, they chose the latter option. The curse of the 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). Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna were born to fulfill the curse in their second birth as enemies of Vishnu in Treta Yuga. The curse of the third birth was fulfilled by Dantavakra and Shishupala in the Dvapara Yuga, when they both were slain by Krishna, the eighth avatar.{{cite news |author=Pankaj, Bhavana |date=31 July 2019 |title=Where Ravana is Vishnu's true Bhakta |newspaper=The Statesman |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/religion/ravana-vishnus-true-bhakta-1502783704.html |access-date=1 July 2020 |language=en}}

Ravana had fought with the demons named Nivatakavacha along with his army for an entire year but was unable to kill them due to Brahma's boon. The war was stopped by Brahma and Ravana formed an alliance with them, he learnt several magical tricks or maya from those demons.https://www.valmikiramayan.net/

Ravana had defeated the vanara warriors namely Hanuman, Sugriva, Neela and even Rama's brother Lakshmana twice during his war with Rama. As per the original six books of Valmiki Ramayana, only lord Rama the incarnation of Vishnu defeated Ravana and killed him after several days of single duel.

Once, 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 and was forced to retreat.

He killed Anaranya, the king of Ayodhya, although he cursed Ravana to be slain by Rama.

Ravana had wrestled his brother Kubera and vanquished him for the Pushpaka Vimana.

He also fought Marutta (Chakravarti King of Ushiraviga), Gadhi (Vishwamitra's father), Dushyanta (Bharata's father), Suratha (King of Vidarbha), Gaya (Chakravarti king of Dharmaranya), and Paurava (King of Anga).

Ravana is regarded to have once caught sight of the apsara Rambha and was filled with lust. Even as the apsara resisted his advances by asserting that she was his daughter-in-law, he raped her. When she reported this to her husband, Nalakuvara, he cursed Ravana to be unable to cause violence to any woman who did not consent to being with him, his head splitting into a number of pieces if he did so. This incident is stated to explain why Ravana could not force the abducted Sita to submit to his desire.{{Cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iM_QAgAAQBAJ&dq=Ravana+rape+Rambha&pg=PA535 |title=On Hinduism |date=March 2014 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-936007-9 |pages=535 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Vālmīki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h1g6fWIu-kAC&pg=PA393 |title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Araṇyakāṇḍa |date=2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=978-81-208-3164-3 |pages=393 |language=en}}

File:Phu Yak.jpg, Thailand]]

Ravana is worshipped as one of Shiva's most revered followers, and he is even worshipped in some Shiva temples.{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071021/spectrum/society1.htm |title=Ravana has his temples, too |newspaper=The Sunday Tribune |department=Spectrum |date=21 October 2007}}{{cite book |author=Vachaspati, S. |title=Ravana Brahma |year=2005 |publisher=Rudrakavi Sahitya Peetham, Gandhi Nagar |place=Tenali, India |language=English}}{{cite book |author=Dave, Kamalesh Kumar |year=2008 |title=Dashanan |publisher=Akshaya Jyotish Anusandan Kendra |place=Jodhpur, India |language=Hindi}}

King Shiv Shankar built a Ravana temple in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Ravana temple is open once a year, on the day of Dashera, to perform puja for the welfare of Ravana.{{cite news |first=Faiz |last=Siddiqui |date=10 October 2016 |title=A temple where demon king has his day |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/A-temple-where-demon-king-has-his-day/articleshow/54772663.cms |access-date=14 September 2018}}

Ravana is also worshipped by Hindus of Bisrakh, who claim their town to be his birthplace.{{cite news |title=Only the elderly come to mourn Ravana in 'birthplace' Bisrakh |date=4 October 2014 |newspaper=The Indian Express |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/only-the-elderly-come-to-mourn-ravana-in-birthplace-bisrakh/ |access-date=14 June 2016}}

The Sachora Brahmins of Gujarat claim to be descendants of Ravana, and sometimes have "Ravan" as their surnames.{{cite book |title=People of India |volume=4: A–G |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=3061}}

Saraswat Brahmins from Mathura claim Ravana as a saraswat Brahmin as per his lineage.{{cite news |title=Mathura lawyer seeks ban on burning of Ravana effigies |date=26 September 2017 |newspaper=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mathura-lawyer-seeks-ban-on-burning-of-ravana-effigies-4862479/}}{{cite magazine |author=Qureshi, Siraj |date=12 October 2016 |title=A Dussehra without burning Ravana: This Brahmin community in Agra wants an end to practice |magazine=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/raavan-vijay-dashmi-agra-saraswat-caste-brahmins-346178-2016-10-12}}

There has also been reference to "Ravani", the lineage of Upadhyaya Yasastrata II, who was of the Gautama gotra and Acharya Vasudatta's son, and described as "born of Ravani".{{cite journal |title={{grey|[no title cited]}} |journal=Indian Culture: Journal of the Indian Research Institute |volume=15 |publisher=I.B. Corporation}}{{full citation needed|date=July 2022|reason=author, title, issue, page(s)}}

The Gondi people of central India claim to be descendants of Ravana, and have temples 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). Annually on Dussehra, the Gondis from the village of Paraswadi carry an image of Ravana riding on an elephant in a procession.{{cite news |author=Rashid, Omar |date=24 October 2015 |title=Celebrating Ravan |newspaper=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/omar-rashid-on-ravan-worship/article7799972.ece}}

The following temples in India are for Ravana as a Shiva Bhakta.

• Dashanan Temple, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh{{cite news |title=Five temples of Ravana in India where demon king is worshipped |date=11 October 2016 |publisher=India TV |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-five-temples-of-ravana-in-india-where-demon-king-is-worshipped-351861}}
• Ravana Temple, Bisrakh, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
• Kakinada Ravana Temple, Andhra Pradesh
• Ravangram Ravana Temple, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
• Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh
• Mandore Ravan Temple, Jodhpur{{cite web |title=Unique Ravana temples in India |date=27 April 2018 |website=Native Planet |department=Travel guide |url=https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/unique-ravana-temples-in-india-001812.html}}
• Baijanath Temple, Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh
• Ravaleshwara temple- Malavalli, mandya district of Karnataka

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

File:Ravana Carnival.jpg

File:Ravana_fizzles.jpg. Dashehra Diwali Mela in Manchester, England, 2006]]

Effigies of Ravana are burned on Vijayadashami in many places throughout India to symbolize Rama's triumph over evil.{{cite news |title=Dussehra 2018: What is the significance Of Ravana Dahan? |website=NDTV.com |department=Dehli news |url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/ravana-dahan-2018-what-is-the-significance-of-ravana-dahan-1934573 |access-date=1 July 2020}}

According to mythology, the ravanahatha, an ancient bowed string instrument, was created by Ravana and is still used as a Rajasthani folk instrument.{{cite news |title=Sri Lankan revives Ravana's musical instrument |date=9 March 2008 |website=The Island |place=Sri Lanka |url=http://www.island.lk/2008/03/09/news11.html}}

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

The Arunachal Pradesh Tai Khamti Ramayana (Phra Chow Lamang) shows Rama as a Bodhisattva who was reborn so Ravana could torture him.

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|date=February 2022}}

In the Cambodian Buddhist text Preah Ream, Buddha is an incarnation of Rama and Ravana is a rakshasa.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

In the Thai Buddhist text Ramakien, Ravana is a rakshasa{{Cite book|title=Prachi Darshan|last=Vyas|first=Lallan Prasad|pages=98}} known as "Thotsakan" (ทศกัณฐ์, from Sanskrit दशकण्ठ, Daśakaṇṭha, "ten necks"), and is depicted with green skin.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

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

{{Further|Salakapurusa}}

File:Jain Universal History Diorama in Jain Museum of Madhuban 44.jpg

Jain accounts vary from the traditional Hindu accounts of the Ramayana. The incidents are placed at the time of the 20th Tirthankara, Munisuvrata. In Jainism, both Rama and Ravana were devout Jains.{{cite book |last=Sharma |first=S.R. |year=1940 |title=Jainism and Karnataka Culture |publisher=Karnatak Historical Research Society |location=Dharwar, IN |page=76 }} Ravana was a Vidyadhara king who had magical powers,{{cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |year=2010 |title=Hinduism: An alphabetical guide |publisher=Penguin Books India |page=338 |isbn=9780143414216 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC}} and Lakshmana, not Rama, was the one who ultimately killed Ravana.{{cite book |last=Ramanujan |first=A.K. |year=1991 |editor=Paula Richman |title=Many Rāmāyaṇas: The diversity of a narrative tradition in south Asia |page=35 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-07589-4 |chapter=Three hundred Rāmāyaṇas: Five examples and Three thoughts on Translation |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkifYfljHP4C}}

Pulavar Kuzhanthai's Ravana Kaaviyam is a panegyric on Ravana that is made up of 3,100 poetic stanzas in which Ravana is the hero. The book was released in 1946, and was subsequently banned by India's Congress led government. The ban was later lifted in 1971.{{cite magazine |author=Pandian, M.S.S. |date=2 November 1998 |title=Ravana as antidote |magazine=Outlook India |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/ravana-as-antidote/206446 |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135407/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/ravana-as-antidote/206446 |archive-date=2018-01-16}}{{cite magazine |author=Nalankilli, Thanjai |date=April 2006 |title=Censorship of Dravidian voices in Tamil Nadu (India) in 1948, 1949 |magazine=Tamil Tribune |url=http://www.tamiltribune.com/06/0401.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108182839/http://www.tamiltribune.com/06/0401.html |archive-date=8 January 2018}}{{cite web |last=Sivapriyan |first=E.T.B. |title=Ram Temple: Tamilians praise Ravana on Twitter |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=5 August 2020 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/ram-temple-tamilians-praise-ravana-on-twitter-869883.html |access-date=21 November 2021}}

Sri Lanka named its first satellite Raavana 1 after Ravana.{{cite web |last=Yamunan |first=Sruthisagar |date=6 July 2019 |title=Why Sri Lanka named its first-ever satellite after Ravana |website=Scroll.in |url=https://scroll.in/article/929015/why-sri-lanka-named-its-first-ever-satellite-after-ravana |access-date=2 July 2020 |language=en-US}}

Ravana appears as the primary antagonist in films and television series based on the Ramayana. Movies like Bhakta Ravana (1938) and its Telugu (1940 and 1958) and Kannada (1958) adaptations as well as television series Raavan (2006-2008){{Cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/nov/nov192.htm|title=Zee TV enters new genre with 'Ravan' on Saturdays at 9|work=Indiantelevision.com|date=16 November 2006}} are focused on the tale on Ravana. The Tamil film Raavanan (2010) and its Hindi counterpart Raavan (2010) narrate the epic from Ravana's perspective in a modern setting.

Author Anand Neelakantan published the novel Asura: Tale of the Vanquished in 2012, in which the character Ravana is depicted as a human-like figure.

Author Amish Tripathi's 2019 novel Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta chronicles the life of Ravana until the time he kidnaps Sita.{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/amish-tripathi-s-raavan-enemy-of-aryavarta-hits-stands-119070200545_1.html|title=Amish Tripathi's 'Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta' hits stands|work=Business Standard|date=2 July 2019|accessdate=4 July 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/amish-tripathis-raavan-enemy-of-aryavarta-to-release-in-july/articleshow/69230605.cms|title=Amish Tripathi's 'Raavan- Enemy of Aryavarta' to release in July|work=The Times of India|date=8 May 2019|accessdate=4 July 2019}} It is the third book in Tripathi's Ram Chandra Series.{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/excerpt-raavan-enemy-of-aryavarta-by-amish/story-xCkBcVXzW7hEniZaQvETxH.html|title=Excerpt: Raavan; Enemy of Aryavarta by Amish|work=Hindustan Times|date=29 June 2019|accessdate=4 July 2019}}

Hardeep Singh portrayed him in the 2024 Hindi film Singham Again.

• Asura
• Bull Demon King
• Daitya
• Danava (Hinduism)
• Keibu Keioiba
• Rakshasa

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• {{cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy |author-link=Wendy Doniger |year=1993 |title=Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and transformation in Hindu and Jaina texts |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=9780791413814 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-kZFzHCuiFAC |via=Google Books}}
• {{cite book |last=Udayakumar |first=S.P. |year=2005 |title=Presenting the Past: Anxious history and ancient future in Hindutva India |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Ravana}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{cite web |title=Rawana the Historical King of Heladiwa |website=Ramayana Research |url=http://www.ramayanaresearch.com/rawana.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708195310/http://www.ramayanaresearch.com/rawana.html |archive-date=2013-07-08}}

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|title=Emperor of Lanka

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{{Ramayana}}

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Category:Brahmins

Category:Characters in the Ramayana

Category:Danavas

Category:Demons in Hinduism

Category:Evil gods

Category:Hindu gods

Category:Legendary monarchs

Category:Rakshasa in the Ramayana

Category:Salakapurusa

Category:Legendary creatures with supernumerary body parts