Ravana
Ravana is the ten-headed king of Lanka and chief antagonist of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. He abducts Sita and is defeated by Rama.
Ramayana: An ancient Sanskrit epic narrating Rama’s exile, Sita’s abduction, and the war against Ravana. Ravana’s character and defeat are central to this epic’s plot.
Lanka: The island kingdom ruled by Ravana in the Ramayana. Ravana’s kingship and the war’s setting are bound to this realm.
Valmiki Ramayana: The Sanskrit epic traditionally attributed to Valmiki, recounting Rama’s life and conflict with Ravana. It is the foundational Sanskrit narrative for Ravana’s role in the epic.
Dussehra: A Hindu festival that celebrates Rama’s victory over Ravana and, in many regions, the triumph of good over evil. Effigies of Ravana are burned to commemorate his defeat.
Sita: The princess of Mithila, Rama’s wife, and a central heroine of the Ramayana. Ravana abducts Sita, setting the conflict with Rama in motion.
Rakshasa: A class of powerful beings in Hindu mythology, often associated with shape-shifting and opposition to gods or humans. Ravana belongs to this mythological class, though he is also a learned ruler and devotee.
Ramcharitmanas: A sixteenth-century Awadhi retelling of the Ramayana composed by Tulsidas. Its devotional framing presents Ravana’s defeat within a theology centered on Rama.
Ravana Dahan: The ritual burning of Ravana effigies during Dussehra celebrations. This public enactment turns Ravana’s death into a recurring festival image.
Rama: The prince of Ayodhya and central hero of the Ramayana, traditionally regarded as an avatar of Vishnu. Rama leads the campaign that ends with Ravana’s defeat.
Pulastya: One of the Vedic sages and a progenitor in Hindu genealogical traditions. Epic genealogies connect Ravana to Pulastya through his father, Vishrava.