Sanskrit

Noun

रावण • ‎(rāvaṇa) m

1. N. of the ruler of लङ्का or Ceylon and the famous chief of the राक्षसs or demons whose destruction by रामचन्द्र forms the subject of the रामायण (as son of विश्रवस् he was younger brother of कुबेर, but by a different mother, इलविल being the mother of कुबेर, and केशिनी of the three other brothers रावण विभीषण, and कुम्भ-कर्ण ; he is one of the worst of the many impersonations of evil common in Hindu mythology ; he has ten heads and twenty arms, symbolizing strength ; this power was, as usual, acquired by self-inflicted austerities, which had obtained from ब्रह्मा a boon, in virtue of which रावण was invulnerable by gods and divine beings of all kinds, though not by men or a god in human form ; as विष्णु became incarnate in राम-चन्द्र to destroy रावण, so the other gods produced innumerable monkeys, bears, and various semi-divine animals to do battle with the legions of demons, his subjects, under खर, दूषण, and his other generals) MBh. R. Hariv. &c. (IW. 353)
2. patr. fr. रवण g. शिवादि
3. N. of a prince of कश्मीर Rājat.
4. N. of various authors Cat.