Very nice muyarchi panna yathaum sathika mudium yanpatharku nalla kathai. God yanpathu nammudaiya 'ariu' mattume. Reply Delete. The Ramayana has been a perennial source of spiritual, cultural and artistic inspiration, not only to the people of India but also to the people all over the world. It has helped to mold the Hindu character and has inspired millions of people with the deepest of love and devotion.
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Ravana
Ravana (IAST: RÄvaá¹a; /ËrÉËvÉnÉ/;[1]) is described in the Hindu epic Ramayana as the great king of Lanka.[a][2][3]
Ravana is described as having been as a follower of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler and a maestro of the Veena, but someone who wished to overpower the Devas. His ten heads represent his knowledge of the six shastras and the four Vedas. In the Ramayana, Ravana kidnaps Rama's wife Sita to exact vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister Shurpanakha.
Ravana is worshiped by Hindus of Bisrakh, who claim their town to be his birthplace.[4][5][6] He is considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva. Images of Ravana are seen associated with Shiva at some places. He also appears in the Buddhist Mahayana text Laá¹
kÄvatÄra SÅ«tra, in Buddhist Ramayanas and Jatakas, as well as in Jain Ramayanas.
Etymology[edit]
Statue of Ravana at Koneswaram Hindu Temple, Sri Lanka
The word RÄvaá¹a (Tamil:à®à®°à®¾à®µà®£à®©à¯/ Sinhalese: රà·à·à¶« / Sanskrit: रावण) means roaring opposite of VaiÅravaá¹a meaning 'hear distinctly' (passive).[7][8] Both Ravana and VaiÅravaá¹a, who is popularly known as Kubera, are considered to be patronymics derived as 'sons of Vishrava'.[7][8][9][10]
RÄvana was a title taken on later by Dashananda, and it means 'screamer' in Sanskrit (Ravana would sing hymns).[11] Further, roravana is Sanskrit for 'loud roaring.' In Abhinava Gupta's Krama Shaiva scripture, yÄsÄm rÄvanam is used as an expression to mean people who are truly aware in terms of the materialism of their environment.
According to F. E. Pargiter, the word may originally have been a Sanskritisation of Iraivan, the Tamil name for a lord or king.[12]
According to Devaneya Pavanar, the word has come from combination of Tamil words Ira and vannan, meaning night (dark or black) coloured. [13]
Ravana has many other popular names, such as Dasis Ravana, Dasis Sakvithi Maha Ravana, Dashaanan, Ravula, Lankeshwar, Lankeshwaran, Ravanasura, Ravanaeshwaran, and Eela Vendhar.[citation needed]
Iconography[edit]
Ravana is thought to be a maestro of the veena.
Ravana is depicted and described as having ten heads, although sometimes he is shown with only nine heads because he has sacrificed a head to convince Shiva.[citation needed] He is described as a devout follower of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler and a maestro of the Veena (pronounced veh-nah; a chordophone instrument). 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. He is said to have possessed the nectar of immortality, which was stored inside his belly, thanks to a celestial boon by Brahma.[14][page needed]
Depiction in the Ramayana[edit]Birth[edit]
Kubera Ravana's Half-Brother, Lord of Wealth and the North-direction
Brahma, Ravana's great-grandfather
![]()
Vibhishana (right-brother of Ravana), SriRama and Sita worship god Shiva at Rameshwaram; looks on with Lakshmana, Tumburu and Narada
Ravana was born to great sage Vishrava (or Vesamuni), and his wife, the daitya princess Kaikeshi. People of Bisrakh village in Uttar Pradesh claim that Bisrakh was named after Vishrava, and that Ravana was born there. But according to Hela historical sources and folklore, Ravana was born in Lanka, where he later became king.
Ravana's grandfather on his father's side, the sage Pulastya,[15] was one of the ten Prajapatis or mind-born sons of Brahma and one of the Saptarishi (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the first Manvantara (age of Manu). His grandfather on his mother's side, Sumali (or Sumalaya), king of the Raksasas, was the son of Sukesha. Sukesha's parents were King Vidyutkesa, who had married Salakantankata (daughter of Sandhya), who had abandoned Sukesha, but by the grace of Shiva he survived. Sumali had 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 they were less powerful than him. Kaikesi searched among the sages and finally chose Vishrava, the father of Kubera. Ravana and his siblings were born to the couple. They completed their education from their father, with Ravana being a great scholar of the Vedas. The brothers performed penances on Mt Gokarna for 11,000 years and won boons from Brahma. Ravana was blessed with a boon that would make him invincible to the creation of Brahma, except for humans. He also received weapons, chariot as well as the ability to shapeshift from Brahma. Ravana later usurped Lanka from his half-brother Kubera and became the King of Lanka. He appointed Shukracharya as his priest and learnt the Arthashastra (Science of Politics) from him. Rama once addressed Ravana as a 'Maha Brahman' ('Great Brahman' in the context of his education).
After worshiping Shiva on the banks of the Narmada, in the more central Yadu region, Ravana was captured and held under the control of king Kartavirya Arjuna, one of the greatest Yadu kings. It is clear from the references in the Ramayana that Ravana was no commoner among the Humans or Asuras, but a great chanter of the Sama Veda.
![]() Family[edit]
Queen Mandodari and the women of Lanka mourning the death of Ravana. Bas-relief of 9th century Prambanan temple, Java, Indonesia.
Ravana's family are hardly mentioned outside the Ramayana, which is viewed by some as being only the point of view of Rama devotees. According to that:
Devotee of Shiva[edit]
Ravananugraha theme
Priestly ministers[edit]
Ravana is said in some version to have had Shukra Acharya, the priest of the Asuras, as his minister, and in some versions Brihaspati, the priest of the Devas.
One of the most original, which is not found in earlier manuscripts, tells how Ravana orders his court priest Brhaspati (all the gods being his slaves) to read the Chandi stava (mantras of Chandi), that is, the Devi Mahatmya, in order to stave off defeat if he can recite it. According to the Krttivasa text, Ravana arranged for a peaceful yajna (sacrifice) and to start the recitation of Chandi, Brhaspati was invited. Accordingly, Brhaspati recited the same correctly.[17]
Ravana in Sanskrit drama of Kerala, India- Kutiyattam. Artist: Guru NÄtyÄchÄryaMÄni MÄdhava ChÄkyÄr.[18]
Depiction in other scriptures[edit]As Vishnu's cursed doorkeeper[edit]
In the Bhagavata Purana, Ravana and his brother, Kumbhakarna, were said to be reincarnations of Jaya and Vijaya, gatekeepers at Vaikuntha, 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 Vaikuntha and to be born on Earth.
Vishnu agreed that they should be punished. They were given two choices, that they could be born seven times as normal mortals and devotees of Vishnu, or three times as powerful and strong people, but as enemies of Vishnu. Eager to be back with the Lord, they choose the latter one. Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna were born to fulfill the curse on the second birth as enemies of Vishnu in the Treta Yuga. The curse of 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) and the curse of third birth was fulfilled by Dantavakra and Shishupala in the Dwapar Yuga when they both were slain by Krishna, the eighth avatar.
Conflict with other kings and Asuras[edit]
Ravana had gotten into a conflict with some other major Asuras.
Historicity[edit]
According to the Uttra Kanda section of Ramayana, the Rakshasa were the goad or intelligent people[19] in Sri Lanka. They were led by Malyavantha, Sumali and Sukesha of the Rakshasa, who were ousted by the Deva with the help of Vishnu, and then subsequently ruled by King Ravana.
Modern descendants of Ravana[edit]
Thotsakan (Ravana)'s sculpture as a guardian of Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand
There are some Shaiva temples where Ravana is worshiped.[20][21][22]
The Kanyakubja Brahmins of Vidisha district worship Ravana; they personify him as a symbol of prosperity and regard him as a saviour, claiming that Ravana was also a Kanyakubja Brahmin. Thousands of KanyakubjaBrahmins of the village Ravangram of Netaran, in the Vidisha District of Madhya Pradesh, perform daily puja (worship) in the Ravan temple and offer naivedyam / bhog (a ritual of sacrifice to the Gods). Centuries ago King Shiv Shankar built a Ravana temple at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Ravana temple is opened once a year, on Dashehra Day, to perform puja for the welfare of Ravana.[23]
The Sachora Brahmins of Gujarat also claim to descend from Ravana, and sometimes have 'Ravan' as their surnames.[24]
Some Saraswat Brahmins from Mathura claim Ravana as a saraswat brahmin as per his lineage.[25][26]
There is also reference to 'Ravani', lineage of Upadhyaya Yasastrata II, who was of the Gautama gotra and was a son of Acharya Vasudatta, and described as 'born of Ravani'.[27]
The Gondi people of central India claim to be descendants of Ravana, and they also have temples set up for him, his wife Mandodari, and their son Meghnad. They also state that Ravana was an ancient Gond king, and the tenth dharmaguru of their tribe. Every year on Dussehra, the Gondis of the village of Paraswadi carry an image of Ravana riding on an elephant in a procession.[28][29]
Temples built by Ravana[edit]Himachal Pradesh[edit]
Baijnath Temple was a Shiva temple in Himachal Pradesh state, also known as Ravankhola ('Place of Ravana').
Andhra Pradesh[edit]
Kakinada is a Shiva temple in Andhra Pradesh containing a huge Shivalinga, supposedly installed by Ravana himself, with a statue of Ravana near by. Both Shivalinga and Ravana are worshiped by the fishermen community there.
Sri Lanka[edit]Ravana-Dahan (burning effigy of Ravana)[edit]
An effigy of Ravana with burning sparklers on Dusshera. Dashehra Diwali Mela in Manchester, England, 2006.
Effigies of Ravana are burned on Vijayadashami in many places throughout India. It is said that this symbolises Rama's triumph over evil (i.e., Ravana).[citation needed]
Ravanahatha[edit]
The ancient instrument known as a ravanahatha is said to have belonged to a sovereign in present-day India around 5000 BC. It replicates the ancient instrument called the Ravan hatta which is found even today in Rajasthan. Mythology credits this creation to Ravana.[citation needed]
Influence on Indian culture and art[edit]
Ravana with Hanuman in tholu bommalata, the shadow puppet tradition of Andhra Pradesh, India
A Ramleela actor wears the traditional attire of Ravana. One of the most important literary works of ancient India, the Ramayana has had a profound impact on art and culture in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.[citation needed]
Texts attributed to Ravana[edit]Astronomy[edit]
There are also texts attributed to Ravana. The Ravan Samhita is an astrological text or scripture narrated by Shiva and written by Ravana.
Medicine[edit]
The Ravanakumara Tantra is a part of the tantric rituals of the Kriyakalagunottara Tantra,[30] and it is an 11th-century Sanskrit work for the treatment of children's diseases.[citation needed] It is also known as the Ravanaproktabalacikitsasutra ('Sutra Spoken by Ravana on the Curing of Children's Diseases').
Ravana appears as the composer of the 16th century C.E. text, Arka Prakasa, which is a dialogue between the king of Lanka and his wife Mandodhari about which herbs and chemicals can be used in a mixture to cure illnesses, such as syphilis.
Ravana is also the composer of the 16th century C.E. scriptures Nadi Pariksa and Nadi Vijnana on knowledge about the veins.
Linguistics[edit]
Ravana is the composer of the Ravanabhet, a Vedic text on the phonetics of the Sanskrit language.
Ravana is also the composer of the Ravaniya, also known as Ravanabaith, a text on the phonetics of the Telugu language.
The Prakrta-Kamadhenu grammatical text on the Prakrit language is attributed to 'Ravana Lankesvara'.
Spirituality[edit]
The Samkhya scripture known as the Ravana-bhasya, also known as Ravanabhasya, is believed to be written by Ravana.
The Vaisesika scripture Katandi (a commentary on the Vaisesika Sutra) is attributed to Ravana.
Ravana is also the name used by a commentator of the Shaiva Rudrapurascharana.
'Ravanacharya' is the scholar who wrote the Padaratna, a commentary on the Rig Veda.
Ravana is the composer of the Shavite scripture Shiva Tandava Stotram.
Alternate Ramayanas[edit]Buddhist versions[edit]
Rama is always the protagonist. In Rin-spuns-pa Tibetan Ramayana, it is prophesied that 'Ravana' will return as the Buddha incarnation of Vishnu in the Kali Yuga.
The Khamti Ramayana as well describes Rama as a Bodhisattva incarnated to get tortured by Ravana.
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.
In the Cambodian Buddhist text Preah Ream, Buddha is an incarnation of Rama and Ravana. He is a rakshasa.
In the Thai Buddhist text Ramakien, Rama is a rakshasa.[31] There, he is instead known as 'Thotsakan' (à¸à¸¨à¸à¸±à¸à¸à¹, from Sanskrit दशà¤à¤£à¥à¤ , DaÅanabhi, 'ten navels'), and he is depicted with green skin.
In the Lankavatara Sutra, Gautama Buddha pays a visit to Lanka, and in the scripture he is addressed as a Rakshasa. He is normally identified as a demon.
In the Karandavyuha Sutra, the god Yama asks if the visitor in hell (Avalokitesvara) whom he hasn't seen yet is a god or a demon, and asks whether he is Vishnu, Mahesvara, or the rakshasa ('demon') Rama.
Jain version[edit]
Jain accounts vary from the traditional Hindu accounts of Ramayana. The incidents are placed at the time of the 20th Tirthankara, Munisuvrata. According to Jain version, both Rama as well as Ravana were devout Jains.[32] Ravana was a Vidyadhara King who had magical powers.[33] Also, as per the Jain accounts, Ravana was killed by Lakshmana and not Rama in the end.[34]
In Ayyavazhi religion[edit]
In the Ayyavazhi religion, Ravana is considered an Asura, not a Rakshasa.[citation needed]
Dravidian movement[edit]
Pulavar Kulanthaiâs Ravana Kaaviyam, is a brilliantly crafted panegyric on Ravana. The book is made of 3100 poetic stanzas in which Ravana is the hero. The book was released in 1946. The book was banned by the then congress state government. The bank was lifted only in 1971.[35][36]
Related TV series[edit]
See also[edit]References[edit]
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ravana&oldid=902685602'
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