Ravana
Rāvaṇa ( ˈrɑːʋəɳə , रावण, இராவணன், රාවණා ), the mythical “demon king” of Lanka (possiblySri Lanka), isthe king of theRakshasasand antagonist of the divineRamain the epic Ramayana .
Ravana is the son of Vishravas and Kaikasi and the husband of Mandodari . He had asked Brahma for the grace not to be able to be hurt or killed by gods or demons. In his arrogance he had forgotten to ask Brahma to extend this protection to humans as well. In the beginning he is the guardian of the first water sources, but later loses them. Mythology reports that like any Rakshasa he can assume any shape he wants, but he prefers that of a tiger. He is often shown with ten heads and 20 hands.
In the Ramayana , the famous Indian epic, he robs Sita , Rama's wife. With the help of Hanuman , however, it is possible to win them back. After a long struggle, Rama succeeds in killing Ravana.
Ravana's history and ancestry, his struggles against the gods and the reason why he can only be killed by one human being, but not defeated by gods and heavenly beings, is described in detail in the 7th and last book of Ramayana , the younger Uttarakanda in terms of textual history (Chapters 1–34 of the critical edition).
Ravana is not considered unilaterally evil in all respects and only an enemy of the gods. He is also credited with his erudition and musical talent. With the ravanahattha or Ravana vina he invented the oldest Indian string instrument.
In the Thai version Ramakian the Ramayana , Ravana is found under the name Totsakan (also Thosakanth). Episodes of Ramakian are mainly staged in the Thai mask drama Khon and in the shadow play Nang Yai .
