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Ramayana
Ravana is the ten-headed king of Lanka who abducts Sita and becomes Rama’s principal enemy in the Ramayana. He is a formidable ruler and warrior protected by Brahma’s boons. His refusal to return Sita, despite warnings within his own family, brings the war that destroys Lanka’s leading defenders and ends his reign.
Original artistic interpretation · RavanaTHE LIVING ARCHIVE
He is a son of the sage Vishrava. His brothers are Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana, while Kubera is their paternal half-brother through another mother. Mandodari is his chief queen, and their son Indrajit becomes one of Lanka’s strongest defenders. Kumbhakarna fights for him despite criticizing his policy; Vibhishana eventually leaves and joins Rama.
Names such as Dashagriva and Dashanana refer to his ten heads. His ability to change appearance allows him to approach Sita in disguise before revealing a terrifying form. These supernatural traits belong to the epic’s portrait of a king whose power exceeds that of ordinary human rulers.
AT A GLANCE
These relationships follow the traditions described here. Some details remain uncertain and should not be treated as a single universal genealogy.
ROLE & ESSENCE
Ravana’s character explains how great ability can coexist with disastrous judgement. His learning, courage and royal resources make the losses greater, because the problem is not simple weakness: he repeatedly chooses desire and possession over the restraint urged upon him.
TRADITION & MEANING
The mourning scenes preserve his stature without excusing the abduction. He can be a loved husband, a formidable brother and a ruler responsible for the destruction of his own household at the same time.
The Bhagavata genealogy names the brothers’ mother Keshini, while Ramayana genealogical traditions use Kaikasi. These names belong to different transmitted accounts. Kubera’s separate maternal line remains important in either presentation.
Explore the sacred texts behind these stories in the Suvarnaveda library.
Where artwork is shown, it is a contemporary illustrative interpretation. This reference record does not establish a fixed portrait, colour scheme, or complete set of iconographic attributes for this figure.
The accounts belong to Ramayana. Genealogy, theological interpretation, and portrayal can differ between texts and regional retellings.
FOLLOW THE THREADS
54 connected profiles. Every path leads to an original record.
Ravana receives Chandrahasa after the mountain encounter.
Ravana seizes it after defeating Kubera.
Ravana wins the linga through penance before it is installed at Gokarna.
Ravana obtains the linga, which becomes fixed after the cowherd sets it on the ground.
Ravana uses disguise before forcibly carrying Sita away.
Ravana commands Lanka and fights the final duel.
Vibhishana opposes Ravana’s policy and later mourns him.
Ravana is her brother.
Ravana belongs to Vishrava’s household.
She bears Ravana and later urges him to equal Kubera.
Mandodari is Ravana’s chief queen.
Indrajit is Ravana’s warrior son.
Ravana sends Aksha after the deaths of his commanders.
VISUAL ARCHIVE
Atikaya is Ravana’s son and fights in defence of Lanka.
Devantaka is one of Ravana’s sons sent into the war.
Ravana sends Narantaka and his other sons into battle.
Ravana abducts Sita by force.
Ravana orders Hanuman’s punishment after recognizing that an envoy should not be killed.
Rama kills Ravana in the final duel.
Ravana attacks his kinsman and appropriates Pushpaka.
Kumbhakarna is Ravana’s brother.
Angada brings Rama’s warning into Ravana’s court.
Ravana violates her expressed refusal.
Ravana and Kumbhakarna are the pair’s second births.
Ravana threatens him and imposes the deer plan.
Akampana reports to Ravana in the traditional forest account.
Prahasta serves Ravana as adviser and army commander.
Ravana sends Dhumraksha out after learning that Rama and Lakshmana have recovered.
Ravana orders Vajradamshtra’s sortie after Dhumraksha’s death.
Ravana orders Makaraksha’s sortie after Kumbha and Nikumbha fall.
Ravana recalls his assault and Brahma’s punishment.
Ravana fights Manibhadra and knocks his crown sideways.
Ravana dispatches Jambumali and then further troops after his death.
The warrior joins the armed supporters addressing Ravana.
The warrior joins the armed supporters addressing Ravana.
Suryashatru is named in Ravana’s armed council.
The warrior joins the armed supporters addressing Ravana.
The warrior joins the armed supporters addressing Ravana.
Yupaksha is described as the king’s minister and obeys his battle order.
Carries messages and gathers intelligence for Ravana.
Reports on Rama’s army to the king of Lanka.
Acts as Ravana’s reconnaissance agent.
He advises Ravana and receives a defensive command.
His counsel urges coercion against Sita; Ravana answers with the curse he fears.
Sumali urges his daughter’s son Ravana to recover Lanka.
He urges Ravana to return Sita and conclude peace.
He offers to retaliate for the attack on Lanka.
He fights among Ravana’s Rakshasa forces.
This version identifies him as Ravana’s uncle, summoned to help the war.
This telling places him among Ravana’s uncles and allies.
Ravana commands the five-general expedition and the army at Lanka.
