Ravana's Dossier

Ravana

King of Lanka, powerful scholar-warrior and principal antagonist of the epic.

Legend Profile

Ravana

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Ravana Description

King of Lanka, powerful scholar-warrior and principal antagonist of the epic.

Narrative Snapshot

Ravana is a complex antagonist: deeply learned, politically powerful, and militarily formidable, yet undone by uncontrolled pride and obsession. This paradox makes him one of world literature's most layered villains.

His abduction of Sita transforms a regional conflict into an existential moral war. Even when warned by advisors and family, Ravana persists in adharma, choosing prestige over prudence.

His fall in Yuddha Kanda illustrates a central Ramayana lesson: brilliance without ethics becomes self-destructive. Ravana's story is a cautionary portrait of power without restraint.

Relation

Brother of Vibhishana and Kumbhakarna; father of Indrajit.

Interesting Fact

Renowned in tradition as both a formidable ruler and a tragic warning against hubris.

Ramayana Appearance

Aranya trigger events and majorly in Sundara/Yuddha.

Ravana's Details

How were they born?

Born to sage Vishrava and Kaikesi in the Rakshasa lineage of Lanka.

How did they die?

Killed by Rama in Yuddha Kanda after refusing repeated counsel to return Sita and end hostilities.

Estimated Height

~188 cm

Estimated Weight

~92 kg

Famous Temples

Ravana temples exist in select regions such as Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Bisrakh (tradition-linked)

Abilities & Lore Traits

Powers

Mastery of weapons and statecraft
Vedic scholarship
Great physical and mystical power

Weaknesses

Pride and desire
Refusal to heed wise counsel
Ego-driven decisions

Interesting Details

Renowned in tradition as both a formidable ruler and a tragic warning against hubris.
Receives repeated strategic and moral warnings from his own court.
His fall marks the collapse of adharma-led imperial power in the epic narrative.