Definition
Ravaṇa is known as antihero of the famous epic Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (VR). He was the king of Laṅkā but he abducts Sītā and subsequently gets killed by Rāma in a war.
Introduction
As per the story of VR, Araṇyakāṇḍa, Rāvaṇa’s sister Śūrpaṇakha proposed Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa for marriage but after rejection she tried to kill Sītā. Lakṣmaṇa cuts her nose as a punishment. Later on Rāvaṇa sends his brother Khara to defeat Rāma but Khara gets defeated. Rāvaṇa resolves to abduct Sītā, Rāma’s wife. He constructs a plot to abduct Sītā with the help of Mārica who appears in the form of golden deer. Rāvaṇa appears in the form of ascetic seeking for bhikṣā and then forcibly abducts her. She is kept in Ashokavana in Laṅkā watched by female rakṣasīs. Rāma sends Hanumān as a messenger to Sītā in Laṅkā. Sīta believes that Rāma will come to Laṅkā and will kill Rāvaṇa in war. Rāvaṇa says that enjoying others’ wives or kidnapping women is considered dharmafor...
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References
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Gawde, S. (2022). Rāvaṇa. In: Long, J.D., Sherma, R.D., Jain, P., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1188-1_17
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