Questions tagged [ravana]
Rāvaṇa is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
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Ages of Ramayana's characters
I have not found any specific reference in the Ramayana about:
What was the age of Dasharatha when Lord Rama was born?
What was the age difference amongst the four brothers (Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata ...
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Was Ravana actually a villain? Or was he a devotee of Lord Vishnu?
Ravana was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Siva. He also worshiped Lord Brahma and the two of them had given him enormous powers. Among the Trimurthis, only Lord Vishnu punished him as Lord Rama.
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Why did Sita have a past life?
Sita is the incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi and is said to have been the reincarnation of Vedavati, also an incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi.
The story about Vedavati seems like only a prelude ...
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Why did Laxman get injured by Indrajit's 'shakti' weapon?
In Ramayana, Indrajit was able to hit Laxman by his special weapon named Shakti. Due to this Laxman went very near to death. Now Lord Hanuman went to Himalaya & brought Sanjivani. This way Laxman ...
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Why does Lord Shiva fulfill wishes of evil people also?
Ravana was Lord Shiva's devotee. Lord Shiva was impressed with Ravana's tapasya and fulfilled his dream. My question is, Ravana was evil and took Sita from Rama, then why did Lord Shiva help him?
I ...
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What did Kashyapa do with the Earth after he received it from Parashurama?
Parashurama is a famous avatara (incarnation) of Vishnu who killed the Kshatriyas (kings) of the world twenty-one times. Since he had defeated all the rulers of the world, he obtained control of the ...
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Different Ramayanas
I have heard different tales of Ramayana while travelling to different parts of India. The basic story remains the same but slight differences do exist. What really concerns me is the way Ravan ...
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Did Rama really send Lakshmana to receive wisdom from Ravana after his fall in war?
When Ravana was dying in the battlefield after getting hit by Lord Rama, Lord Rama sent Lakshmana to Ravana.
Ravana and Lakshmana had some conversation. What was it all about?
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How did Goddess Sita protect herself in Ravana's palace?
Ravana abducted Goddess Sita with evil intentions to marry her. But he didn't step forward to do so. What protected Goddess Sita from Ravana for more than six months (as far as I know) in Ravana's ...
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How did Ravana get the golden city of Lanka?
In the Ramayana, we know that Ravana was the King of the golden city of Lanka. How did he get this city? I know very little other than that it was offered by Shiva.
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Which Scripture mentions the famous Shiva Tandava Stotram?
Shiva Tandava Stotram is a hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva and it describes the daily evening dance of Tandava. It also poetically describes destroying aspects of Shiva. Shiva Tandava Stotram mentioned ...
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Why Ravana of Ramayana is worshipped like god and also considered as a demon?
Why Ravana of Ramayana is worshipped like god and also considered as a demon? I know he was a great king who kept his kingdom and administration in an organized manner. He was also a Shiv bhakt. But ...
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Where did Ravan go after his death by lord Ram?
As ravan was killed by lord Ram, so he should go to heaven. I also read from some post Ravan took rebirth as another Rakhasa and killed by lord Krishna in Mahabharat.
Why did Ravan not go to heaven? ...
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Did Ravana have ten heads?
Did Ravana really have ten heads? Or is it a mythical concept?
If he really had ten heads, who gave him this and what is the story behind it?
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Weapon with which Rama killed Ravana
In the Ramayana war, Rama killed Ravana with a weapon given to him by sage Vasishtha. What was the name of the weapon?
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Why did Lord Rama give a second chance to Ravana, but not to Vali?
In Ramayana, Lord Rama gave a chance to Ravana to surrender and sent Angada as his ambassador for peace conciliation. This was because mercy befits a warrior.
Why didn't Rama, for the same reason, ...
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Ravana - Who were his parents and siblings?
Who were the parents of Ravana?
What were the names of Ravana's brothers and sisters?
And who is the real king of Lanka? Ravana or Vibhishana?
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What do the 10 heads of Ravana signify?
All Hindus know about Ravana.
What do the 10 heads of Ravana signify?
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Why is Ravan considered a Rakshasa?
Ravana's father was a Brahmin while his mother a Rakshasi. Then why is he considered a Rakshasa, Rather than a Brahmin. Is it because of his actions?
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When was Ravana hit by the Sudarshana Chakra?
[Note: To be clear, I am not asking why Ravana wouldn't be harmed or killed by the Sudarshana Chakra; that's obvious. I'm asking why and under what circumstances Vishnu launched the Sudarshana Chakra ...
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How did Vali defeat Ravana? What's the story?
There is a mention in the Ramayana that Vali defeated Ravana badly. When and how did it happen? During the duel, why didn't Ravana use any of his divine weapons? I think Vali did not possess any ...
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Did Shree Hanuman have a child from Raavana's daughter SuvannaMaccha?
While reading about (legendary) creature called Mermaid, I stumbled upon 1 of the examples SuvarnaMaccha.
While building Ramasetu, this daughter of Raavana was an obstacle, but later fell in (mutual) ...
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What happened to the Pushpak chariot taken by lord Rama?
It is said that Pushpak chariot was owned by lord Kubera. But later it was forcefully captured by Ravana and then lord Rama took the chariot in the war. And after the Ramayan war lord Rama brings it ...
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Is there any story where Ravana came to perform a Yagna for Lord Rama?
I read a story on a forum which is as follows:
Rama needed a bridge to be built across the ocean to reach Lanka, in order to defeat Ravana. The night before they started their preparations, he ...
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Who is Arjuna, who had captured Ravana at Narmada river?
Once Ravana is going to river Narmada to challenge with Arjuna to measure his strength. But captured by Arjuna there?
Who is Arjuna here?
Why did Arjuna capture Ravana?
I eager to know the full ...
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Did Rama shoot Ravana in the navel or chest?
Some sources indicate that Rama shot Ravana in the navel and not the chest. What is accurate? Do all the different versions of the Ramayana have the same story regarding this?
For example, do Valmiki ...
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Was Rishi Agastya the uncle of Ravana?
According to the Shrimad Bhagvatam Rishi Agastya was the son of Pulastya and a brother of Vishrava:
The sage Añgirã and Sraddhã had four daughters and two sons,
Utathya and Brihaspati. The sage ...
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Was there an encounter between Ravana and Ikshvaku king Māndhātā?
Many people know that Vishnu incarnated in the solar dynasty as Rama. But there is also another incarnation who is an ancestor to Rama, Mandhata (AKA Mandhatri). There is already a question about him ...
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What happened to Ravana's body after his death?
As per this YT Video, it is said Ravana's body antim samskara never happened and some tribe people tried to cure him but couldn't make any success. Is this really true? If not what really happened ...
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Is Raavana a rakshasa or a brahmin and how he can be a king too?
First, how is Raavana a rakshasa and a brahmin at the same time? Second, if Raavana is Brahmin, how is he the king of Lanka? Since one's caste was determined based on one's karma, I would think ...
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Negative Characterisitcs of Women - Ravana
Women are generally loving and we worship women in the form of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, Durga and others. Our scriptures also tell us to respect women.
However, this YouTube video says that some ...
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Was Ravana a vegetarian?
Ravan was half-brahmin and half-demon.His father,the great rishi Vishrava belonged to the Pulastya clan and mother Kaikasi originated from the asura clan.Since he was a brahmin and was the greatest ...
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How did lord Rama perform penance for Ravana after killing him?
In this video, Sadguru Jaggi Vasudeva says that Shri Rama performed 1 year penance in Himalayas for killing Ravana, who was a great devotee of lord Shiva.
Is it true?
If yes, then how did he do ...
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Did Ravan speak Sanskrit?
One of my Sri Lankan friends claims that Ravana spoke Sinhalese.
Is there any place in the Ramayana where the sage Valmiki mentioned about the language of Ravana and his people?
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Did Ravana ever meet Parashurama?
Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and Parashurama is an avatar of Lord Vishnu and also a devotee of Lord Shiva.
I know TV serials/comic stories are just baseless so I want to know if Ravana ...
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What is the story behind Kumbhakarna's sleep?
I've heard a lot about the Sleep Lover, Kumbhakarna. Why was he sleeping for so many days continuously? Is there a story behind this?
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Who was goddess Sita's father? Why are there multiple stories? Which one should we believe?
There have been many accounts as to who actually was the father of goddess Sita.
Contrary to what Valmiki's Ramayana says, some of them states that Sita was Ravana's first child whom he abandoned; ...
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Besides Sita, how many other women did Ravana kidnap?
I recently saw a spiritual TV episode on Sundara Kanda and in that the host said that prior to Sita, Ravana kidnapped 25 or so women (I can't recollect the exact number).
Is this true? Could someone ...
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Did Ravana kill Brihaspati's brother?
As I discussed previously in this answer, this excerpt from the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana describes how a king named Marutha once had a Maheswara Yagna (Shiva ritual) performed, conducted by the ...
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Raavana's dress code during abduction
Ravana came to seeta's place in disguise of an ascetic.
I want to know exact description of what actually he looked like?
From head to toe.
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What were the three good things Ravana thought to do?
I heard that Ravana thought to do some good things to this world, specifically three things. I remember only one which is removing salt from oceans and making the water drinkable.
I heard that these ...
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How did Hanuman know that Ravana abducted Sita?
Lakshmana did not tell the name of Ravana while introducing themselves and their situation to Hanuman and Lakshmana told the following to Hanuman
"He who aspires to keep up the well-being of all ...
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Why is Ram lila popular in North India than South India?
When thought of Deepavali the question struck my mind---
Krishna killed Narakasura and we celebrate Deepavali. Rama killed Ravana mightier than Narakasura. During vijayadasami, Ramlila is the one we ...
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How was Jatayu able to fight with Ravana?
As I heard, Jatayu was able to fight Ravana and almost won.
How big he was in size and using what power was he able to fight with Ravana? Do any scriptures say about his power?
What are the other ...
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Why is ravana still worshipped in a few places till today despite being the demon king?
I have seen in films, heard tales about how in south India many people worship ravana, surely they must be following a different folklore version which edifies ravana but isn't Ramayana an universally ...
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Boons given to Ravana by Lord Shiva
Ravana was said to be a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva.And it is said that Ravana obtained some boons from Lord Shiva, after doing a lot of penances.
What are the boons given to Ravana by Lord Shiva?
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What is the story of Kubera's sons?
While scrolling through the Wikipedia page of Lord Kubera, I saw that it was written Kubera's son's wife was Rambha who was raped by Ravana. So, what is this story?
Also, His sons were cursed into two ...
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How were the 10 heads of Ravana arranged?
Uttara Kanda (Also other Kandas) of Ramayan mentions Ravana having 10 heads and 20 arms.
Now 10 heads would make a body asymmetrical as there is no middle point.
Is there any mention in scriptures ...
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Why did Ravana abduct lord Rama's mother Kausalya?
I heard it for the first time from a purohit around me but I am confused because I have never heard such a story.
So, I would like to know what is the story and why did Ravana abduct lord Rama's ...
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Why were Ravana and Bali (the Asura not Vanara) enemies when Bali's daughter was married to Ravan's brother Kumbhakarna?
Kumbhakarna had two sons, Kumbha and Nikumbha, from his wife Vajramala who too fought in the war against Rama and were killed.
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