Ravana

Ravana (Sanskrit: रावण, romanized: Rāvaṇa) is a central figure in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, where he is depicted as a ten-headed rakshasa (demon) king of Lanka. The name Ravana translates to "one who causes terror" or "one who roars" in Sanskrit. In Hebrew, he is known as ראבנה (Ravana). In Tamil, he is referred to as இராவணன் (Iraavanaṉ), and in Bengali, he is called রাবণ (Rabôn). Ravana is known for his devotion to the god Shiva, his intellectual prowess, and his abduction of Sita, the wife of the epic's protagonist, Rama. Despite his demonic nature, Ravana is often portrayed as a complex character with noble qualities, such as his deep devotion to Shiva and his mastery of the veena, a stringed musical instrument. His reign and eventual defeat by Rama are central themes in the Ramayana, which explores themes of duty, honor, and the triumph of good over evil.