Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A

 Character Focus

I chose to focus on the main villain of the Ramayana, Ravana. I wanted to focus on him because as mentioned in my previous post, I want to get to know the origin story of Ravana. Growing up, I never really learned about the antagonists in the story, so I think it would be really interesting to learn about them.

Family

- Father: Vishrava (brahmin); Mother: Kaikasi (rakshasi); Brothers: Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana; Sister: Shurpanakha

- Wife: Mandodari (double of Parvati)

-Half-brother: Vaishravana--later becomes Kubera (lord of yakshas)

Key Points

-Kubera surrenders Lanka to Ravana. He later battles him in the Himalayas due to denouncing Ravana's actions.

-Ravana's real name is Dashagriva (Ten-Necks). He is given the name Ravana from Shiva after he traps Dashagriva on a mountain, and he roars. Shiva names him Ravana or He-Who-Roars.

-Ravana later traveled to Janaka to try to lift Shiva's bow in order to marry Sita. He could not lift the bow and left. Rama would later lift the bow and marry Sita. 

Ravana at Janaka's court (Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: Tiny Tales from the Ramayana Part A: Page 1, Page 2, Page 5 by Laura Gibbs.