Ravan's grandfather, the sage Pulastya, was one of the ten Prajapati or mind-born sons of Brhma and one of the Saptarishi (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the first Manvantar. Kaikasi's father, Sumali (or Sumalaya), king of the Daityas, wished her to marry the most powerful being in the mortal world, so as to produce an exceptional heir. He rejected the kings of the world, as they were less powerful than him. Kaikesi searched among the sages and finally chose Vishrava, the father of Kuber. Ravan was a Daitya or Rakshas. Ravan later usurped Lanka from his half brother Kubera and became the King of Lanka and became a Kshatriya thereon. Rama had once addressed Ravana as a "Maha Brahman" (Great Brahman in the context of his education).
His brothers were Vibhishan & Kumbhkarn (some sources mention of another brother called Ahiravan). Through his mother, he was related to the daityas Maricha and Subahu. Kaikesi also gave birth to a daughter, "Chandramukhi" ("girl with moon-like face"), although later she was dubbed the infamous Shurpanakha, "winnow-like nails".
Father Vishrava noted that while Ravan was aggressive and arrogant, he was also an exemplary scholar. Under Vishrava's tutelage, Ravan mastered the Vedas , the holy books, and also the arts and ways of Kshtriya (warriors). Ravan was also an excellent Veena player and the sign of his flag had a picture of veena on it. Sumali, his maternal grandfather, worked hard in secret to ensure that Ravan retained the ethics of the Daityas.
The Ramayana tells that Ravan had close connections with region of the Yadus, which included Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra and Rajasthan up to Mathura south of Delhi. Ravana is believed to be related to Lavanasura, also regarded as a Rakshasa, of Madhupura (Mathura) in the region of the Surasenas, who was conquered & killed by Shatrughna, youngest brother of Rama.
After worshiping Lord Shiva on the banks of the Narmada, in the more central Yadu region, Ravana was captured and held under the control of KingKartvirya Arjun, one of the greatest Yadu kings. It is very clear from the references in the Ramayana that Ravan was no commoner among the Humans or Asuras, a great chanter of the Sama Veda.
Tapasya to Brahma
Following his initial training, Ravana performed an intense penance (or tapasya) to Brhma , lasting several years. During his penance, Ravana chopped off his head 10 times as a sacrifice to appease him. Each time he sliced his head off a new head arose, thus enabling him to continue his penance. At last, Brahma, pleased with his austerity, appeared after his 10th decapitation and offered him a boon. Ravana asked for immortality, which Brahma refused to give, but gave him the celestial nectar of immortality. The nectar of immortality, stored under his navel, dictated that he could not be vanquished for as long as it lasted.
Ravana also asked for absolute invulnerability from and supremacy over gods, heavenly spirits, other rakshas, serpents, and wild beasts. Contemptuous of mortal men, he did not ask for protection from these. Brahma granted him these boons in addition to his 10 severed heads and great strength by way of knowledge of divine weapons and magic. Thus Ravana known as 'Dasamukha' or 'Dashaanan' (Dasa - ten, mukha/anan - face).
King of Lanka
After winning these boons, Ravana sought out his grandfather, Sumali, and assumed leadership over his army. He then set his sights on capturing the island city of Lanka.
Lanka was an idyllic city, created by the celestial architectVishwakarma for Shiva and acquired by Kuber, the treasurer of the gods upon advice of his father Visravas. Visrava had asked for Lanka made from gold from Shiva as dakshina for the house warming ceremony he had conducted for Lanka. Kubera had generously shared all that he owned with Ravana and the latter's siblings, who were Kubera's half-brothers and half-sister from his stepmother Kaikesi. However, Ravana demanded Lanka wholly from him, threatening to take it by force. Vishrava, their father, advised Kubera to give it up to him, as Ravana was now undefeatable.
Although Ravana usurped Lanka, he was nevertheless regarded as a benevolent and effective ruler. Lanka flourished under his rule, to the extent that it is said the poorest of houses had vessels of gold to eat and drink off, and hunger was unknown in the kingdom.
Devotee of Lord Shiva
Following his conquest of Lanka, Ravan encountered Shiva at his abode in Kailash. Ravan at first went to meet Shiva. Nandi the vehicle of Shiva, refused to let Ravana in. He got annoyed and started teasing Nandi. Nandi in turn got annoyed and cursed Ravan that Lanka would be destroyed by a monkey. To show Nandi his love for Shiva, Ravana attempted to uproot and move the mountain on a whim. Shiva, annoyed by Ravana's arrogance, pressed his littlest toe on Kailash, pinning him firmly and painfully under it. His Ganas informed Ravan of whom he had crossed, upon which Ravan became penitent. He plucked his nerves and used them as strings to compose music and sang songs praising Shiva, and is said to have done so for years until Shiva released him from his bondage.Pleased with his resilience and devotion, Shiva gave to him the divine sword Chandrahas (Chandra-Moon, Has-laugh, literally 'the laughter of the moon' but referring to the shape formed by a crescent moon which resembles a smile). It was during this incident that he acquired the name 'Ravan', meaning "(He) Of the terrifying roar", given to him by Shiva - the Earth is said to have quaked at Ravan's cry of pain when the mountain was pinned on him. Ravana in turn became a lifelong devotee of Lord Shiva and is said to have composed the hymn known as Shiva Tandav Stotra.
Shiva had given his sword Chandrahas with a warning that if it was used for unjust causes, it would return to the three-eyed one and Ravan's days would be numbered. After Ravan had been given the Celestial Nectar of Immortality by Brahma, he went on to please Shiva. He cut his head & put it as sacrifice for pleasing Shiva, but Shiva replaced his head with a new one. This was repeated Nine times, on which Shiva was happy and pleased with Ravan's resilience and devotion.
Emperor of the Three Worlds
His abilities now truly awe-inspiring, Ravan proceeded on a series of campaigns, conquering humans, celestials and other demons. Conquering the netherworld completely, he left his brother Ahiravan as king. He became supreme overlord of all Asuras in the three worlds, making an alliance with the Nivatakavachas & Kalakeyas, two clans he was unable to subdue. Conquering several kingdoms of the human world, he performed the suitable sacrifices and was crowned Emperor. Ravan defeated Indra and the gods, Surya, Varuna and Yama.Kuber at one point chastised Ravan for his cruelty and greed, greatly angering him. Proceeding to the heavens, Ravan fought and defeated the Devas, singling out his brother for particular humiliation. By force he gained command over the Devas, celestials, and the serpent races. At the time of the Ramayan, set several years later, Ravan is shown as dominating all human and divine races - so much so that he can command the sun's rising and setting.
Depiction in other Scriptures, as Vishnu's cursed doorkeeper
In the Bhagvat Puran, Ravan and his brother, Kumbhkarna, were said to be reincarnations ofJay & Vijay, gatekeepers at Vaikunth, the abode of Vishnu and were cursed to be born in Earth for their insolence.
These gatekeepers refused entry to the Sanat Kumar monks, who, because of their powers and austerity appeared as young children. For their insolence, the monks cursed them to be expelled fromVaikunth and to be born on Earth.
Lord Vishnu agreed that they should be punished. They were given two choices, that they could be born 7 times as normal mortals and devotees of Vishnu, or 3 times as powerful and strong people, but as enemies of Vishnu. Eager to be back with the Lord, they choose the latter one. Ravan and his brother Kumbhakarna were born to fulfill the curse on the second birth as enemies of Vishnu in the Treta Yug. The curse of first birth was fulfilled by Hiranyakashyapu and his brotherHiranyaksh in Sat yug, when they were both vanquished by earlier avatars of Vishnu (Hiranyaksha by Varah and Hiranyakashipu by Narasimha) and the curse of third birth was fulfilled byDantavaktra & Shishupal in the Dwapar Yug when they both were slain by Krishna, the eighth avatar.
Ravan's family
This section deals with many members of Ravana's family. Since they are hardly mentioned outside the Ramayana, not much can be said about them. They are presented here as they are in the Ramayana, which is viewed by some as being only the point of view of Rama devotees, but is the most complete account of the story that is known.Ravana's grandfather was Malyavan, who was against the war with Ram.
Ravan's parents were Vishrava (son of Pulatsya) and Kaikasi (daughter of Sumali & Tadaka) Kaikesi had two brothers- Marich & Subahu, which would effectively make them Ravan's uncles.
Ravan had six brothers and two sisters:
- Kuber- the King of North direction and the Guardian of Heavenly Wealth. He was an older half-brother of Ravan: they were born to the same father by different mothers.
- Vibhishan- A great follower of Ram and one of the most important characters in the Ramayana. As a minister and brother of Ravan, he spoke the truth without fear and advised Ravana to return the kidnapped Sita and uphold Dharm. Ravan not only rejected this sane advice, but also banished him from his kingdom. Vibhishana sought protection from Rama, which was granted without hesitation.
- Kumbhkarn- One of the most jovial Demon in Hindu history. When offered a boon by Brhma, he was tricked into asking for eternal sleep. A horrified Ravan, out of brotherly love, persuaded Brahma to amend the boon. Brahma mitigated the power of the boon by making Kumbhakarn sleep for six months and being awake for rest six months of a year (in some versions, he is awake for one day out of the year). During the war with Rama, Kumbhakarn was untimely awakened from his sleep. He tried to persuade Ravan to open negotiations with Rama and return Sita to him. But he too failed to mend the ways of Ravan. However, bound by a brother's duty, he fought on the side of Ravan and was killed in the battlefield. Before dying he met Vibhishana and blessed him for following path of righteousness.
- Khar- King of Janasthan. He protected the northern kingdom of Lanka in the mainland and his kingdom bordered with the Kosala Kingdom, the kingdom of Ram. He was well known for his superior skills in warfare.he was killed by Rama.
- Dushan- Viceroy of Janasthan.
- Ahiravan- King of the Patal ruled by the Rakshas by Ravan and Demon King Maya.
- Kumbhini- Older sister of Ravan and the wife of the demon Madhu, King of Mathura, she was the mother of Lavanasur. She was renowned for her beauty and later retired to the sea for penance.
- Surpanakha- The sister of Ravan. She was the ultimate root of the kidnapping of Sita. She was the one who instigated her brothers to wage a war against Rama.
Ravan was married to Mandodari, the daughter of the celestial architect Maya,Dhanvamalini, and a third wife. He had seven sons from his three wives:
- Meghanad (also known as Indrajeet because he defeated Lord Indra), the most powerful son.
- Atikaya
- Akshaykumar
- Devantaka.
- Narantaka.
- Trishira.
- Prahastha.
