Ravana
/ˈrɑː.və.nə/noun
The demon-king and principal antagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana, traditionally ruler of Lanka.
Did you know?In the Ramayana, Ravana is often depicted with ten heads, symbolizing immense knowledge and power as well as uncontrolled desire and ego.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European, proposed
PIE
*rewH-
“A reconstructed root associated by some scholars with roaring or howling sounds; its connection to Sanskrit is not certain.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
rava
“Sound, noise, cry, or roar.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
rāvaṇa
“A roaring or causing others to cry out; formed from the root associated with loud sound.”
c. 5th–1st century BCE
Sanskrit
Rāvaṇa
“The powerful demon-king who appears as Rama’s adversary in the Ramayana tradition.”
19th century
English
Ravana
“The conventional English spelling of the Sanskrit proper name.”