RAVANA, a king of Lanka or Ceylon, who ruled over a powerful and civilised state, comprising Ceylon and the whole of the southern division of India. He was the son of Visvarawa Muni by his wife Nikaksha or Naikasi, the daughter of Sumali, who, observing the splendour of Kuvera, a son of the sage by his wife Irvira, directed his daughter to propitiate the sage, that she alit° might Imo children by him. Having succeeded in obtaining the good graces of Visrava, Naika.si had by him Havana, Kinnbhakerna, and a daughter, Surpa naklia. Another wife of Visvamwa Muni was Brabira, daughter of Trinavindliu, a king of the Solar line of Vesala, descended front Srail'ha Dora. Havana is described as like a demon and cruel. Ile carried off Sita, wife of Rama, also known as Rama Chandra and Dasrat'll Rama, and brought on an invasion of his island by Rama, in which Rama was assisted by the uncivilised races of the Dandacaranya or forests of the southern part of the Peninsula of India. Havana and his
brother were slain, and Sita was recovered. The story of the Ratnayana recounts this war. A festival is celebrated in honour of Havana by the Shanar race. In Hindu legend Havana is de scribed with numerous heads and arms, and is said to have become so potent, in consequence of an ill-judged promise (according to some of Siva, and according to others of Brahma), obtained by marvellous religious austerities and devotion, as to have brought all the gods under his subjection. As the promise of the deity could not be revoked, Vishnu found the means of evading the perform ances of it by becoming incarnate as Rama Chandra to effect this. Ravana is also called Dasagriva, the ten-necked ; and Pulastya, and also Visravana as son of Visrava, the father also of Kuvera. His numerous heads and his twenty hands are the usual symbols of dominion.— Moor, p. 334 ; Hero and Nymph, p. 288.