King Ravana, the ten-headed, multi-armed demon king, ruled the island kingdom of Lanka. He gained immense power through fervent prayers and sacrifices to gods Brahma and Shiva, rendering him nearly impervious to celestial beings. Yet arrogance and insatiable lust for power corrupted him, driving destructive acts across the worlds. A complex scholar-king and accomplished ruler, he remained devoted to Shiva but was ultimately mastered by ego and desire. His lineage identifies him as the son of sage Vishrava and princess Kaikesi, with siblings Vibhishana, Kumbhakarna, and Surpanakha. Ravana usurped Lanka from his stepbrother Kubera, the city's original ruler and treasurer of the gods. Under his reign, Lanka thrived as a technologically advanced civilization, boasting achievements like the flying Pushpaka Vimana. Ravana is credited with authoring texts on Ayurveda and astrology, his ten heads symbolizing vast knowledge. Conflict erupted when his sister Surpanakha, disfigured by Rama's brother Lakshmana, incited Ravana to kidnap Rama's wife Sita. He orchestrated a plan involving Maricha, who transformed into a golden deer to lure Rama and Lakshmana away. Ravana then abducted Sita by lifting the very earth beneath her feet, avoiding direct touch due to a curse promising death for non-consensual contact. He held Sita captive in Ashoka Vatika, where demonesses tried to coerce her submission. In the ensuing war against Rama's forces, Ravana depended on his son Indrajit and brother Kumbhakarna, whom he roused from deep slumber. Despite formidable military prowess and divine weapons, fatal arrogance led him to neglect fortifying his heart against mortal threats. Rama exploited this vulnerability, using the Brahmasthra arrow, guided by Gnana (wisdom), to end Ravana's reign and life—fulfilling the prophecy that only a human could destroy him. Alternative regional lore depicts Ravana as a capable and benevolent ruler in Sri Lanka, with sites like Rumassala and Adam's Bridge tied to his legacy. Some accounts suggest he was a Buddhist king who established monasteries, contrasting sharply with his core narrative depiction as a tyrant.