Some Hindus believe that their supreme god Vishnu descended from heaven to earth (incarnated as human form) nth number of times. Moreover, sometimes he existed simultaneously in several people, and sometimes he came to our mortal world not alone, but in the company of his wife, the goddess Lakshmi.
The Ramayana is a story about the joint adventures of the divine couple, where Vishnu is represented in the incarnation of King Rama, and Lakshmi is represented as the royal wife Sita.
So, there lived and lived an evil and cunning demon Ravana, who had ten heads and a penchant for eating people.
And then one day this radish had insidious and rather banal plans to enslave heaven, earth and the underworld. To implement them, Ravana pretended to be an innocent lamb for ten thousand years, practiced severe asceticism, for which he received from his great-grandfather Brahman (creator of entities) invulnerability from gods and people.
Having become invulnerable, Ravana began to unleash chaos: he seized power over Lanka (Sri Lanka), created his own demonic kingdom, gobbled up people in batches and forced the gods from heaven to serve in his house. If the matter concerned only people, probably no one would have even scratched himself, but the gods, who really did not like working, began to cry to Vishnu and ask him to deal with the lawless man in his own way. Vishnu thought, agreed, and descended to earth - he was born in the form of the mortal prince Rama.
Further in the course of the play (and it consists of 24,000 verses - four times more than the “Illiad”!!!) Rama grows up, marries Sita (in whom the divine Lakshmi was incarnated) and goes into voluntary exile in the wilderness due to slander forest wilds. Having gotten wind of this, the villain Ravana kidnaps Sita and hides her in secret place and, like the Serpent Gorynych to Vasilisa the Beautiful, he persuades the queen to get married. Sita, obviously not wanting to exchange the awl for soap, stubbornly refuses.
Ravana gives her a month to think about it and leaves. Sita, held hostage, is found by the monkey god Hanuman. He frees the captive and takes her to the camp of Rama, who has already waged war against the kidnapper of his wife.
In a fierce battle, Rama's troops win a crushing victory, the evil Ravana is defeated, but there is no happy ending. Rama, instead of being happy miraculous salvation wife, the latter begins to doubt his marital fidelity (otherwise, Ravana has ten heads, how can a woman resist such a “dazzling” handsome man!!!). He demands that his better half undergo a test of fire to confirm his innocence.
Sita, like a humble woman of the East, enters the fire and comes out unharmed. Everyone is happy and lives happily ever after for 10,000 years. However, even after 10,000 years, Rama’s “loyal subjects” cannot forget the story of Sita’s kidnapping and call their king a cuckold behind his back. In response to this gossip, Rama will not come up with anything smarter than to drive his pregnant wife out of sight.
The poor thing settles in the forest, she gives birth to two sons, who, having matured, try to get even with their cruel father. They go to war against their father, defeat him, and... reconcile with him. Rama, looking at his sons, begins to feel intensely nostalgic and calls his exiled wife back to the palace.
But the courtiers, whom Sita did not please in some way, again begin to demand confirmation of her innocence by fire. At this moment, the woman’s patience comes to an end, she asks her mother Earth to accept her body, and the spirit of the sufferer leaves for the heavenly spheres. After some time, Rama also leaves this world, and with this the Indian series called “Ramayana” (finally!) comes to an end.
Written in Vedic Sanskrit. The final version of the poem dates back to the 2nd century. The poem consists of 7 books or 24 thousand "shlokas", i.e. double verses. The word Ramayana can be translated as "The Fates of Rama" or "The Acts of Rama." The name Rama means Handsome or Handsome in Indian. The author is supposedly the famous ancient Indian sage Valmiki.
A few words about Valmiki. He lived in the 4th century BC. e. and was, oddly enough, a robber. But one day on his life path Seven wise men met. They conquered Valmiki with their knowledge and he heeded their instructions. From that moment on, the life of the robber Valmiki changed radically. He went as a hermit to the mountains and for a long time meditated on the name Ram. Legends say that Valmiki's meditation was so long that an anthill grew around him. That is why he was called Valmiki, i.e. “came out of the anthill.” After a strange meditation session with ants, Valmiki told the world the story of Rama and Sita. This is how the famous was born in an unusual way poem "Ramayana". By the way, Valmiki died during another meditation. He did not move for a long time and was eaten by ants. Alas. It's time for us to start talking about the Ramayana.
monkey king hanuman
I must say that poem "Ramayana" loved Indian people more than "Mahabharata" Perhaps this is due to fairy tale plot, or with everyone’s favorite Indian Rama.
The plot line of the popular poem is very similar to Pushkin’s “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. The main characters are Prince Rama, his beautiful wife Sita, the chief adviser to the king of the monkeys, the wisest Hanuman, and the ten-headed demon Ravana. It all started with the fact that the ten-headed Rakhshasa demon Ravana received invulnerability as a gift from the god Brahma. Only a human could kill the demon ruler of the island of Lanka. Taking advantage of this gift, Ravana committed outrages, which did not please the god Vishnu. Therefore, he decided to be reborn as a human and end the demon. Vishnu chose Prince Rama for this. From this moment the great adventures of the protagonist of the poem begin.
the demon Ravana, having 10 heads, could easily sing in chorus!
How many strange creatures have to meet Rama on your way! Here is the ugly sister of the demon Ravana, who falls in love with the prince and tries in every possible way to destroy his beautiful wife Sita. And Ravana himself, captivated by Sita’s beauty, decides to steal her, sending a deer with golden horns into the forests. And flying monkeys that help Rama find the location of his stolen wife. The scout monkey transforms into a cat, which finds an opportunity to meet the captive. The gods take part in the poem every now and then. For example, in the episode after great battle With the demon and Sita freed from captivity, Rama suddenly accuses his wife of adultery in front of everyone and demands proof of her innocence. The fire god Agni comes to the defense of the faithful woman, preventing Sita from being burned alive.
Rama had blue skin color
It was an interesting turn of events when it seemed like the fairy tale had a happy ending! After all, the important mission was completed - the enemy Ravana was defeated with an arrow to the very heart, his beloved wife turned out to be faithful, and Rama was finally able to begin his duties as king. But the Indian epic is rich in surprises, like life itself! This time the people aroused in Rama a feeling of jealousy towards the beautiful Sita. As a result, the king rejects his wife, who is pregnant with their sons, forcing him to leave the palace. Sita goes into the forest to visit the hermits. She is patronized by the sage Valmiki (i.e., the author of the poem). Sita gives birth and raises Rama's sons with dignity. In the forest they dedicate to their father poem "Ramayana", which they tell Rama when they meet. Rama realizes his guilt and bitterly repents of his mistakes. However, having found his wife, instead of reuniting with her, he again demands proof of fidelity. Upset, Sita begs Mother Earth to accept her as the required evidence. The earth “opens up its abysses and receives it into its bosom.” Rama laments his own mistrust, but it is not in his power to return the past time. Sita left forever, proving to him once again her purity. Only in heaven are the spouses destined to meet again.
The Ramayana is undoubtedly one of the most most interesting works foreign classics. In my opinion, everyone should definitely read this book in order to become familiar with the ancient Indian epic and appreciate the splendor of the imagination of human thought. Fantasy lovers will surely enjoy double the pleasure of reading such a classic. In addition, this “fairy tale” is full of life wisdom, rich in surprises and overflowing with colors of emotions and feelings.
“The Acts of Rama” is an ancient Indian epic consisting of 7 books and approximately 24 thousand couplets-shlokas; attributed to the legendary sage Valmiki (Vabmiki)
Once upon a time, the ten-headed Ravana was the ruler of the kingdom of Rakhshasa demons on the island of Lanka. He received from the god Brahma the gift of invulnerability, thanks to which no one except a person could kill him, and therefore humiliated and persecuted the heavenly gods with impunity. For the sake of destroying Ravana, the god Vishnu decides to be born on earth as a mere mortal. Just at this time, the childless king of Ayodhya Dasharatha performs a great sacrifice in order to find an heir. Vishnu enters the womb of his eldest wife Kaushalya, and she gives birth to the earthly incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu - Rama. Dasaratha's second wife, Kaikeyi, simultaneously gives birth to another son, Bharata, and the third, Sumira, gives birth to Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
Already as a young man, having gained fame for himself by many military and pious deeds, Rama goes to the country of Videha, whose king, Janaka, invites suitors to a competition, vying for the hand of his beautiful daughter Sita. At one time, Janaka, plowing a sacred field, found Sita in his furrow, adopted and raised her, and now destined her to be the wife of the one who bends the wonderful bow given to him by the god Shiva. Hundreds of kings and princes try in vain to do this, but only Rama manages to not only bend the bow, but break it in two. Janaka solemnly celebrates the wedding of Rama and Sita, and his wife long years They live in happiness and harmony in Ayodhya in the Dasharatha family.
But then Dasharatha decides to proclaim Rama as his heir. Having learned about this, Dasaratha Kaikeyi's second wife, incited by her maid, the evil hunchback Manthara, reminds the king that he once swore to fulfill any two of her wishes. Now she expresses these desires: to expel Rama from Ayodhya for fourteen years and anoint her own son Bharata as heir. In vain Dasaratha begs Kaikeyi to renounce her demands. And then Rama, insisting that his father remain true to his word, goes into forest exile, and Sita and his devoted brother Lakshmana voluntarily follow him. Unable to bear the separation from his beloved son, King Dasharatha dies. Bharata is supposed to ascend the throne, but the noble prince, believing that the kingdom rightfully belongs not to him, but to Rama, goes to the forest and persistently convinces his brother to return to Ayodhya. Rama rejects Bharata's insistence, remaining faithful to his filial duty. Bharata is forced to return to the capital alone, but as a sign that he does not consider himself a full-fledged ruler, he places Rama’s sandals on the throne.
Meanwhile, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita settle in a hut they built in the Dandaka forest, where Rama, protecting the peace of the holy hermits, exterminates the monsters and demons that bother them. One day, Ravana's ugly sister Shurpanakha appears at Rama's hut. Having fallen in love with Rama, out of jealousy she tries to swallow Sita, and the angry Dakshmana cuts off her nose and ears with a sword. In humiliation and rage, Shurpanakha incites a huge army of rakshasas led by the ferocious Khara to attack his brothers. However, with a shower of irresistible arrows, Rama destroys both Khara and all his warriors. Then Shurpanakha turns to Ravana for help. She calls on him not only to avenge Khara, but, having seduced him with Sita’s beauty, to kidnap her from Rama and take her as his wife. On a magic chariot, Ravana flies from Lanka to the Dandaku forest and orders one of his subjects, the demon Maricha, to turn into a golden deer and distract Rama and Lakshmana away from their home. When Rama and Lakshmana, at the request of Sita, follow the deer into the forest, Ravana forcibly puts Sita in his chariot and carries her through the air to Lanka. The king of the kites, Jatayus, tries to block his path, but Ravana mortally wounds him, cutting off his wings and legs. In Lanka, Ravana offers Sita wealth, honor and power, if only she agrees to become his wife, and when Sita contemptuously rejects all his claims, he concludes her into custody and threatens to punish her with death for her obstinacy.
Not finding Sita in the hut, Rama and Lakshmana, in great sorrow, set out in search of her. From the dying kite Jatayus they hear who her abductor was, but they do not know where he disappeared with her. Soon they meet the monkey king Sugriva, dethroned by his brother Valin, and Sugriva's wise adviser, the monkey Hanuman, the son of the wind god Vayu. Sugriva asks Rama to return the kingdom to him, and in return promises help in searching for Sita. After Rama kills Valin and restores Sugriva to the throne, he sends his spies to all directions of the world, instructing them to find traces of Sita. The monkeys sent to the south, led by Hanuman, manage to do this. From the kite Sampati, the brother of the deceased Jatayus, Hanuman learns that Sita is in captivity in Lanka. Pushing off from Mount Mahendra, Hanuman ends up on the island, and there, shrinking to the size of a cat and running around the entire capital of Ravana, he finally finds Sita in a grove, among Ashoka trees, guarded by fierce Rakshasa women. Hanuman manages to secretly meet with Sita, convey Rama's message and console her with the hope of speedy liberation. Hanuman then returns to Rama and tells him about his adventures.
With a countless army of monkeys and their bear allies, Rama sets out on a campaign to Lanka. Hearing about this, Ravana gathers a military council in his palace, at which Ravana’s brother Vibhishana, in order to avoid the destruction of the rakshasa kingdom, demands that Sita be returned to Rama. Ravana rejects his demand, and then Vibhishana goes over to the side of Rama, whose army has already set up camp on the ocean shore opposite Lanka.
Following the instructions of Nala, the son of the heavenly builder Vishwakarman, the monkeys build a bridge across the ocean. They fill the ocean with rocks, trees, stones, along which Rama's army is transported to the island. There, at the walls of Ravana's capital, a fierce battle begins. Rama and his faithful companions Lakshmana, Hanuman, Sugriva's nephew Angada, the king of the bears Jambavan and other brave warriors are opposed by hordes of rakshasas with Ravana's military leaders Vajradamshtra, Akampana, Prahasta, Kumbhakarna. Among them, Ravana's son Indrajit, versed in the art of magic, turns out to be especially dangerous. Thus, he manages, having become invisible, to mortally wound Rama and Lakshmana with his snake arrows. However, on the advice of Jambavan, Hanuman flies far to the north and brings to the battlefield the top of Mount Kailash, overgrown with medicinal herbs, with which he heals the royal brothers. One by one the Rakshasa leaders fall slain; Indrajit, who seemed invulnerable, dies at the hands of Lakshmana. And then Ravana himself appears on the battlefield and enters into a decisive duel with Rama. During this fight, Rama cuts off all ten heads of Ravana one by one, but each time they grow back. And only when Rama hits Ravana in the heart with an arrow given to him by Brahma, Ravana dies.
The death of Ravana means the end of the battle and the complete defeat of the Rakshasas. Rama proclaims the virtuous Vibhishana as the king of Lanka and then orders Sita to be brought. And then, in the presence of thousands of witnesses, monkeys, bears and rakshasas, he suspects her of adultery and refuses to accept her again as his wife. Sita resorts to divine judgment: she asks Lakshmana to build a funeral pyre for her, enters its flame, but the flame spares her, and the fire god Agni, who rises from the pyre, confirms her innocence. Rama explains that he himself did not doubt Sita, but only wanted to convince his warriors of the impeccability of her behavior. After reconciliation with Sita, Rama solemnly returns to Ayodhya, where Bharata happily gives him his place on the throne.
This, however, did not end the misadventures of Rama and Sita. One day, Rama is informed that his subjects do not believe in Sita’s good character and grumble, seeing her as a corrupting example for their own wives. Rama, no matter how hard it is for him, is forced to submit to the will of the people and orders Lakshmana to take Sita to the forest to the hermits. Sita with deep bitterness, but steadfastly accepts the new blow of fate, and she is taken under the protection of the sage and ascetic Valmiki. In his monastery, Sita gives birth to two sons from Rama - Kusha and Lava. Valmiki raises them, and when they grow up, he teaches them the poem he composed about the deeds of Rama, the same “Ramayana”, which later became famous. During one of the royal sacrifices, Kusha and Lava recite this poem in the presence of Rama. By many signs, Rama recognizes his sons, asks where their mother is, and sends for Valmiki and Sita. Valmiki, in turn, confirms Sita's innocence, but Rama once again wants Sita to prove her purity of life to all the people. And then Sita, as a final testimony, asks the Earth to embrace her in her maternal embrace. The earth opens up before her and takes her into its bosom. According to the god Brahma, now only in heaven are Rama and Sita destined to find each other again.
Retold
Valmika
Literary presentation by E. N. Tyomkin and V. G. Erman
Book one. Childhood
Birth of Rama
First victories over rakshasas
The Story of the Daughters of Kushanabha
The story of the miraculous cow and the asceticism of Vishwamitra
Shiva's bow and the marriage of Rama and Lakshmana
Rama's duel with Jamadagni's son and return to Ayodhya
Book two. Ayodhya
Abdication of King Dasaratha
The evil hunchback Manthara
Kaikeyi's two wishes
Rama in Dasharatha Palace
Kaushalya's grief and Lakshmana's anger
Rama leaves Ayodhya
Path to Chitrakuta
Death of Dasaratha
Return of Bharata
Bharata on Chitrakuta
Exiles leave Chitrakuta
Book three. Lesnaya
Exiles in Dandaka Forest
Shurpanakha
Defeating Khara
Ravana's Wrath and the Appearance of the Golden Deer
Kidnapping of Sita
Sita in Lanka
Rama's Despair
Death of Jatayu
Battle with the forest monster
Book four. Kishkindha
Meeting with Sugriva, the king of the monkeys
Defeating Valin
Sugriva reigns again in Kishkindha
Sugriva forgets his promise
Monkeys in search of Sita
Meeting with the hawk Sampati
Book five. Beautiful
Hanuman Jump
Hanuman in Lanka
Hanuman in Ravana's palace
Hanuman finds Sita
Ravana's threats
Rakshasis threaten Sita
Hanuman's date with Sita
Return of Hanuman
Book six. Battle
Marching performance
Council in Ravana's palace
Vibhishana in the camp of Rama
Bridge over the ocean
Ravana's spies
Ravana's sorcery
Monkeys at the walls of Lanka
Rescue of Rama and Lakshmana
Victory of Angada over Vajradamshtra
Victory of Hanuman over Akampana
Neela's victory over Prahasta
Ravana on the battlefield
Awakening of Kumbhakarna
Victory of Rama over Kumbhakarna
Night attack
Victory of Lakshmana over Indrajit
Death of Ravana
Performing funeral rites
Test of Sita
Return from exile
Book seven. Last
Dictionary of Indian names and titles
Book one
THE BIRTH OF A FRAME
To the south of the Himalaya mountains - the abode of snow, on the banks of the quiet Sarayu and the high-water Ganga lies the country of Koshala, rich and happy, abundant in grain and livestock, rich pastures and flowering gardens.
Was in that country ancient city Ayodhya, famous everywhere for the beauty and splendor of its houses, squares and streets. The domes of his palaces and temples rose like mountain peaks, and their walls shone with gold and precious stones. Erected by skilled architects, decorated with marvelous statues and paintings, they were similar to the heavenly palaces of Indra, the lord of the gods.
The city was rich and populous. There was plenty of drink and food, the merchants' shops were full of strange goods, and the inhabitants of Ayodhya knew neither need nor illness. Boys and girls danced carefree in squares, gardens and mango groves. And from morning to evening, the straight and spacious streets of the city were crowded with people - merchants and artisans, royal messengers and servants, wanderers and buffoons. And there was no one in that city who would indulge in vice and idleness, who would not know literacy and piety. And all the men and all the women had good dispositions, and all their behavior was impeccable.
The city was surrounded by strong walls and deep ditches; it contained horses from Cambodia and the banks of the Indus, war elephants from the Vindhya and Himalaya mountains, and how mountain caves abound in lions, so the city was full of warriors, ardent, straightforward and skillful.
And Ayodhya eclipsed other cities, just as the moon eclipses the stars. And it was ruled by the glorious king Dasharatha, just and mighty. The pious king was served by wise and devoted advisers, beautiful wives delighted him with their beauty and meekness, and all Dasharatha’s wishes were immediately fulfilled.
But great grief had long been sharpening the soul of the sovereign of Ayodhya, and nothing cheered him. The noble Dasharatha had no offspring, he did not have a son, there was no one to transfer power and state to. And one day the ruler of Ayodhya decided to make great sacrifices to the gods in the hope that the gods would have mercy on him and give him a son. The royal advisers, pious and omniscient brahmanas, joyfully approved of Dasharatha's wish, and his wives blossomed with happiness and hope, like lotuses blossom with the arrival of warmth and sun.
Ramayana(The Tale of Rama) is part of the Hindu Smriti canon, which received its final form between the 4th century. BC e. – II century n. e. Indian poets call the author of the Ramayana - Valmiki - the "first poet" (adikavi), and the Ramayana itself - the first artistic epic (kavya).
The epic poem consists of 24 thousand verses (slokas), combined into 7 books (kandas):
- Bala Kanda- a book about the childhood of Rama
- Ayodhya Kanda- a book about the royal court in Ayodhya
- Aranya Kanda- a book about the life of Rama in the forest desert
- Kishkindha Kanda- a book about the union of Rama with the monkey king at Kishkindha
- Sundara Kanda – Wonderful book about the island of Lanka - the kingdom of the demon Ravana, the kidnapper of Rama's wife - Sita
- Yuddha Kanda- a book about the battle between the monkey army of Rama and the army of demons Ravana
- Uttara Kanda – Final book
The popularity of the Ramayana is enormous, as evidenced by the abundance of its versions (the most important are the so-called Bombay, Western and Bengali); its influence on later literature India is incomparable; in dramatic and metrical forms, in Sanskrit and in modern Indian languages, episodes of the Ramayana were endlessly developed, individual images were deployed - the images of Rama, his devoted brother Lakshmana, the brave and dexterous monkey knight Hanuman and, in particular, the meek Sita, who became a symbol of marital fidelity and pure femininity.
The Ramayana is set in the Treta Yuga era; some interpret this as the 3rd millennium BC. e.
Plot
Battle with the leader of the demons Ravana, Rama sitting on the shoulders of Hanuman. The Ramayana tells the story of the seventh avatar of Vishnu, Rama (one of the four simultaneous incarnations of Vishnu, the other three are his brothers), whose wife Sita is kidnapped by Ravana, the rakshasa king of Lanka. The epic covers themes human existence and the concept of dharma. The poem contains the teachings of ancient Indian sages, which are presented through an allegorical narrative combined with philosophy and bhakti.
Meaning
Rama resides in every Body. He is Atma-Rama, Rama is the Source of Bliss for every being. His blessings pouring out from this internal source, bestow Peace and Happiness. He is the very embodiment of Dharma, the Supreme Moral Law, which supports Love and Unity in humanity. The Ramayana, the Tale of Rama, contains two lessons: the value of renunciation of the world and the realization that every being carries within itself the Divine principle. Faith in God and renunciation of material goals are the two keys to human liberation. Renounce the objects of the senses and you will know Rama. Sita renounced the luxury of Ayodhya and was therefore able to be with Rama in “exile.” When she fixed her dreamy gaze on the golden deer and was captivated by it, she lost the Presence of Rama. Self-denial leads to joy; attachment brings grief. Be in the World, but be free from it. Each of Rama's brothers, companions and associates is an example of a personality imbued with Dharma. Dasharatha represents only the physical principle - with ten senses. The three gunas - Satva, Rajas and Tamas - are the three Queens. The Four Life Goals - Purusharthas - are four sons. Lakshmana - Intelligence, Sugriva - Viveka or Discrimination, Vali - despair. Hanuman is the embodiment of valor. The bridge spans the Ocean of Illusion. The three leaders of the Rakshasas are the personification of rajasic (Ravana), tamasic (Kumbakarna) and sattvic (Vibhishana) qualities. Sita - Brahmajnana or Knowledge of the Universal Absolute, which an individual must gain by going through the difficult path life trials. As you comprehend the greatness of the Ramayana, purify and strengthen your heart. Establish yourself in the belief that Rama is the Essence of your being.
Main characters
Frame – main character poems. The eldest and beloved son of the king of the country Koshala Dasaratha, and his wife Kaushalya. He is portrayed as the embodiment of dignity. Dasarathi was forced to yield to an ultimatum from Kaikeyi, one of his wives, and order Rama to relinquish his right to the throne and go into exile for 14 years.
Sita- beloved wife of Rama, daughter of King Janaki, “not born of man.” She is the incarnation of goddess Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu. Sita is portrayed as the ideal of female purity. She follows her husband into exile, where she is kidnapped by the Rakshasa king Ravana, ruler of Lanka. Rama and his allies rescue her from captivity by killing Ravana. Later, she gives birth to Rama's heirs - Kusha and Lava.
Hanuman- a powerful vanara and the eleventh incarnation of the god Shiva (or Rudra), the ideal of faithful performance of the duty of honor. Son of the wind god. Plays an important role in the return of Sita.
Lakshmana- Rama's younger brother, who went into exile with him. Represents the snake Shesha and the ideal true friend. He spends all his time protecting Sita and Rama. He was forced by Sita (embarrassed by the rakshasa Maricha) to leave her to search for Rama, who had gone into the forest, as a result of which Ravana was able to kidnap Sita. Was married to younger sister Sith Armile.
Bharata- son of Dasaratha, brother of Rama. When he learns that his mother Kaikeyi sent the heir to the throne Rama into exile and made him king, which caused the death of Dasaratha, heartbroken by the treachery of his wife, Bharata rejects the illegally obtained power and goes in search of Rama. When Rama refuses to return from his exile, Bharata places Rama's golden sandals on the throne as a symbol that the true king is Rama, and he is just his vicegerent. Portrayed as the ideal of justice.
Ravana- Rakshasa, king of Lanka. He is depicted as having ten heads and twenty arms; if you cut off his heads, they grow back. From the creator god Brahma received a wonderful gift: for ten thousand years he could not be killed by a god, demon or beast. Even the gods are in awe of his power. In order to defeat Ravana, Vishnu incarnates in the form of a man - in Rama and his brothers. Ravana is the kidnapper of Sita, intending to make her his wife, whom, however, he does not inflict violence, wanting to achieve her favor through threats and persuasion, since he is under a curse: in case of violence against a woman, he will instantly die.
