page_title: Ravana
section_title: Devotee of Shiva
hierarchical_section_title: Ravana / Depiction in the Ramayana / Devotee of Shiva
caption_attribution_description: Ravan Kailash Andolan
context_page_description: Ravana is described as the demon king of Lanka in the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana and also in other ancient Hindu texts.
  Ravana is widely considered to be a symbol of evil. While in Sri Lankan mythology, he is considered as a great ruler. Ravana also had many qualities that made him a learned scholar. He was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas.
  In the Ramayana, Ravana abducts Rama's wife Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her as a prisoner in Ashok Vatika. Furthermore in Ramayana, it is stated that during this time, he expressed desire to marry her. Later, Rama, with support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanars, attacked to Lanka, killed King Ravana, and rescued his beloved wife Sita.
  Ravana is considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva. Images of Ravana are seen associated with Shiva at some places. He also appears in the Buddhist Mahayana text Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, in Buddhist Ramayanas and Jatakas, as well as in Jain Ramayanas. In some scriptures, he is depicted as one of Vishnu’s cursed doorkeepers.
context_section_description: One of the most Popular Images of Shiva is called as "Ravananugraha" which was popular in gupta era which depicts Ravan beaneat Mount Kailasa Playing a Veena Made out of his head and hand and strings made out of his Tendons with Shiva Parvati sitting on top. According to scriptures, Ravana once tried to lift Mount Kailash, but Shiva pushed the mountain into place and trapped Ravana beneath it. For a thousand years, the imprisoned Ravana sang hymns (Shiva Tandava Stotra) in praise of Shiva, who finally blessed him and granted him an invincible sword and a powerful linga (Shiva's aniconic symbol, Atmalinga) to worship.
caption: Ravananugraha theme
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