According to the Ramayana, Ravana was finally killed in the Battle of Lanka with the help of his own brother Vibhishana, who was crowned new king of Lankapura by Lord Rama after the war.
Sri Lanka is also important in the Dussehra celebrations because its historical name was Lanka which is considered to be the place where Ravana lived. Hence, the celebrations in this country are carried on in its full extent with the ritualistic burning of effigies.
The inflammable statues of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran are burned by the arrows of a person dressed as Lord Ram. Worship of various deities like Goddess Durga and Saraswati are performed on this auspicious occasion.
According to Hindu mythology Ravana was born to a great sage Vishrava and his wife, princess Kaikesi. He was born in the Devagana, as his grandfather, the sage Pulastya, was one of the ten Prajapatis or mind-born sons of Brahma and one of the Saptarishi or the Seven Great Sages during the age of Manu.
Ravana was married to Mandodari, the daughter of the celestial architect Maya, Dhanyamalini, and a third wife. He had seven sons from his three wives.
- Meghnaad (also known as Indrajit because he defeated Indra), the most powerful son
- Atikaya
- Akshayakumara
- Devantaka
- Narantaka
- Trishira
- Prahastha
Ravana’s siblings include Vibhishana, Kumbhakarna and Ahiravana and a step brother Kubera, from whom he usurped the Kingdom of Lanka.
In fact, his father was one of the Saptarishis during the age of Manu. Coming from a highly-revered family, Ravana was given the right education, both in terms of academics and martial arts.
It’s a known fact that Ravana had ten heads, and people often say that this gave him the special gift of knowledge. It is assumed that having 10 heads meant he was a very knowledgeable man and by that logic, a great king who had great knowledge about administration.
Ravana was noted as a scholar and had knowledge of the Vedas.Ravana also was a musician and was specialized in both singing and the veena instrument.
Ravana was also learned in the intricacies of the Sanskrit language and extemporaneously composed the Shiva Tandava Stotram despite being under excruciating pain under the Kailash Mountain. Ravana was learned in astrology and Ayurveda as well.
There are seven books in Ayurveda whose authorship still stands in his name, thereby establishing him as a great physician. It is said that he wrote a book of ayurvedic remedies for infants on the request of his wife.
Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Ravana would meditate for days at an end to please him.Lord Shiva was so impressed by him that he bestowed on him the power to use divine weapons.
There are places in Sri Lanka which are still identified with the Ramayana, like the Sita Eliya in Nuwara Eliya district, where there is a temple dedicated to Sita on the banks of a mountain stream.
The Dave Brahmins of Mudgal gotra and the Shrimali Brahmins, in Jodhpur/Mandor of Rajasthan state who were originally from Gujarat, India claim to be the descendants of Ravana. The say that since time immemorial they are performing the shraddha (death anniversary) of Ravana on Dashehra Day every year.
Koneswaram temple, then-Dakshina Kailasam is a classical-medieval Hindu temple complex in Trincomalee, a Hindu religious pilgrimage centre in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. This temples is associated with Ravana and his mother. They had worshiped Shiva at the shrine.
