Ravana is known as the supreme antagonist in the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana. He is depicted as a Rakshasa (demon) and the great king of Lanka. Ravana is widely portrayed as being an evil character, though he is also a learned scholar. He was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas.[citation needed] Ravana is also considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva.
Ravana is also known as Dashamesha, Lankesha, Lankeshwara, Thotsakan (Thai), Lawana (Maranao) and many other names in Ramayana related literature. Please find ten names of Ravana with meaning.
1. Dashaanan
Dashaanan, another sobriquet given to Ravana, which means one with ten faces or heads.
2. Dasagriva
Dasagriva is one of the earliest sobriquet given to Ravana. The name Dasagriva can be found in Valmiki Ramayana. It is made up of two Sanskrit words, dasa and griva. Dasa which simply means ten and Griva, a beautiful singing voice/neck. Thus, by simple translation, Dasagriva means one with ten beautiful singing voices or one who can sing in ten different voices.
3. Dashakantha
Dashakantha is similar to dasagriva. It is also a combination of two Sanskrit words dasha and kantha. The dasha means ten and kantha means voice box or throat. Thus, Dashakantha again means one who have ten voices.
4. Ravana
According to Lankan folklore, the name Ravana has roots in two Sanskrit words, Rakshak and Vana. Thus, these two words give a different meaning to the name, one who looks after the jungle. According to a popular Hindu legend, Ravana, once tried to lift Mount Kailash, where Lord Shiva resides.
But he failed, when Shiva toed Mount Kailash and unknowingly crushed Ravana’s hand, which were still under the Mount Kailash. It made Ravana yelp and yelp was so strong that it caused an earthquake. Lord Shiva lifted his toe, only when Ravana sang one of his famous creation, Ravana Shiva Stotram, and gave him the name Ravana, one who can shake earth with his cry.
The word Ravana (रावण) means “roaring” (active), the opposite of Vaisravana which means to “hear distinctly” (passive).
5. Iraavanan
Iraavanan is another name used for Ravana in Tamil literature. It is made up of two Tamil words, Ira and Avanan, which simply translates as a boy with incomparable beauty or a man with strong principles. “Ira” and “Avanan”, which signifies “a kid with unique magnificence” and “a man with solid standards”.
6. Iravaan
The name Iravaan is the Sanskritization of Dravidian name Iraivan. The meaning of name Iraivan in Tamil or any Dravid language is the king or lord.
7. Dashamukha
Dashamukha, the name is comprised of two words, dasha and mukha. The dasha as we as a whole know implies, ten (number) and mukha implies the face. In this way, which means of the name Dashamukha, is unified with ten appearances.
8. Dasis
Dasis is the defilement of Dashashis, which implies the one with ten heads.
9. Lankapati
Lankapati, an epithet used for Ravana, which simply means the lord of Lanka.
10. Lankesh
Lankesh, the name is the Sanskritization of Iraivan, the significance of Lankesh in Tamil or any Dravid dialect is the ruler or master.
