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Who was Raavan

Raavan was the son of Muni Vishravaa (from Kaikasee, the daughter of Sumaalee Raakshas), grandson of Maharshi Pulastya (Pulastya being the brainchild of Brahmaa), half-brother of Kuber. He had two brothers, Kumbhkarn and Vibheeshan and one sister Shoorpankhaa. Because he had ten heads that is why Muni Vishravaa named him "Dashagreev" (who has ten necks).

He did an intense Tap for 10,000 years, in which he offered his one head at the end of each 1,000 years. When he was offering his tenth head, Brahmaa Jee gave him Darshan and Var. Raavan asked the Var that he should not be killed by Garud, Daanav, Devtaa, Gandharv, and Raakshas. He did not include human beings and monkeys as he did not regard them at all. He considered them as his food. So the same human beings and monkeys became the means of his death. Kumbhkarn asked for long sleep and Vibheeshan asked for unbroken devotion to Bhagavaan.

By getting this Var he became fearless. When Sumaalee came to know about this Var he instigated him to take Lankaa (once it was his Nagaree) from Kuber. Raavan did so. Kuber went to Kailaash Parvat. Now he started living in Lankaa with his brothers and sister.

He married Mandodaree, the daughter of Maya Daanav. Then he married his other brothers and sister also. He had one son from Mandodaree, Meghnaad (also known as Indrajit).

After the marriages, Kumbhkarn went to sleep and Raavan started troubling Devtaa, Gandharv, sages etc. So Kuber, as his elder brother advised him not to do so. At this Raavan got very angry started to kill all Lokpaal. First he went to Kuber,  wounded him, but somehow he was saved and taken to Nandan Van. He won Swarg Lok defeating Indra, Varun Lok defeating Indra, Yam Lok defeating Yam Raaj.

Shaap to Raavan
Along with his winnings, he had some Shaap also on his head.

(1) Nandee's Shaap - After winning Kuber he was on his way so near at one Parvat his Pushpak Vimaan stopped. There he found Nandee in Vaanar form invigilating for Mahaadev and Paarvatee. He laughed at him so Nandee gave him Shaap - "You have made a mockery of my Vaanar form, that is why Vaanar will be the means of your destruction. Their weapons will be only their hands, nails, trees, stones etc. Their speed will be as fast as mind's speed."

"I can dig out this whole Parvat" he lifted up that Parvat on his shoulders. Shiv Jee was enjoying with Paarvatee Jee at that time. When the Parvat shook Paarvatee Jee got scared. Shiv Jee smiled and lowered it through only the touch of his big toe. This lowering of Parvat pressed Raavan's arms and shoulders. Raavan cried a lot. Then he pleased Shiv Jee through his Tap for 1,000 years. Shiv Jee released him and told him that since he cried a lot (Royaa) he would be known as "Raavan".

(2) Ved Vatee's Shaap - Then wandering around he came to another Parvat. There he saw a very beautiful girl doing intense Tap. He expressed his desire to her, but she said that she wanted to marry only Vishnu. Raavan got angry at this and he tried to have her forcefully. She freed herself, and told Raavan that she wouldn't give him Shaap but she would enter Agni and take a vow that she would born again to take the revenge of her insult and thus immolated herself. It is believed that she was born as Seetaa to take her revenge.

(3) Anranya's Shaap - With the desire to win the Tri-Lok he came to Ayodhyaa where Raajaa Anranya was ruling. "Accept the defeat or fight" was the slogan of Raavan. Raajaa didn't know about Raavan's Vardaan so he fought bravely but at last he was killed. At the time of dying he gave Shaap tohim, "Raam will born To Dasharath in Ikshwaaku Vansh and He will kill you."

(4) Women's Shaap - He won Yam, Daitya and Varun; extended friendship with Raajaa Bali of Rasaatal; then won Soorya; extended friendship with Raajaa Maandhaataa of Ayodhyaa; spared Chandramaa's life in exchange of a Mantra for immortality from Brahmaa Jee; and met with Kapil Jee. When he was coming back he abducted many women who were crying loudly and helplessly. They also gave him Shaap that he would die only because of a woman because he was troubling them so much.

(5) Nal-Koobar's (Kuber's son) Shaap - While on his victory tour, he stopped by on Kailaash Parvat. There he saw Rambhaa going to Nal-Koobar. He got attracted to her and had her forcefully. She complained to Nal-Koobar about this, so Nal-Koobar gave him Shaap, "In future, if he will have any woman forcefully, his head will break into seven pieces".

Then Raavan went to win Indra. Sumaalee got killed in this war. Meghnaad came to rescue Raakshas army, he tied Indra and brought him to Lankaa. Then Brahmaa Jee came to rescue Indra and got him released after giving the Var of immortality (conditional) to Meghnaad.

Then Raavan had to extend friendship with Sahastraarjun (Sahastrabaahu), because he was caught by Sahastraarjun and his grandfather Maharshi Pulastya Jee had to come to get him freed. He forgot this defeat soon, and came to fight with Baali. Baali kept him in his armpit went around to do Sandhyaa on all the four seas and thus kept him there for three days and then extended friendship on the request of Raavan.

To conclude this story of Raavan, Raavan once met Sanat Kumaar and asked as how Devtaa win war, who do Yogee meditate, who do Rishi worship etc? Sanat Kumaar told him about Vishnu. Raavan thought as how could he have a fight with Vishnu? Sanat Kumaar told him about the birth of Raam as Dasharath's son, His coming to Van along with His brother and wife and fulfillment of Raavan's wish when the time came. Raavan got very happy to hear this and continued to wander in search of fight.

Once he met Naarad Jee and asked about the mightiest people in the world. Naarad sent him to Shwet Dweep, there he was defeated by women only.

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