Ravana was a demon king of the island Lanka and the chief antagonist in the Hindu epic Ramayana and its adaptations.

In the Ramayana, Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and Rakshasi Kakashi. He abducted Rama's wife Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her as a prisoner in Ashok Vatika and expressed a desire to marry her. Later, with the support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanars, Rama attacked Ravana in Lanka. They killed Ravana and Rama rescued his beloved wife Sita.

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.