Ravana, the ten-headed king of Lanka, is known across the Ramayana traditions as the great antagonist of Rama. Yet in every telling-Valmiki's Sanskrit epic, Kamban's Tamil masterpiece, Tulsidas's Hindi devotion, and the Jain Paumachariya-he is also something more: a scholar of the Vedas, a master of the veena, and the composer of perhaps the most famous hymn to Shiva. This book traces the musical life of Ravana, exploring how his skill as a veena player and his authorship of the Shiva Tandava Stotram have been celebrated, debated, and reimagined across centuries and cultures. Drawing on scriptural sources, temple traditions, oral lore, and performance practice, Vikram Shastri Menon examines the hymn's verses, its attribution, and its enduring place in Hindu worship. Readers will discover the contested stories of how Ravana won his boons, how his veena became an emblem of learning, and how the rakshasa king continues to inspire musicians today. Reverent but critically aware, this volume offers a portrait of Ravana that is neither demon nor hero, but a figure of immense talent and tragedy. Part of The Ramayana Character Library.

About the author

Vikram Shastri Menon writes for The Ramayana Character Library.