Was Ravana aware that Lord Rama was none other than Lord Vishnu?

 No . But he was warned by his uncle Malayavat and Kumbhakarna about Rama

Malyavat with two brothers fought against Vishnu. Sumali and Malayavat hid inside Patala fearing Vishnu after his brother got killed

• विष्णुं मन्यामहे रामं मानुषं देहमास्थितम् ।
• न हि मानुषमात्रोऽसौ राघवो दृढविक्रमः ॥
• “We consider Rāma to be Viṣṇu who has assumed a human body.
• For this Rāghava, firm in prowess, is not merely a human being.”

Ravan was blinded by pride and arrogance and couldn't recognised him.

Indradev refused to meet Rama in Aranyaka to conceal avatar identity

• ‘This Rama is coming here. You should nudge him towards his vow. Until then, he should not speak to me, or see me. When he is victorious and successful, I will soon show myself to him.

Footnotes say this :

This requires explanation. When soliciting a boon about who could kill him, Ravana forgot to mention humans and therefore, Ravana could only be killed by a human. Until this happened, if Indra spoke to Rama, Rama’s divine nature would have been revealed and he wouldn’t have been able to kill Ravana. This was to be avoided.

Pretty much no one considered Rama as human in contrast to Krishna who is more often underestimated by his enemies like Duryodhana.

Did Ram have it in him to defeat Ravana without help from Hanuman and his monkey army?

 There are many such verses from Valmiki Ramayana to say Rama is Unparalleled in all universes,let me state couple of them as starters . Except Lord Shiva, no one can completely comprehend the divinity of Rama’s avatar unlike other avatars . We will all fall short to delusion (māyā).

// sanskrit verses attached at bottom

There is none equal to Rama in any of the universes (multi universes)

Rama himself to Sugreeva, he can wipe out everything in a second

"O, Sugreeva, Lord of monkey-troops! If I wish, I can kill those devilish beings, demons, supernatural beings, and ogres living on earth with just a tip of my finger"

–Valmiki Ramayana: Yuddhakanda: 18.23

Hanuman to Ravana about None equal to Rama in all worlds:

The renowned Rama is capable of totally destroying all the worlds together with its five elements, along with its animate and inanimate things and also to create yet again all the worlds in like manner as before."

–Valmiki Ramayana: Sundarakaṇḍa: 51.39

सर्वान् लोकान् सुसम्हृत्य सभूतान् सचराचरान् || ५-५१-३९ (5.51.39)
पुनरेव तथा स्रष्टुम् शक्तो रामो महायशाः |

39. mahaa yashaaH raamaH = the renowned Rama; shaktaH = is capable; susamhR^itya = of completely destroying; sarvaan = all; lokaan = the worlds; sabhuutaan = together with its five elements; sacharaacharaan = along with its animate and inanimate things; tathaa sraSTum = and also to create in like manner as before; punareva = yet again.

"The renowned Rama is capable of totally destroying all the worlds together with its five elements, along with its animate and inanimate things and also to create yet again all the worlds in like manner as before.

पिशाचान् दानवान् यक्षान् पृथिव्याम् चैव राक्षसान् ||६-१८-२३ (6–18–23)
अन्गुलि अग्रेण तान् हन्याम् इच्चन् हरि गण ईश्वर |

23. harigaNeshvara = O; Sugreeva Lord of monkey troops! Ichchhan = If I wish; hanyaam = I will kill; taan = those; pishaachaan = devilish beings; daanavaan = demons; yakshhaan = supernatural beings; raakshhasanchaiva = and ogres; pR^ithivyaam = living on earth; aNgulyagreNa = with the tip of my finger.

"O, Sugreeva, Lord of monkey-troops! If I wish, I can kill those devilish beings, demons, supernatural beings and ogres living on earth with just a tip of my finger"

Was Vali actually stronger than both Ravana and Hanuman combined?

 Definitely not. Vali defeating Ravana is an interpolation and a later addition. I'm not sure why people even believe it . It's almost impossible for Vali to defeat either Ravana or kumbhakarna let alone Hanuman who’s physical strength is equal to Vishnu and Shiva.

The arrows which Rama used to kill Vali and dried up the oceans had little effect on Ravana

• ‘These were the shafts by the help of which I slew Marica, Khara, and Dushana as also Viradha in the Krauncha Wood and Kabandha in the Dandaka Forest; these were the shafts wherewith I transfixed the Sala Trees and the mountains and Bali and with which I agitated the ocean! All these weapons found their target, how is it that they have so little power over Ravana?’

Rama used infallible arrow of Brahma to kill maricha and khara which has no effect on Ravana armour and his regenerative powers.( Ravana regenerated 100’s of heads in the final encounter) .He used some unknown powerful infallible weapon of Brahma to kill Ravana . Vali on the other died immediately after Rama struck him one arrow

Hanuman was the only warrior besides Rama who was able to go toe to toe with Kumbhakarna. Valmiki clearly mentions that Kumbhakarna was far superior to Khar dushan and Vali . Infact he is far stronger than all the gods combined without any boons

• ‘Know that I am not Viradha, Kabandha or Khara. Nor am I Vali or Maricha. It is Kumbhakarna who has arrived. Behold my large and terrible club that is completely made out of iron. In earlier times, I have used this to vanquish the gods and the danavas

The deeds of Hanuman was considered as superior to that of any gods including Vishnu and Rudra as per Rama's own statement.

• The deeds that Hanumat accomplished in the battle are unheard of, even among Kala, Shakra, Vishnu and the lord of treasures

So Hanuman is vastly superior to Vali .

If Ravana was Shiv bhakt, then why couldn't he sense Hanuman as a reincarnation of Shiva?

 Ravana was no Shiv bhakt.

This myth doesn’t exist in the actual Ramayana. He was an abuser who mocked Mahadeva out of sheer arrogance.

On seeing that Pushpaka couldn't move, surrounded by his advisers, the rakshasa began to think. "This can go wherever it wants. How has its movement been impeded? What is the reason why Pushpaka cannot advance? This must be the act of someone who is on this mountain." The intelligent Maricha spoke to Dashagriva. "O king! There must be some reason why Pushpaka cannot advance." Bhava's follower, the powerful Nandishvara arrived by his side and fearlessly addressed the Indra among the rakshasas. "O Dashagriva! Return. Shankara is sporting on this mountain. Therefore, this mountain has been made impassable for birds, serpents, yak-shas, daityas, danavas, rakshasas and all creatures." His eyes turned coppery red with rage and he descended from Pushpaka. Saying. "Who is this Shankara?" He went to the bottom of the mountain. He saw the lord Nandishvara standing not far away, holding a spear and resembling a second Shankara. The rakshasa saw that he was an odd kind of human and ignored him. In his foolishness, he laughed, like a cloud filled with water.

Mahadeva upon this punished Ravana by imprisioning him under a mountain which crushed Ravana’s arms. This led to him being named as Ranava.

'He approached the mountain and spoke these words. "O lord of the earth! This mountain has prevented my progress and has impeded Pushpaka's movement. I will destroy its foundation. O Bhava! What powers allow you to sport like a king? It should be known to me. I do not know why I should be scared." O king! Having said this. he inserted his arms under the mountain and tried to raise it, the way a predatory beast raises a tree with an animal on it. O Rama! At this. Mahadeva laughed at what he had done. As if he was sporting, he pressed down on the mountain with the big toe of his foot. Thus pressed, the hands that were under the mountain were crushed. The rak-shasa's advisers who were present were astounded. The rakshasa became angry at his hands being crushed. He emitted an extremely loud roar that filled up the three worlds. Thinking that the worlds were about to end, humans were terrified at the sound. The gods were also agitated and were distracted from their own tasks. Mahadeva, seat-ed on the summit of the mountain, was pleased. 550 Freeing his hands, he addressed Dashanana in these words. "O roamer in the night! I am pleased with your valour and your ferocity. You let out a roar in your pain and that one was extremely terrible. Therefore, your name should be Ravana and this will be your name. Gods, humans, yak-shas and others who are on the surface of this world will address you by this name-Ravana, who makes the worlds scream. 551 O Poulastya! Confidently proceed along whichever path you want to follow. O lord of the rak-shasas! I am giving you permission to leave." Ravana obtained his name from Maheshvara himself. Having greet-ed Mahadeva, he mounted the vimana. O Rama! After this, Ravana roamed around on earth. Here and there, he started to obstruct the extremely brave kshatriyas."

Simply put Ravana didn’t any songs in Mahadeva’s honour He purely got saved because of his destiny to die at the hands of Shree Rama.

This is a classic case of bully behaviour. Ravana mocked others because he believed he’s all powerful, until he got owned.

Never glorify Ravana. He wasn’t bhakt, he was a vile criminal and rightfully suffered for his crimes.

If Lord Hanuman can single-handedly punish Ravana, then why is an entire army of apes and bears required?

 Yes, Hanumanji had the full capacity to single-handedly punish and even kill Ravana. It is evident from the Yuddha Kanda incident when Ravana and Hanumanji confront each other. Ravana punched Hanumanji on His chest, but since He is none other than Vayu Himself (as stated in the Valmiki Ramayana itself), it was like hitting the air itself, which resulted in no harm to the hair and a wasted effort.

But when Hanumanji mildly punched Ravana on his chest, Ravana vomited blood from 10 of his heads and fell unconscious. For a moment, devatas thought Ravana was dead. Ravana woke up and praised Hanumanji’s power. Hanumanji said, “You are praising me? This was just a sample of my real power. The real power is remaining!” Ravana ran away from there. That’s where Ravana stands in front of Hanumanji.

But the thing is, these vaanaras are not just mere Vaanaras. These are devatas. In the Valmiki Ramayana, Lord Brahma instructs the devatas to incarnate on the earth for Bhagavan Vishnu’s seva and NOT for helping Bhagavan Vishnu. So, as per Brahma’s instructions, Mukhyaprana Vayudeva incarnated as Hanumanji, Surya incarnated as Sugriva, Indra as Vaali, and Yama Dharma had already been born as Jambavan from Lord Brahma. Vishvakarma incarnated as Nala, and Agnideva incarnated as Neela. So, all these Vaanaras were devatas who had incarnated to serve Lord Rama in killing Ravana. As per the Valmiki Ramayana, they are known as the sons of Vayu, Surya, Agni, and all, but they are also the incarnations of that particular devata.

Lord Rama doesn’t need anyone to kill Ravana. Just by His mere will, He could have killed Ravana, but the thing is, these devatas who incarnated to serve Rama should get the chance to serve Him in killing Ravana. So, to give that chance to serve Lord Rama, Hanumanji and Lord Rama chose to take the whole vaanara sena to Lanka. If you are worried about so many vaanaras being killed in the battle, then don’t worry. Lord Rama, after killing Ravana, instructed Yama Dharma to return the dead vaanaras from the Yamaloka. Yama Dharma, following the instructions of Lord Rama, returned the dead vaanaras alive to Rama.

As per the Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya, Hanumanji Himself says to Ravana:

न रामबाणधारणे क्षमा सुरेश्वरा अपि ।
विरिञ्चि शर्वपूर्वकाः किमु त्वमल्पसारकः ॥

Which means, “Even the rulers of the gods, including Brahma and Shiva, are not capable of withstanding the arrow of Rama. What then to say of you, who possess so little strength?”

[SriMahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya, Chapter 7: SriHanumat Pratiyaanam]

So, Rama doesn’t need anybody’s help to kill Ravana. Hanumanji, with the grace of Rama, has the inherent strength itself. So, they both don’t need anybody’s help to kill Raavana. These Vaanaras are just to serve Bhagavan SriRama in this Ramavatara. Hanumanji could effortlessly kill Ravana as He Himself says in the Valmiki Ramayana, ‘Even if there are 1000s of Ravanas like you, then also they are nothing in front of me.’ Hanumanji didn’t kill him because He knew that it was Rama’s sankalpa to kill Ravana and only Rama must kill Ravana and nobody else.

If this is the case of Ravana in front of Hanumanji, then what is he in front of SriRamachandra Himself??

Hope this helps!
Jay SriRam!
SriHanumad Antargata SriSitaRamachandra Abhinna SriKrishnarpanamastu!

What should be the correct order for Ravana's all sons in terms of who was the greater warrior among them?

 1.) Indrajeet

Undoubetly the strongest among Ravana,’ s sons with or without boons. He was a master of scorcery and black magic. Defeated and captured Indra in battle. .No one can defeat Indrajeet once he finishes Nikumbhala sacrifice as per Brahma,’ s boon. Killed 67 crore vanaras using Brahmashirastra and knocked out the entire vanara army including Rama and Lakshmana unconscious. Converted sons of Kadru into infalliable arrows using dark magic and knocked out both Rama and Lakshmana. During final battle of Indrajeet and Lakshmana Indrajit used no boon or infalliable weapon yet both of them were equal on archery.

2.) Atikaya- He was unkillable fo divine beings due to Brahma,’ s boon and recieved a Brahma armour which could be pierced only by Brahmastra. Using normal arrows Atikaya countered Vajra of Indra and Varunpash of Varun dev which was capable of defeating Death itself in battle. Wrecked havoc in the vanara army using his weapons. Fought a terrific battle with Lakshmana and even swooned him with a snake arrow.

3.) Akshay Kumara

The reason for placing him on third is he gave a tough fight to Hanuman. He managed to make Hanuman bleed with three arrows and gave a very fierce fight even though Hanuman was not using his full potential. Even the gods and sages applauded his powress.

Oozing the blood from his wound caused by those arrows descended into his head (by Aksha), looking like the newly risen sun, his eyes bathed in blood rolling rapidly, Hanuma shone brightly like the sun surrounded by a circle of rays, having the arrows as its rays.

That valiant Hanuma, whose swiftness was equal to the mind and possessing impetuous valour in battle, rushing forth like wind in the space between one arrow and another and thus escaping Aksha's arrows, moved in the path visited by wind (the sky).

He was finally killed by Hanuman when the latter took him seriously.

4.) Trishara

He countered the peak of tree hurled by Angada at Devatanka and overpowered him in battle. Countered almost everything hurled at him by Hanuman. He was finally killed by Hanuman after a fierce fight.

5.) Devatanka- He overpowered Angada in battle with help of Trishara and Mahodra. Finally Hanuman killed him.

6.) Naratanka- Defeated the vanara army using a single spear. Angad had to arrive to stop him from destroying the vanara army. Made Angada unconscious with a single punch thus showing his immense physical strength.

Who was Vedvati for Ravana?

Vedavati was a really beautiful daughter of sage Kushadhwaja in Kritayuga. Her father wanted Lord Vishnu to accept his daughter as his wife. When he rejected all her suitors, a demon named Shambhu killed her father. Her mother also lost her life in grief. Now unprotected, she decided to do severe penance to get Vishnu as her husband. She went into the forest wearing matted locks and black antelope skin and started doing penances. Once Ravana who was on a tour saw her and proposed to her and rebuked her penance and called it unworthy for her as she was young and beautiful and not old , fat and ugly for whom penance is the only option as no one wants them.

She introduced herself and rejected his offer, she called herself Vedas personified. Ravana then grabbed her hair and she through power of her penance cut her hair through her hand and cursed Ravana. Humiliated by him she entered fire vowing to return back and avenge her insult.

Later, Vedvati was reborn on a lotus with fragrance of lotus. He brought her to his palace but his ministers seeing her body told him she would be his destruction. Angry Ravana threw her in the sea and she was taken by the sea to Mithila where Janaka found the baby in ploughed line and adopted her and called her Sita.

Sita was Vedvati reborn and later retellings due to this story spread the myth that Ravana was father of Mata Sita but that's not true. He lusted Vedavati and he brought her reborn form because he found the baby fascinating. If ministers had not warned him and he didn't throw baby Sita (Vedvati reborn) in the sea, baby Sita would be brought up in Lanka. What an irony. Ravana lost the opportunity to be father of Mahalakshmi and save his life.

Source- Uttar Kand, Valmiki Ramayana

Why did Ravana ignore every warning he received?

 

dhūmenāvriyate vahnir

yathādarśho malena cha

yatholbenāvṛito garbhas

tathā tenedam āvṛitam “

- Bhagavadgita 3:38

“ Just as a fire is covered by smoke, a mirror is masked by dust, and an embryo is concealed by the womb, similarly one’s knowledge gets shrouded by desire “ said Paramatma in Geeta.

Vedanta declares, ' vAsanamaayyO druSya veechayah '— meaning, the waves of the visible world are composed of *vasanas* (subtle impressions/tendencies). The *vasanas* from past lives constantly stir up waves. Depending on the karma of past lives, waves of happiness and sorrow arise one after another.

If there is a stain or dirt on a mirror, our reflection does not appear clearly; the fault, however, does not lie with the eye. The mind is inherently pure, yet it becomes clouded by the *vasanas* resulting from past karma.

For instance, consider watching a TV serial. We know that the characters and dialogues are merely fictional constructs. Yet, we remain anxious to know what happens next, eagerly awaiting the same time the following day. We feel pity for some characters, while harboring anger or revulsion toward others. All these reactions are self-created—illusions conjured by the mind. We experience joy, sorrow, anger, and hatred over things that do not even exist.

Ignorance lies in failing to recognize one's true self and instead identifying with what one is not. We boast about knowing this person or that person, yet we fail to acknowledge that we are heirs to the Divine and that God belongs to us.

Ignorance does not vanish easily. We neither recognize nor admit to the mistakes we make. It is neither a matter of inherent nature nor fear; rather, the veil of *Maya* (illusion) shrouds us due to the *vasanas* of past lives.

Both Mareecha and Sitamma commented “ it seems there is noone on your side to give a good and useful advice to you “.

We continue to cultivate unnecessary attachments and succumb to illusion.

Subhamastu

Who are the brothers of Ravana in Ramayana?

Brothers of Ravan: Ravan had 6 brothers, out of which 2 were biological brothers. Ravana's real brothers were Kumbhakaran and Vibhishan. Kuber, Khar, Dushan and Ahiravan were Ravana's stepbrothers.

• Kumbhkaran - Kumbhkaran was younger than Ravana. He had performed severe penance to Lord Brahma and wanted to ask for Indra's throne. However, Goddess Saraswati forced him to say Nidrasana instead of Indra's throne. And Lord Brahma granted him the boon of Nidrasana, allowing him to sleep for six months.

• Vibhishan - Vibhishan is the younger brother of Ravana. Joe true He is a devoted devotee of Lord Ram. He fully supported him in the war. Vibhishana is considered immortal. He is still alive today.

• Kuber - Kuber ji, the god of wealth, is also Ravana's brother. Ravana's step brother is Kuber ji. Kuber ji is considered the god of wealth and he protects wealth.

• Khar and Dushan – These were also brothers of Ravana who lived in different. They were full of all kinds of powers. They killed sages and saints, prevented them from performing any kind of sacrifice, and even murdered them. Lord Ram first killed these two brothers of Ravana.

• Ahiravan - Ahiravan was the king of the Paatal Lok. He was a great trickster. Once, he took Ram and Lakshman unconscious to the Paatal Lok and wanted to sacrifice them. Then Hanuman went to the Paatal Lok, killed him, and brought back Ram and Lakshman

What were the various curses given to Ravana in the Ramayana?

 Throughout his life, Ravana went on collecting curses in his kitty. But he was still not ready to improvise, considering the vanity he carried because of the boon he received from Brahma.

So here is the list of curses he received in Ramayana

Ravana is cursed by Nandi –

After defeating Kubera, Ravana proceeds towards the Kailash. He meet Nandishwar, who asks him to take his vehicle back as Lord Shiva was sporting on the hill. He tells Ravana that the mountain is inaccessible even to Suparnas, serpents, Yakshasa, gods, Gandharvas, and Rakshasas.

At this point, Ravana begins to mock Nandi for his appearance, whose head resembled a monkey and started to laugh loudly. This is when he got a curse:

“O Dashanana, since deriding me in my monkey form, you burst into a loud laughter resembling a stroke of lightning. Therefore, monkeys will be born to destroy your race. They will have claws and teeth for their weapons; they will have the speed of the mind; they will be frantic in the fight; they will be proud of their might; they will look like moving mountains, O cruel one! Gathering together, they will take away your excessive arrogance and pride of physical superiority along with that of your ministers and sons. O Rakshasas, I can kill you even now; but you shall not be killed inasmuch as you are already killed by your misdeeds.”

Canto 16, Uttara Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana

Ravana cursed by Vedavati

After passing through the Kailash mountain, Ravana, during his journey, sees Vedavati and instantly has his lust sparked for her. He asks her who she is and Vedavati responds, stating she is the daughter of Kushadhwaj and she is performing tapas to get Lord Vishnu as her husband.

Herein, Ravana tries to persuade her to choose him instead of Lord Vishnu. When Vedavati declines, he catches her by her hair. Humiliated, Vedavati transforms her hand into a sword and cuts off her hair touched by Ravana. She self-immolates herself and promises to be reborn to bring his downfall.

Insulted by you, O ignoble man, I no longer desire to live. I will, therefore, enter the fire before your very eyes, O ogre! As I have been insulted in this forest by you, O sinner, therefore, I will be born again for your destruction. It is not possible for a woman to kill a man of sinful resolve. And if I have pronounced a curse on you, my Tapas will be lost. If I have done anything meritorious or have given gifts or tended the sacred fire, I will surely appear as Ayonija, the pious daughter of a virtuous man.

She was reborn as Sita to Janaka for the destruction of Ravana.

Canto 17, Uttara Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana

Ravana receives a curse from Anaranya

Anaranya was the monarch of Ayodhya who was considered equal to Indra. Ravana reaches the place and asks the monarch to either give a fight or be defeated. Hereby, Anaranya agrees to fight with the ogre. He comes out of his kingdom gathering a battalion of ten thousand elephants, many foot soldiers and lakhs of horses. Ravana goes on to defeat the entire army.

Then Anaranya faces Ravana and defeats his ministers, namely – Maricha, Sarana, Shuka and Prahasta who runs off from the battlefield. The ogre’s arrow hit the king and he falls from his chariot.

The king curses Ravana during his death that since he insulted the Ikshwaku race, Shri Ram will be born into the race of Ikshwakus, who will take his life.

Since you have insulted the race of Ikshwaku, I shall pronounce a curse, O ogre! If a gift has ever been bestowed, an oblation has ever been poured into the sacred fire, and austerities have been practised well and if the people have been well protected by me, let my words prove to be true. Indeed in the race of high-souled Ikshwakus will be born a son of Dasharatha, Shri Ram by name; He will take your life.

Canto 19, Uttara Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana

Ravana gets cursed by the celestial nymph Rambha

Ravana sees Rambha and is instantly taken over by lust. He approaches Rambha and asks her to accept him. She declines, stating that she is his daughter-in-law as she is the lawful wife of Ravana’s half-brother - Kuber’s son Nalakuber. However, Ravana forces himself upon Rambha and violates her modesty.

When Nalakubera learns about this violation, he curses Ravana that if he ever touches any woman without her permission, his head will split into seven pieces.

Holding the water in his hand and sprinkling all his sense-organs with due ceremony, he pronounced on that occasion the following terrible curse on Ravana – “Since, O blessed lady, you stand violated by him perforce, unwilling as you were he shall no longer be able to approach any other young woman who is unwilling to accept him. When stricken with love, he will violate a woman who is unwilling to approach him; his head will actually be split into seven pieces at that very moment.

Canto 26, Uttara Kanda, Valmiki Ramayan

Ravana even confirmed this in Yuddha Kanda, where Mahaparshwa asks Ravana to force himself on Sita; he states that having violated celestial nymphs like Punjakasthala, Vedavati and Rambha, he was cursed by Brahma that his head will split into pieces if he touches any woman against her will.

What was the big mistake of King Ravana?

 

1. The biggest mistake of Ravana is not obtaining Brahmastra from its presiding deity Brahma. He obtained the boon of invincibility to all the creatures from Brahma but did not possess the powerful weapon of the deity which cost him his life in the final battle against Lord Rama.
2. Indrajit was the only warrior of Lanka who knew the knowledge of Brahmastra. Inspite of being aware of this fact always, Ravana did not learn the knowledge of Brahmastra from his son Indrajit.
3. Ravana touched a princess named Vedavati against her will. On being molested by him, Vedavati entered the fire and promised to return as Sita in her next birth to bring about his destruction. Thus Ravana ordained the means of his own death by touching an innocent princess against her will.
4. Ravana desired to have intercourse with an apsara named Rambha against her will in a grove close to Indra loka. Rambha's husband Nalakubara cursed that Ravana's head would burst into one hundred fragments if he dared to touch a woman against her will in the future.
5. Ravana took his opponents too lightly and was thus defeated by warriors who were superior to him in strength, namely Vali and Kartavirya Arjuna.
6. Ravana insulted Lord Shiva's gatekeeper Nandi by mocking his physical appearance. Nandi imposed a curse that Ravana’s golden city of Lanka would be destroyed one day by malformed creatures. Thus Ravana ordained the destruction of Lanka due to his terrible mistake of mocking Nandi's physical appearance.
7. Ravana sent his general Prahasta on the very first day of the war against Lord Rama. Prahasta was killed on that day itself by Nila. It was a mistake of Ravana to send the general of his army to battle on the very first day. His army lost morale on seeing the general getting killed by Nila on the very first day.
8. Ravana did not send Indrajit and Kumbhakarna armed together in the battlefield. The two would have decimated Lord Rama’s army within a short period of time.
9. Ravana did not pay attention to his brother Kumbhakarna. He simply laughed off when Kumbhakarna told him that Lord Rama was the incarnation of primordal Lord Vishnu (sustainer of the universe).
10. Ravana was very well aware that Vibhishana would reveal the secrets of Lanka’s warriors to Lord Rama. He should have the discerned that Vibhishana would reveal the secret of Indrajit’s occult illusion to Lord Rama and Laxmana. He should have taken appropriate measures to prevent Vibhishana and Laxmana from reaching Nikumbhila sanctuary for the purpose of killing Indrajit in a battle.

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