Editing Ravana (section)

== Iconography ==
Ravana is depicted and described as having ten heads, although he is sometimes shown with only nine heads since he cut one off to convince Shiva.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-26 |title=When Ravana tore his head and a hand to apologize to Lord Shiva |url=https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/28124-when-ravana-tore-his-head-and-a-hand-to-apologize-to-lord-shiva.html |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.mensxp.com |language=en-IN}}</ref> He is described as a devout follower of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler, and a maestro of the [[Veena]]. Ravana is also depicted as the author of the ''Ravana Samhita'', a book on [[Hindu astrology]], and the ''Arka Prakasham'', a book on [[Siddha medicine]] and treatment. Ravana possessed a thorough knowledge of [[Siddha]] and [[political science]]. In some later versions, he is said to have possessed the nectar of immortality, which was stored inside his belly thanks to a celestial boon from [[Brahma]]. In the War with Lord Rama, Ravana was killed by a powerful Brahma's weapon shot by Rama which was gifted to Rama by Sage Agstya.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ramayana |author=[[Valmiki]]}} {{cite book |title=[[Ramcharitmanas]] |author=[[Tulsidas]] |editor1=Vibhishana, Lanka Kanda |editor2=Samvaad, Rama }}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2020}}