Rawana was the grandson of Rishi Pulasthi and son of Sage Visravasmuni. He was the younger brother of Vaisrawana Kuvera (Kubera) and the elder brother of Vibishana, Kumbhakarna, Mahi Rawana, Hema, Khara, Dushana, Luxhman, and Suparnika. His mother was the Daitya princess Kaikesi. Her father, Sumalin, king of the Daityas, wished her to marry the most powerful being in the mortal world, so as to produce an exceptional heir. He rejected the kings of the world, as they were less powerful than him. Kaikesi searched among the sages, and finally chose Visravasmuni. However Visravasmuni warned her that as she approached him at an inappropriate time, their children would tend towards evil, but accepted her nevertheless. Rawana, his brothers and sisters were half Brahmin and half Rakus by birth.
Since of late there is a drive to make Emperor Rawana of Heladiva (Sri Lanka) a Dravidian. It could be boldly stated that King Rawana is not a Dravidian. His father Visravasmuni was a Brahmin and his mother Kaikesi was Daitya. The clans that lived in Heladiva were Raksha, Yaksha, Naga, and Deva. They were called Helayo’s, as much as the inhabitants of present Sri Lanka are called Sri Lankans irrespective of their race. However, he governed most of the southern part of India and part of northern India. The inhabitants of Heladiva were Helaya’s. Heladiva became Sinhale and the inhabitants Sinhala only after the official introduction of Buddha Dhamma by Arahant Mahinda.
Rawana assumed the leadership over his grandfather Sumali’s army. He then set his sights on Lanka. Lanka was an idyllic island, designed by the celestial architect Visvakarma for Kubera, the treasurer of the gods. Kubera generously shared all what he owned with Kaikesi's children - his step-brothers and sisters. However, Rawana demanded Lanka wholly from him, threatening to take it by force. Visravasmuni advised Kubera to give it to him, as Rawana was very powerful and could not be defeated. Rawana commandeered Lanka. He was regarded as a benevolent and effective ruler. Lanka flourished under his rule - it is said the poorest of houses had vessels of gold and hunger was unknown in the kingdom.
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