Ravana, the formidable antagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana, indeed had the original name Dasagriva, which translates to "the one with ten heads." This epithet stemmed from his extraordinary physical attribute of possessing ten heads.
According to the legend, while flying in his celestial
chariot, the pushpaka vimana, Dasagriva encountered Mount Kailash, the abode
of Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati. Despite the vimana's capability, it
couldn't surpass the grandeur of Mount Kailash. In his arrogance, Dasagriva
attempted to lift the mountain himself, but he failed miserably.
As Dasagriva struggled under the weight of the mountain,
Lord Shiva, in his divine form, pressed the mountain down with his toe,
effortlessly subduing Dasagriva's futile efforts. The excruciating pain and
humiliation led Dasagriva to let out a deafening scream. This pivotal moment
marked his transformation, and he was henceforth known as Ravana, meaning
"one who roars or screams."
The incident not only served as a demonstration of Lord
Shiva's supremacy but also symbolized the consequences of arrogance and the
limits of mortal power when confronted with the divine. Ravana's encounter with
Mount Kailash and Lord Shiva became an integral part of his character's
backstory, highlighting his prideful nature and eventual downfall.