Save Gender Masculine Usage Hinduism Scripts रावण(Sanskrit) Pronounced Pron. RA-vu-nu(Sanskrit) RAH-və-nə(English) [key·IPA] Meaning & History Means "roaring, screaming" in Sanskrit, derived from रव (rava) meaning "roar, yell, cry". In the Hindu epic Ramayana, this is the name of a demon king who abducts Sita.