How the Demon King Ravana Got Ten Heads
To please Lord Brahma, Ravana underwent severe penance (tapasya) that lasted for several years. One day to appease Lord Brahma, he decided to chop off his head. When he chopped off his head, it grew back again. He kept chopping off his head till his austerity pleased Lord Brahma. Impressed by Ravana’s dedication, Lord Brahma blessed him with ten heads and Ravana became one of the greatest and the most powerful king. The ten heads of Ravana are symbolic of the six Shastras and four Vedas that he mastered.