Ravana is depicted in art with up to ten heads, signifying his knowledge of Vedas and Shastras. His ten heads earned him the names Dashamukha (दशमुख, The Ten-faced), Dashagriva (दशग्रीव, The Ten-necked) and Dashakantha (दशकण्ठ, Ten Throats). He is portrated as having twenty hands, signifying greed and never-ending want. Ravana was born to the Brahmin sage known as Vishrava.