an old name for Srî Lankâ, also called Ceylon. Although separated from Tamil Nadu by a narrow channel only, the Ceylon island has never been durably conquered by important south indian dynasties (Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Nayak). In the mythology, Lankâ was the abode of Kubera, the guardian of underground treasures, then the abode of Râvana, king of the Rakshasa (demons), his half-brother who ousted him. Râvana was fighted and subdued by Râma, but he got also quarrels with Ganesh