Vaidehi Bhargava
Ravana the king of Lanka ( modern day Sri Lanka) and often depicted as a powerful learned but malevolent ruler. Ravan was skilled scholar and great devotee of Lord Shiva . The demon king of Lanka is famously known as the antagonist in the epic Ramayana, having abducted Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, and ultimately facing defeat at the hands of the virtuous prince. While many across the country observe Dussehra by burning effigies of Ravana to signify the triumph of good over evil.
Do you know there are some places where Ravan is worshipped as deity.
1 ) Mandsaur , Madhya Pradesh
Mandsaur is a town located on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is the birthplace of Mandodari, who was the wife of Ravana. According to legend, Ravana came to this town to marry Mandodari and became the son-in-law of the area. In Mandsaur, there is a temple dedicated to Ravana, known as Ravana Rundi or Ravaneshwar Mahadev, which features a large idol of him.
2) Bisrakh, Uttar Pradesh
Bisrakh is a village near Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, believed to be the birthplace of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. He was the son of sage Vishrava and the demoness Kaikesi. The name of the village comes from Vishrava, one of the ten Prajapatis created by the god Brahma. The people of Bisrakh consider Ravana their ancestor and respect him for his wisdom and devotion. They have built a temple in his honor, which is mostly closed throughout the year but opens on Dussehra, the day Lord Rama defeated Ravana. On this day, instead of burning his effigy like most places, the villagers perform a yajna, or fire sacrifice, to honor him as a symbol of their culture.
3) Ravangram, Madhya Pradesh
Ravangram is another village in Madhya Pradesh that honors Ravana as a deity. It is believed that Mandodari, Ravana’s wife, came from this village and was a daughter of the region. The villagers of Ravangram also consider Ravana their son-in-law and greet him with the phrase “Ravana Baba Namah,” meaning “Salutations to Ravana.” They have built a temple in his honor, which features a ten-foot-long idol of him lying down. The temple attracts many devotees who come to seek blessings from Ravana for their well-being and prosperity.
4) Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
According to legend, Ravana did intense penance at this location to please Lord Shiva and obtain the Atma Linga from him. Lord Shiva granted his request but warned Ravana not to place the linga on the ground until he reached Lanka. However, on his way back, he was tricked by Lord Ganesha and Lord Vishnu into setting the linga down at Gokarna in Karnataka, where it became fixed for eternity. Despite this story, the people of Kangra regard Ravana as the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva and believe that the Lord blessed him for his devotion.
5) Mandya and Kolar, Karnataka
Mandya and Kolar are two districts in Karnataka that celebrate the mythology of Ravana in their traditions. In Mandya, there is a beautiful temple called the Kailashapura Mahalingeshwara Temple, where Ravana is worshipped alongside Lord Shiva. This temple is home to a special Shiva linga that is believed to have been installed by Ravana after he received it from the gods. Devotees of Ravana strongly believe that praying to this sacred Shiva linga will help fulfill their deepest wishes and bring them blessings from the divine.In Kolar lies the temple of Ramalingeshwara, where Ravana is venerated as Ramappa or Ramalinga. This holy shrine houses four sacred Shiva lingams that are said to have been brought by the mighty Ravana all the way from the sacred Mount Kailash. The devout followers of Ravana believe that worshipping these Shivalingas will bring unparalleled peace and prosperity into their lives.
6) Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Jodhpur is a city in Rajasthan that has historical ties to Ravana. According to legends, Ravana married Mandodari in Mandore, which was the capital of her father’s kingdom. Mandore was also known as Mandavyapur or Mandavpur in ancient times. In this region, people respect Ravana as they would a son-in-law and admire his knowledge and strength. Instead of burning his effigy on Dussehra, they mourn his death. While the rest of the country celebrates the defeat of the king of Lanka as the “victory of good over evil,” the people of Jodhpur celebrate Ravana’s birth by offering prayers and sweets to him.