Did You Know These 6 Places In India Where Ravana Is Worshipped?

The demon king of Lanka is widely known as the antagonist of the epic Ramayana, who abducted Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, and faced his defeat and death at the hands of the righteous prince. However, in some parts of India, Ravana is not seen as a villain but as a revered figure who was a great scholar, a devotee of Lord Shiva, and a son-in-law of the land. On the occasion of Dussehra, when most of the country celebrates the victory of good over evil by burning effigies of Ravana, these places pay homage to him and worship him as a god. Here are six such places where Ravana is worshipped in India.

Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh

Mandsaur is a town that lies on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is the place where Mandodari, the consort of Ravana, was born. Legend has it that Ravana came to this place to marry Mandodari and became the son-in-law of the region. In Mandsaur, there is a temple that honours Ravana as Ravana Rundi or Ravaneshwar Mahadev. The temple has a huge idol of Ravana.

Bisrakh, Uttar Pradesh

Bisrakh is a village situated near Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. It is believed to be the birthplace of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, who was the son of sage Vishrava and demoness Kaikesi. The village's name is derived from Vishrava, one of the ten Prajapatis or progenitors of mankind created by Brahma, the creator god. The villagers of Bisrakh regard Ravana as their forefather and admire him for his wisdom and devotion. They have built a temple in his honour in Bisrakh, which remains closed for most of the year and opens only on Dussehra, the day when Lord Rama killed Ravana. On this day, instead of burning his effigy as a symbol of evil, the villagers perform a yajna or a fire sacrifice to pay homage to him as a symbol of culture.

Ravangram, Madhya Pradesh

Ravangram is another village in Madhya Pradesh that venerates Ravana as a god. It is believed that Mandodari, the consort of Ravana, belonged to this village before she married him and that she was the daughter of the region. The villagers of Ravangram also consider Ravana as their son-in-law and address him as Ravana Baba Namah, meaning “Salutations to Ravana”. They have constructed a temple in his honour in Ravangram, where a ten-foot-long of him lying down is installed. The temple draws many devotees who come to seek blessings from Ravana for their well-being and prosperity.

Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

Legend has it that Ravana performed intense penance at this place to please Lord Shiva and obtain the Atma Linga from him. Lord Shiva granted his wish but warned him 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 placing the linga on the ground at Gokarna in Karnataka, where it was fixed for eternity thereafter. Despite this legend, the people of Kangra consider Ravana the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva and believe that the Lord blessed him for his devotion.

Mandya and Kolar, Karnataka

Mandya and Kolar are two districts in Karnataka that carry the mythology of Ravana in their beliefs. In Mandya, a magnificent temple stands called Kailashapura Mahalingeshwara Temple, where Ravana is worshipped in all his glory alongside Lord Shiva. Here, the temple boasts of a mystical Shiva linga that Ravana said to have been installed after he obtained it from the gods. The devoted followers of Ravana firmly believe that worshipping this sacred Shiva linga will fulfil their deepest desires and grant them the blessings of 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.

Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Jodhpur is a city in Rajasthan with a historical connection with Ravana. According to legends, Ravana tied the knot with Mandodari in Mandore, her father's kingdom's capital. Mandore was also known as Mandavyapur or Mandavpur in ancient times. In this region, too, the people regard Ravana with the respect Indians give to their daughter's husband and admire him for his knowledge and might. So, instead of burning his effigy on Dussehra, they mourn his death. On the day the country celebrates the death of the king of Lanka, the "victory of good over evil", they celebrate the birth of their king by offering prayers and sweets to him.