While the rest of India prepares to burn effigies of Ravan on Dusshehra, there is a certain section of people who quietly line up outside a nondescript temple in Kanpur, to worship him instead. The burning of Ravan effigies is seen as a victory symbol of good over evil, however, at this 150-year-old Kanpur temple, devotees come to worship the king of Lanka, on the day of Dusshehra.
Not effigies but prayers & aarti for Ravan
Ravan was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva and is known for his knowledge and power, hence at this 150-year-old temple he is worshiped as an embodiment of ‘Shakti’ (power) and ‘gyan’ (knowledge). The temple is located in Kanpur’s Shivala area and it visited by devotees from far and wide.
As per Pandit K.K. Tiwari, the temple priest, this temple is a part of a Shiva temple complex where Ravan is worshipped as a guard of Lord Shiva as people believe that Ravan was also born on Dusshera- the day he was slain by Lord Ram. He is worshipped just like any other god, oil lamps are lit, prayers are offered, after the deity is decorated and then ‘aarti’ is performed.
Devotees at the temple also believe and claim that when Ravan was dying, Lord Ram had asked his younger brother Laxman to take blessings from the king because his knowledge was unparalleled. Dusshehra might be a festival to celebrate the victory of good over evil, but it’s only a part of Hindu mythology. Ravan was one of the most important characters ever in the scheme of things. He’s seen mostly as a villain, but surely he’s much more than that.
