By IANS
Bhopal : The burning of Ravana’s effigy marks the triumph of good over evil during Dussehra across the country but in two towns of Madhya Pradesh, Ravana is worshipped as a son-in-law and a learned man.
Members belonging to Hindu sect Namdeo Vaishnav Samaj in Mandsaur town, around 350 km from here, worship Ravana on Dussehra and believe that his wife Mandodari hailed from the town. So residents thus regard him as their son-in-law.
A 35-feet, 10-headed statue of Ravana was installed in the town in 2005, at the same place where a 25-feet idol had existed till 1982.
The idol is worshipped every year during Dussehra and women in the area veil themselves since they regard Ravana as their son-in-law while men make offerings for fulfilment of their desires.
As temples across the country resonate with prayers to Lord Ram, a small temple in Vidisha’s Ravangram (Ravana village), around 45 km from the state capital, echoes with the reverberations of Ravana Baba Namah (Hail Ravana).
For over 600 years, in this town Ravana has been worshipped as a symbol of prosperity by Kanyakubja Brahmins, a Brahmin sub-sect, to which Ravana is believed to belong.
Ravana is regarded as a learned person — one who knew all the vedas and was a devotee of Lord Shiva. And people here believe that burning an idol of the learned king is not justified.
The temple at Vidisha is adorned with a 10-feet idol of Ravana — in lying position. And the belief is that an unforeseen calamity would occur if anyone tries to put the idol in upright position.
Residents have pooled money to have the temple rebuilt and prayers are offered here daily.