New Delhi: On the evening of Dussehra, all devotees will cheer at the annual event of Ravana Dahan or the effigy burning of the ten-headed demon king Ravana. We all know him from the epic Ramayan as the king of Lanka and kidnapper of Lord Ram’s wife Mata Sita. It ultimately led to his death at the hands of Lord Ram, and Dussehra is the celebration of this event, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. But many will be surprised to know that his original home wasn’t Lanka but India.

A great scholar, a master of Vedic wisdom and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, Ravana was born at Bishrakh in Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida West. This place is roughly 650 kilometres from Lord Ram’s birthplace, Ayodhya. Bishrakh village is named after Ravana’s father, Vishrava. It has a temple, called Ravana Ka Mandir, and villagers consider that the temple still preserves the Shivaling laid by Rishi Vishrava. Let’s delve deeper for more information.

Bishrakh’s Tradition of Worshipping Ravana

In Bisrakh, Ravana is not condemned but worshipped as a divine figure. He is not remembered as an antagonist but as a great soul, a Brahmin, a Shaivite, and a scholar of unparalleled brilliance. Bisrakh villagers believe that at Ravana Ka Mandir, sage Vishrava lived and meditated. While most of India celebrates Ram’s victory over Ravana, villagers honour their native son by performing daily rituals, prayers and havans in Ravana’s name on Dussehra.

Interestingly, the temple’s inner sanctum did not contain an idol of Ravana. Instead, there’s a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. Explaining about the absence of a Ravana idol, a sadhu said there’s no idol on display as he does not come out. There is one idol which comes out once a year during Dussehra.

From Greater Noida to Lanka

It is interesting to know how the son of India reached Lanka from Greater Noida. Legend says that Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva to construct the world’s most beautiful palace for her. Granting her wish, Shiva set up a palace of gold on an island called Lanka. Before entering the gold palace, Lord Shiv and Maa Parvati searched for a suitable priest and ended up with Ravana. He performed the rituals but demanded Lanka as dakshina or sacred offering in return. Hence, the wealthiest kingdom landed in his hands.

The presence of Ravana Ka Mandir at Bishrakh and villagers revering him as a great scholar and Shiva devotee highlights how his character is layered. As Dussehra approaches, Ravana’s unique trait reminds us that a persona is not always black and white, but it’s sometimes grey.