KANPUR: Even as the rest of India prepares to burn effigies of Ravan as a symbolic victory of good over evil, devotees they are silently lining up in front of a nondescript temple in Kanpur.
This temple that opens its doors to devotees only for one day a year, Dussehra, is dedicated to the King of Lankan Ravan.
Devotees come from everywhere to worship Ravan on the day he was killed by Lord Ram.
This 150-year-old temple is located in the Shivala area and devotees light oil lamps while offering prayers. The deity is decorated and ‘aarti’ is performed.
“Ravan is worshiped as an incarnation of ‘Shakti’ (power) and ‘gyan’ (knowledge). Ravan was an unconditional devotee of Lord Shiva and is known for his knowledge and power.
“The temple here is part of a Shiva temple complex and Ravan is worshiped as a guard of Lord Shiva. People believe that Ravan was also born in Dusshera, the day he was killed,” says Pandit KK.Tiwari, the priest From the temple.
Devotees in the temple claim that when Ravan was dying, Lord Ram had asked his younger brother Laxman to take the king’s blessings because his knowledge was unparalleled.
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