There are several temples in India dedicated to Ravana, The mythological king of Lanka.
Some notable examples include the Dashanan Temple in Kanpur, which opens only on Dussehra; the Bisrakh Ravana Mandir in Uttar Pradesh, believed to be Ravana’s birthplace; the Mandsaur temple in Madhya Pradesh, which also commemorates his marriage to Mandodari; and the Kakinada Ravana Temple in Andhra Pradesh, a site for devotees to worship his devotion to Lord Shiva.
Temples Dedicated to Ravana in India
Dashanan Temple, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh: This temple is significant as it opens its doors only on the occasion of Dussehra, allowing devotees to worship the ten-headed demon king.
Bisrakh Ravana Mandir, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh: This temple is unique as it is believed to be the birthplace of Ravana and is considered a revered site by locals, who often do not celebrate Dussehra out of respect.
Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh: This location is significant for the worship of Ravana, as it is believed to be the place where he married his wife, Mandodari.
Kakinada Ravana Temple, Andhra Pradesh: This temple is dedicated to Ravana’s intense devotion to Lord Shiva and features a large Shivling sculpture.
Mandore Ravan Temple, Jodhpur, Rajasthan: Another temple that focuses on Ravana’s devotion to Lord Shiva.
Ravangram Ravana Temple, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh: This temple also honors Ravana and is a site where locals visit on their wedding day.
Ravana did not touch mata Sita because he was under a curse from Nalakuber, who was the husband of Rambha, a celestial nymph whom Ravana had violated. Nalakuber cursed Ravana, saying his head would burst into a thousand pieces if he ever touched another woman without her consent. This fear of the curse, and not any inherent respect or decency, prevented Ravana from physically assaulting Sita during her captivity.
The Curse of Nalakuber
The incident:
According to the myth, Ravana encountered the celestial nymph Rambha and violated her, despite her pleas that she was like a daughter-in-law to him.
The curse:
Rambha’s husband, Nalakuber, learned of the incident and cursed Ravana.
The consequence:
The curse decreed that if Ravana ever touched any woman without her consent, his head would shatter into a thousand fragments.
The impact on Sita:
This curse is the reason why Ravana, despite his power, never touched Sita against her will, even though he desired her.
The Abduction
Respect versus fear:
Ravana’s avoidance of touching Sita was a result of his fear of the curse, not a demonstration of respect or moral restraint.
The act of kidnapping:
Ravana still abducted Sita, but in the process, he did not force physical contact. He is described in some versions of the epic as having grabbed her by the hair or lifting her.
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