Rajasthan: Descendants of Ravana Live in this District

There is a tradition of burning Ravana across the country on Dussehra, but there is such a place in Rajasthan where people mourn its end.
Image Credit: Amar Ujala
Image Credit: Amar Ujala

There is a tradition of burning Ravana across the country on Dussehra, but there is such a place in Rajasthan where people mourn its end. A temple of Ravan has been built in Jodhpur and worship is done there. The Shrimali Brahmin community here considers itself to be a descendant of Ravana and Mandore as their in-laws. The temple of Ravana was built in 2008 in the foothills of Mehrangarh, Jodhpur by Brahmins of Godha gotra. A huge statue of Ravan has been installed here while worshiping Shiva. The priests of the temple tell that after burning Ravana on Dussehra, the people of their society bathe and change the Yagyopaveet and offer special worship in the temple. Ravan was also a devotee of Shiva, so Shiva also has special worship. Mandodari temple has also been built in front of Ravan's temple.

Ravana had come to Jodhpur's Mandore to get married

It is believed that when Ravana had come to Mandore of Jodhpur to get married, then these Brahmins came with him in the procession. After marrying Ravan went back to Lanka, but these people remained here. Then Shrimali Brahmins of Godha gotra have been doing special worship of Ravana here. They do not see the burning of Ravana but mourn that day. Even in the Shraddha Paksha, on Dashami, Ravan's Shradh, Tarpan, etc. is also done.

Bath after combustion

After the death of loved ones, the way the Yagyopaveet is changed by bathing, in the same way, the descendants of Ravana change clothes after taking a bath in the form of mourning. In the Shrimali Brahmins in Jodhpur, the Brahmins of Godha gotra are descendants of Ravan, so they do not see Ravan burning. More than 100 families of this gotra live in Jodhpur and more than 60 families in Phalodi.

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