Ravana’s descendants mourn on Vijayadashmi

Dussehra festival is celebrated as the sign of victory of good over evil. On this occasion, when the effigies of Ravana are set ablaze across the country, his in-laws in Jodhpur, mourn his fiery end.   

Significantly, there is a temple of Ravana in Jodhpur, where the people of Dave community not only worship him but at the time of shraadh paksha, perform tarpan of Ravana as well .

Shrimali Dave (Godha) Pandit Kamlesh Dave said that Shrimali Brahmin Dave (Godha) Mudgal Gautri caste used to be the foremost guards of Ravana’s army. 

All of these Ravana’s descendants came to Bhinmal from South India during Lakshmi marriage. After this, they settled in different parts of the country. Population of this caste is high in Gujarat and Rajasthan. 

Ravana is their ancestor. “Because of this, we stay at home on Ravana dahan and mourn and do the purification by taking bath.”

He said people of Dave (Godha) caste of Shrimali community also do shradh after tarpan in the name of Ravana on dashmi of shradh paksh.

Ravana was a scholar and a great devotee of Shiva. For this reason, his temple was constructed at the Mahadev Amarnath Temple complex in the foothills of Mehrangarh Fort in 2008. On the day of Vijaya Dashmi, all Shrimali Brahmis worship idol of Ravana. 

Simultaneously, he said that Ravana’s statue has been installed atthis temple as a Shiva bhakt. 

According to Pandit Dave, Ravana was the first one worship Shivaling. He was also fond of music and used to perform satsang from veena. 

He composed Shiv strota. Apart from this, Ravana had a vast knowledge of astrology and Vedas.