06-24-2005, 11:54 PM
Can some Delhi based folks verify this report in Pioneer, 25 June 2005?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ravana Janmabhumi
The demon king was born here. Phoolan Devi was a regular visitor and her husband an ardent devotee. Saurabh Tankha discovers adesolate Shiv mandir at Visrakh village, off NH 24, that was constructedby the mythological villain's father
Over the last couple of years, after having written about most heritage sites (both protected by the Archeological Survey of India and lots many which the ASI happily chooses to turn a blind eye to) in the national capital, I thought of discovering a new one. "But most Delhi monuments have been covered, let's unearth something new, somewhere else," I thought to myself. Thus began my hunt and research: Talks with conservation architects, heritologists, ASI officials and Intach staffers.
But most of the suggestions that arrived from the other side were conventional heritage spots. "Nothing great. No, no... the place is no great shakes and can't be termed as a hidden treasure," I was about to hang up on a source in Intach to find our office peon, Pandeyji smiling at me. "Aapko koi aisi jagah jaana hai jahan ka kisi ko pata na ho? he asked me. "Of course, dear friend," I told him. "To samjho aapka kaam ho gaya," he replied. And believe me Pandeyji did tell me of a place that is truly priceless and most certainly a hidden khazana.
So, off we were to a village called Visrakh where according to Hindu mythology, the 10-headed demon king Ravana was born. However, there is no concrete proof of the fact.
A Brahmin by birth, Ravana was the son of Vishwashrawa and Kaikasi. History has it that Visrakh village on the banks of river Hindon saw the birth of Ravana, where his father had constructed a Shiva temple, remains of which can still be seen scattered in the four-acre complex.
When the villagers were renovating the temple, bandit queen Phoolan Devi happened to have arrived to pay respect to the lord. "She took charge of constructing the boundary wall of the complex," informs temple mahant, Ramdas. Phoolan's husband Umaid Singh is a regular visitor to the temple even now. So are a number of bureaucrats, businessmen and politicians like former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, who comes here at least once a year.
<b>Visrakh, now a part of Greater Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, can be best reached from National Highway 24.</b> But the going is not easy. Once you get off NH 24, keep asking on the way, else you'll get lost. Take a left towards Lal Kuan after you cross Hindon river on NH 24 and then a right from the Samtel factory, which is around two km from the Lal Kuan crossing.
The village is around five to six km from here. Drive cautiously through the villages on the way as there are a number of speed-breakers on the narrow road (minus the mandatory white stripes of course) and children too tend to run across the road without warning. So can the cattle and the cyclewallahs. The best part of the drive is that the roads are well laid, except for a few odd bumps.
The village, comprising of over 100 houses, is a sleepy abode of farmers who tend to live life king-size. They are least bothered about a city-bred paying a visit to their gaon and take their own sweet time to guide you. "Pehle bayein (left) aur phir seedha (straight)," was how a villager guided us, after having thought for a good couple of minutes.
A narrow, winding lane with lush green farms on both sides takes you to the Shiv temple. <b>It is believed that Vishwashrawa had installed the eight-armed Shivlinga, a rare sight, in the temple. Ravana, like his father, was said to be a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Even though the villagers have dug more than 30 feet, many times, they haven't been able to find the roots of Shiva's eight arms.</b> During this excavation, however, they found another rare item, a 24-mouthed conch. But the villagers were conned by a famous tantrik, who took it away from them. "We tried really hard but never got it back," adds Ramdas.
Recently, while boring the ground to instal a water pump, a number of ancient pieces of stone artifacts and bricks were unearthed. These include a broken face of an elephant, a few door pieces and a number of Khajuraho-like art forms. Some of these pieces have been picked up and taken for verification by the ASI while a few others have been taken away by the villagers.
The temple, apparently, also has a tunnel that reaches a nearby ancient well but is inaccessible now. It is also believed that people who ask Lord Shiva for anything at this temple are blessed with it. "But for that one has to pay obeisance to the lord for 40 Mondays," says Ramdas. At present, the temple complex is being renovated. A dharamshala is being constructed for travellers by the Meerut Mandal.
However, the village mourns when the country celebrates Dusshera and the victory of good over evil. "How can we celebrate when one of us was killed on that day?" asks Shankarlal, a septuagenarian villager. He contests the fact that Ravana was an evil and selfish soul. "Anyone, you and me, can turn evil or selfish any day so why blame him. Ravana was more qualified than Rama in all respects. His 10 heads signify that he had knowledge spanning all the 10 directions. He was an accomplished scholar, a veena player and is supposed to have composed the Shiva tandavastotra. So, where is the comparison?" he adds.
But who can verify the fact that the temple was built by Ravana's father, that the demon king was born here and how did he reach Lanka to become one of the most powerful kings during that time? "Some of these facts have been mentioned in Ravana Samhita as also in an ancient scripture that is with a Marwari businessman in Meerut. He had come to this temple after reading it in the book and had shown me the pages which mentioned these facts," puts in Ramdas.
As we left the complex, I wondered if all this was true. Was the demon king actually the next-door neighbour of the denizens of the Capital?
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Or this is a hoax like the movie Rudraksh?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ravana Janmabhumi
The demon king was born here. Phoolan Devi was a regular visitor and her husband an ardent devotee. Saurabh Tankha discovers adesolate Shiv mandir at Visrakh village, off NH 24, that was constructedby the mythological villain's father
Over the last couple of years, after having written about most heritage sites (both protected by the Archeological Survey of India and lots many which the ASI happily chooses to turn a blind eye to) in the national capital, I thought of discovering a new one. "But most Delhi monuments have been covered, let's unearth something new, somewhere else," I thought to myself. Thus began my hunt and research: Talks with conservation architects, heritologists, ASI officials and Intach staffers.
But most of the suggestions that arrived from the other side were conventional heritage spots. "Nothing great. No, no... the place is no great shakes and can't be termed as a hidden treasure," I was about to hang up on a source in Intach to find our office peon, Pandeyji smiling at me. "Aapko koi aisi jagah jaana hai jahan ka kisi ko pata na ho? he asked me. "Of course, dear friend," I told him. "To samjho aapka kaam ho gaya," he replied. And believe me Pandeyji did tell me of a place that is truly priceless and most certainly a hidden khazana.
So, off we were to a village called Visrakh where according to Hindu mythology, the 10-headed demon king Ravana was born. However, there is no concrete proof of the fact.
A Brahmin by birth, Ravana was the son of Vishwashrawa and Kaikasi. History has it that Visrakh village on the banks of river Hindon saw the birth of Ravana, where his father had constructed a Shiva temple, remains of which can still be seen scattered in the four-acre complex.
When the villagers were renovating the temple, bandit queen Phoolan Devi happened to have arrived to pay respect to the lord. "She took charge of constructing the boundary wall of the complex," informs temple mahant, Ramdas. Phoolan's husband Umaid Singh is a regular visitor to the temple even now. So are a number of bureaucrats, businessmen and politicians like former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, who comes here at least once a year.
<b>Visrakh, now a part of Greater Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, can be best reached from National Highway 24.</b> But the going is not easy. Once you get off NH 24, keep asking on the way, else you'll get lost. Take a left towards Lal Kuan after you cross Hindon river on NH 24 and then a right from the Samtel factory, which is around two km from the Lal Kuan crossing.
The village is around five to six km from here. Drive cautiously through the villages on the way as there are a number of speed-breakers on the narrow road (minus the mandatory white stripes of course) and children too tend to run across the road without warning. So can the cattle and the cyclewallahs. The best part of the drive is that the roads are well laid, except for a few odd bumps.
The village, comprising of over 100 houses, is a sleepy abode of farmers who tend to live life king-size. They are least bothered about a city-bred paying a visit to their gaon and take their own sweet time to guide you. "Pehle bayein (left) aur phir seedha (straight)," was how a villager guided us, after having thought for a good couple of minutes.
A narrow, winding lane with lush green farms on both sides takes you to the Shiv temple. <b>It is believed that Vishwashrawa had installed the eight-armed Shivlinga, a rare sight, in the temple. Ravana, like his father, was said to be a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Even though the villagers have dug more than 30 feet, many times, they haven't been able to find the roots of Shiva's eight arms.</b> During this excavation, however, they found another rare item, a 24-mouthed conch. But the villagers were conned by a famous tantrik, who took it away from them. "We tried really hard but never got it back," adds Ramdas.
Recently, while boring the ground to instal a water pump, a number of ancient pieces of stone artifacts and bricks were unearthed. These include a broken face of an elephant, a few door pieces and a number of Khajuraho-like art forms. Some of these pieces have been picked up and taken for verification by the ASI while a few others have been taken away by the villagers.
The temple, apparently, also has a tunnel that reaches a nearby ancient well but is inaccessible now. It is also believed that people who ask Lord Shiva for anything at this temple are blessed with it. "But for that one has to pay obeisance to the lord for 40 Mondays," says Ramdas. At present, the temple complex is being renovated. A dharamshala is being constructed for travellers by the Meerut Mandal.
However, the village mourns when the country celebrates Dusshera and the victory of good over evil. "How can we celebrate when one of us was killed on that day?" asks Shankarlal, a septuagenarian villager. He contests the fact that Ravana was an evil and selfish soul. "Anyone, you and me, can turn evil or selfish any day so why blame him. Ravana was more qualified than Rama in all respects. His 10 heads signify that he had knowledge spanning all the 10 directions. He was an accomplished scholar, a veena player and is supposed to have composed the Shiva tandavastotra. So, where is the comparison?" he adds.
But who can verify the fact that the temple was built by Ravana's father, that the demon king was born here and how did he reach Lanka to become one of the most powerful kings during that time? "Some of these facts have been mentioned in Ravana Samhita as also in an ancient scripture that is with a Marwari businessman in Meerut. He had come to this temple after reading it in the book and had shown me the pages which mentioned these facts," puts in Ramdas.
As we left the complex, I wondered if all this was true. Was the demon king actually the next-door neighbour of the denizens of the Capital?
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Or this is a hoax like the movie Rudraksh?