Ravana 3

I had said in the post before the last that I would narrate a story about Ravana. This is the sthalapuraanam of a place called Gokarna in Karnataka. A film called Bhookailas was made in Telugu starring N T Rama Rao, which forms the basis of my narration.

Ravana's mother Kaikasi used to make a linga out of sand and worship Siva. Indra was told this was the source of Ravana's power and hence he made the sea destroy the linga when she made it. Ravana was infuriated when he heard his mother's complaint and decided to get the aatmalinga which is said to be inside Siva himself. He went off to perform penance. However when Siva finally appeared in front of him Vishnu subjected Ravana to the effects of his maaya. In that state Ravana fell in love with Parvati and asked Siva to grant her to him. Siva agreed and Parvati had no other option but to follow him. Parvati came to know that it was because of Vishnu that she was separated from her Lord and cursed him to suffer the same fate (we see this happening once in the uttara kaanda of the Ramayana). Finally Ravana came to his senses after some time and resumed his penance. He finally appeased Siva who granted Ravana his aatmalinga. 

Narada egged Vinayaka to take back the linga, who takes the form of a young boy grazing his cattle. Ravana was a brahmin. So he had to perform the sandhyaavandana ritual. When Siva gave Ravana the linga he had told him that under no circumstance was it to touch the ground. If it did, the earth would attract it with so great a force that nothing would be able to move it. Mindful of this, Ravana gave the linga to the disguised Vinayaka and told him not to let it touch the ground. Vinayaka agreed on the condition that if he found it difficult to hold he would call out for Ravana thrice and then put it down. As Ravana was performing his ritual VInayaka called out twice. Hearing that Ravan came running back but by the time he could come back, Vinayaka called out for the third time and kept it on the ground. Unable to move the linga Ravana decided to end his life there and started dashing his head against the linga. Finally Siva appeared in front of him and blessed him saying that this place would become famous as bhookailaas or Kailaasa  on the earth.

Thus, even if it was unwittingly, Ravana was responsible for the establishment of a holy place of pilgrimage which is said to house Siva's aatmalinga itself.