JOIN USHe killed thousands of innocent people, sent hundreds of maharshis to death, dethroned devas from heaven... these are the known stories about Asura King Ravana. But he is also a great scholar, a capable ruler and a maestro of the Veena.
There is one small village near Kanjangad in Kasargod where the villagers love the asura king. There is a cave where Ravana performed penance, a pond where he took bath and the Shivalinga which had the aura by Ravana’s poojas. These might be the reasons why the denizens here love Ravana, and they named the village ‘Ravaneshwaram’.
Sri Permthrikkovalappan Shiva Temple in the village is the centre of attraction of the village and the legend of the temple reveals the connection of Ravana and the village. The main diety of the temple is Ravana’s favorite god Shiva. Ganapathi’s prathishta is also there. Hundres of devotees, mainly women come to this temple to worship Shiva.
Legend
According to the legend, during Ravana’s voyage back to Lanka from Gokarna, he finds this forest area and starts doing intense penance (or tapasya) to Lord Shiva. He installs a Shiva Linga and starts worshipping.
This area later became a temple and one could still find the cave where Ravana used to do tapasya and the pond Ravana used to take daily bath. The main festivals of the temple are Prthistadina Mahotsava and Shivarathri. The main offerings are Neyvilakk and Somawara Vratha.
Relation with Rajarajewshwara temple
The temple shares its legend with Thalipparambu Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple. The diety, poojas, priests are all same in both temples. In both temples, Shiva is known as Perumthrikkovilappan.
How to reach?
Kanjagad is 69 kms from Mangalore by train. One can reach Ravaneshwaram by bus or auto, which is 8 kms away.