Ravalnath
Encyclopedia
Ravalnath is a very popular Shaivite deity in west coastal region of India, figuring predominantly Goa
, the Sindhudurg district of coastal Maharashtra
and some areas of Karnataka
.
" which means Sun
. Others speculate that it derives from the Tamil word "Iravalnath,which means to beg.
Ravalnath is a form of Kalbhairav
and found in Panchyatana
of almost all Goan temples.
, Akshmala
, Khadga
, and Panpatra (vessel for drinking Soma rasa
) or a Khetaka
.
He is considered as Shiva
gana, wears a Mundamala (garland made of human skull
s), and has a horse as his Vahana
. Some historians relate this deity to the Nath
panth tradition. Still others cite its connections to the Jain and Buddhist traditions.
communities like Padti, GSBs, Karhades, Mestas, Achars, Charodis Daivajnas, Naik Bhandari, Kharvi, Vaishya Vani
, Maratha
s and others worship Ravalnath equally.
Some temples specially dedicated to Ravalnath are as follows
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, the Sindhudurg district of coastal Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
and some areas of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
.
Etymology
The origin of word Ravalnath is a matter of conjecture. Some historians believe that it originates from the word "RaviSurya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
" which means Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
. Others speculate that it derives from the Tamil word "Iravalnath,which means to beg.
Ravalnath is a form of Kalbhairav
Bhairava
Bhairava , sometimes known as Bhairo or Bhairon or Bhairadya or Bheruji , Kaala Bhairavar or Vairavar , is the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva associated with annihilation...
and found in Panchyatana
Panchayatana puja
Panchayatana puja is the system of worship in the Smarta sampradaya of Hinduism. It is said to have been introduced by Adi Shankara, the 8th century CE Hindu philosopher. It consists of the worship of five deities: Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya and Ganesha...
of almost all Goan temples.
Iconology
Ravalnath is depicted having four hands, and he bears Trishul DamaruDamaru
A damaru or damru is a small two-headed drum shaped like an hourglass. The drum is typically made of wood, with leather drum heads at both ends; the damaru might also be made entirely out of human skulls...
, Akshmala
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
, Khadga
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
, and Panpatra (vessel for drinking Soma rasa
Soma
Soma , or Haoma , from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the subsequent Vedic and greater Persian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, whose Soma Mandala contains 114 hymns, many praising its energizing qualities...
) or a Khetaka
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
.
He is considered as Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
gana, wears a Mundamala (garland made of human skull
Human skull
The human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
s), and has a horse as his Vahana
Vahana
Vāhana denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular deva is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vāhana is often called the deity's mount. Upon the partnership between the deva and his vāhana is woven much iconography and mythology...
. Some historians relate this deity to the Nath
Nath
The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a Hindu initiatory tradition and the word itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge"...
panth tradition. Still others cite its connections to the Jain and Buddhist traditions.
Devotees
People belonging to all HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
communities like Padti, GSBs, Karhades, Mestas, Achars, Charodis Daivajnas, Naik Bhandari, Kharvi, Vaishya Vani
Vaishya Vani
Vaishya Vani, is a trader/merchant community hailing from the western coast of India, residing in the Konkan division of Maharashtra, Goa,some parts of coastal and central Karnataka, and Kerala. This community commonly known as Vanis and sometimes Kudali Vanis...
, Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s and others worship Ravalnath equally.
Famous temples
Standalone temples devoted to Ravalnath are common in Goa. In addition, many Goan temples, Shaivite and Vaishnavite, feature Ravalnath as a parivar devata (subsidiary deity). Ravalnath in Goa is also worshiped as "Piso Ravlu" (eccentric Ravalnath) and "Shaano Ravlu" (wise Ravalnath) most probably in the Devaki Krishna Panchayatna.Some temples specially dedicated to Ravalnath are as follows
- Lakshmi Ravalnath, Gawanwaddo Marcela
- Pisso Raulu, Marcela
- Ravalnath temples at Pernem
- Ravalnath temple at Sanvordem
- Ravalnath Temple at Chandgadh, Maharashtra
- Ravalnath at KarwarKarwarKarwar is the administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, India. It is a seaside town situated on the banks of the Kali river which is on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. The town lies about 15 kilometres south of the Karnataka–Goa border and 519 km north-west...
, MajaliMajaliMajali is a prominent Jordanian surname. Family members have long served both the Ottoman Turks and the Hashemite family that has ruled Jordan since 1921 and have occupied senior positions in the government and military...
, KarnatakaKarnatakaKarnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...