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Ravalnath

December 01, 2023

Ravalnath (Konkani: रवळनाथ, Ravaḷhanāth), also widely known as Roulu, (रवळू, Ravaḷhu)[a] is a popular Hindu deity in Goa and the Sindhudurg district of coastal Maharashtra, in western India. Shrines of Ravalnath are also found in border areas of Belgaum specially in Karle and Uttar Kannada districts as well as coastal areas of Karnataka.[1] He is worshipped as the main deity or an affiliate deity in most temples of Goa.[2] He is associated with the guardian aspect of Shiva.

Ravalnath, temple near Wados, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra

Ravalnath is a guardian deity (Kshetrapala) who protects the locality from climatic disasters, witchcraft and snakebites. Ravalnath along with Santeri, Bhumika, Bhutnath and Betal is a popular folk deity worshipped as Gramadevata (village god) in most villages of Goa and Sindhudurg of Maharashtra.[1]

Etymology edit

The origin of word Ravalnath is a matter of conjecture. The word Ravalnath is derived the word from the word Ruru, who is one of the Ashta Bhairava, eight forms of the god Bhairava - a ferocious aspect of the god Shiva.[b] The iconography of Ravalnath is same as that of Bhairava.[3] Word ravala is also rerived from the word "ravaNa" which means "screaming","yelling", which is same as "ruru" as mentioned earlier and vedic corpus attributes these epithets to different forms of "Rudra". According to Shenoi Goembab, the word Raval (from the word Ravalnath) comes from the word Rahulbhadra which was also the personal name of Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna. Rahul was also the name of Buddha's son. As per his view during the Buddhist period, some Buddhists might have come to Goa and the worship of Ravalnath was mainly due to this Buddhist tradition. These views of Shenoi Goembab are not accepted by mainstream scholars.[1] Some other speculations suggested that the word Ravalnath is derived from Tamil word Iravalnath and in Tamil Iraval means begging for alms, and is connected to Bhikṣāṭanamūrti aspect of Shiva.[1] Ravalnath is sometimes considered as one of the three hundred Gaṇas of Shiva.[4] Yet others derive the word "ravala" from the word "roinn" of Mundari origin meaning an ant-hill.

The ritual worship of Ravalnath is supposed to have been influenced by Natha sampradaya, it is suggested that Nath cult absorbed Ravalnath as suggested by the suffix nath .[5]

The earliest inscription referring to Ravalnath, called Ravaluba, is dated to the Hoysala period. In another inscription from Goa, Ravalnath is referred to as Ravaloba as well as Ravaleshwar. Southern Silaharas, who ruled North Goa and the present Sindhudurg and part of Ratnagiri district and Kadambas of Goa, were devotees of Shiva. However, references to Ravalnath are not found either in Silaharas or Kadamba inscriptions. There are a two inscriptions in Nagari script and from Velus village of Sattari taluka referring to Ravalnath from Vijayanagara period.[1] Famous Jyotiba of Kolhapur is also called Ravalnath, and is tutelary deity of Sendraka (Shinde) royal house, masses and the upper castes alike.

Iconography edit

As per shastra icons of Ravalnath are in accordance with that of Ruru Bhairava which is:

निर्वाणं निर्विकल्पं निरूपजमलं निर्विकारं क्षकारं हुङ्कारं वज्रदंष्ट्रं हुतवहनयनं रौद्रमुन्मत्तभावम्। भट्कारं भक्तनागं भृकुटितमुखं भैरवं शूलपाणिं वन्दे खड्गं कपालं डमरुकसहितं क्षेत्रपालन्नमामि॥

Thus Ravalnath is epicted standing, with his left leg slightly bent. He has four hands and holds in the front right hand sword (Khaḍga) and in the left hand bowl of ambrosia (Pānapātra), in the lower right hand a trishula (trident) and in left hand, a damaru (drum). He wears a crown, a garland of human skulls (Runḍamāla) and a dhoti. He has a moustache. A female attendant with a fly-whisk (Cāmara) may be shown on his side; occasionally two attendants on either side are seen. Ravalnath is also worshiped in the form of Linga (Shiva's aniconic form).[1] A horse is mostly depicted as his mount in iconography.

Worship edit

Ravalnath is a popular deity of all social classes in coastal Maharashtra and Goa. Although, the priest here are usually from Gurav community who perform the daily Pooja in the temple and do Kaul Prasad for the devoties.

Here Ravalnath is Kshetrapala and Bhairava and is worshipped according to the rituals prescribed for him.

The rituals for Ravalnath are especially performed between Dasara to Kojagiri Purnima and on Shigmo in some places. Icons of Ravalnath (as well as some other local guardian deities) are usually images, but festive bantons called Taranga, decorated with nine yard sarees and a metal palm or a face of the deity is fitted on the top of the banton.[5] Possessions (Bhaar or Avsar) is a very important aspect of Ravalnath worship, where the god communicate and bless the devotees via a possessed medium. Blood sacrifices of cocks or goats are offered to him in some places. The ritual of sprinkling the blood of the cocks offered to tarangas on cooked rice is called charu.[5]

Temples edit

There are eight independent temples of Ravalnath in Goa where he is the presiding deity and more than 42 shrines where he is venerated as a subsidiary (Parivar devatā).[1][2]

Notes edit

  • ^ Most of the old documents of the colonial era mention the name Roulu which is a Portuguese version of the local word Ravalu.[2] Ravalu or Roulu is also a common given name in Goa.
  • ^ As mentioned about Ravalnath has been commonly known as Raulu, the word Raulu can be derived from the word Ruru,[3] In Konkani Ru can be sometimes pronounced as Rau as in Rudra is pronounced as Roudiro. The change of ra (Devanagari:र) to la (Devanagari:ल), also common in most Indo-Aryan languages, furthermore in Konkani la (Devanagari:ल) changes to ḷha(Devanagari:ळ).

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Mitragotri, Vithal Raghavendra (1999). A socio-cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara. Institute Menezes Braganza. pp. 218–225.
  2. ^ a b c Gomes Pereira, Rui (1978). Goa: Hindu temples and deities (translated from the original in Portuguese by Antonio Victor Couto). Pereira, 1978. pp. 1–231.
  3. ^ a b Joshi, Mahadevshastri. Gajati Daivate(गाजती दैवते) in Marathi. Pune: Continental Prakashan. pp. 90–104.
  4. ^ Manager of Publications (1966). "Census of India, 1961: Maharashtra". Part 6. 10 (1 of Census of India, 1961, India. Office of the Registrar General): 128.
  5. ^ a b c Directorate of Archaeology & Museums (1989). "Puratan". Department of Archaeology and Museums, Madhya Pradesh. 6–7: 48–56.

External links edit

  • Shri Shivanath Ravalnath Mandir, Karwar, Karnataka
  • Shri Ravalnath Mandir, Satarda, Maharashtra
  • Tarang utsav during Dasara at Pedne Ravalnath temple, Goa

December 01, 2023
ravalnath, konkani, रवळन, ravaḷhanāth, also, widely, known, roulu, रवळ, ravaḷhu, popular, hindu, deity, sindhudurg, district, coastal, maharashtra, western, india, shrines, also, found, border, areas, belgaum, specially, karle, uttar, kannada, districts, well,. Ravalnath Konkani रवळन थ Ravaḷhanath also widely known as Roulu रवळ Ravaḷhu a is a popular Hindu deity in Goa and the Sindhudurg district of coastal Maharashtra in western India Shrines of Ravalnath are also found in border areas of Belgaum specially in Karle and Uttar Kannada districts as well as coastal areas of Karnataka 1 He is worshipped as the main deity or an affiliate deity in most temples of Goa 2 He is associated with the guardian aspect of Shiva Ravalnath temple near Wados Sindhudurg MaharashtraRavalnath is a guardian deity Kshetrapala who protects the locality from climatic disasters witchcraft and snakebites Ravalnath along with Santeri Bhumika Bhutnath and Betal is a popular folk deity worshipped as Gramadevata village god in most villages of Goa and Sindhudurg of Maharashtra 1 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Iconography 3 Worship 4 Temples 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEtymology editThe origin of word Ravalnath is a matter of conjecture The word Ravalnath is derived the word from the word Ruru who is one of the Ashta Bhairava eight forms of the god Bhairava a ferocious aspect of the god Shiva b The iconography of Ravalnath is same as that of Bhairava 3 Word ravala is also rerived from the word ravaNa which means screaming yelling which is same as ruru as mentioned earlier and vedic corpus attributes these epithets to different forms of Rudra According to Shenoi Goembab the word Raval from the word Ravalnath comes from the word Rahulbhadra which was also the personal name of Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna Rahul was also the name of Buddha s son As per his view during the Buddhist period some Buddhists might have come to Goa and the worship of Ravalnath was mainly due to this Buddhist tradition These views of Shenoi Goembab are not accepted by mainstream scholars 1 Some other speculations suggested that the word Ravalnath is derived from Tamil word Iravalnath and in Tamil Iraval means begging for alms and is connected to Bhikṣaṭanamurti aspect of Shiva 1 Ravalnath is sometimes considered as one of the three hundred Gaṇas of Shiva 4 Yet others derive the word ravala from the word roinn of Mundari origin meaning an ant hill The ritual worship of Ravalnath is supposed to have been influenced by Natha sampradaya it is suggested that Nath cult absorbed Ravalnath as suggested by the suffix nath 5 The earliest inscription referring to Ravalnath called Ravaluba is dated to the Hoysala period In another inscription from Goa Ravalnath is referred to as Ravaloba as well as Ravaleshwar Southern Silaharas who ruled North Goa and the present Sindhudurg and part of Ratnagiri district and Kadambas of Goa were devotees of Shiva However references to Ravalnath are not found either in Silaharas or Kadamba inscriptions There are a two inscriptions in Nagari script and from Velus village of Sattari taluka referring to Ravalnath from Vijayanagara period 1 Famous Jyotiba of Kolhapur is also called Ravalnath and is tutelary deity of Sendraka Shinde royal house masses and the upper castes alike Iconography editAs per shastra icons of Ravalnath are in accordance with that of Ruru Bhairava which is न र व ण न र व कल प न र पजमल न र व क र क षक र ह ङ क र वज रद ष ट र ह तवहनयन र द रम न मत तभ वम भट क र भक तन ग भ क ट तम ख भ रव श लप ण वन द खड ग कप ल डमर कसह त क ष त रप लन नम म Thus Ravalnath is epicted standing with his left leg slightly bent He has four hands and holds in the front right hand sword Khaḍga and in the left hand bowl of ambrosia Panapatra in the lower right hand a trishula trident and in left hand a damaru drum He wears a crown a garland of human skulls Runḍamala and a dhoti He has a moustache A female attendant with a fly whisk Camara may be shown on his side occasionally two attendants on either side are seen Ravalnath is also worshiped in the form of Linga Shiva s aniconic form 1 A horse is mostly depicted as his mount in iconography Worship editRavalnath is a popular deity of all social classes in coastal Maharashtra and Goa Although the priest here are usually from Gurav community who perform the daily Pooja in the temple and do Kaul Prasad for the devoties Here Ravalnath is Kshetrapala and Bhairava and is worshipped according to the rituals prescribed for him The rituals for Ravalnath are especially performed between Dasara to Kojagiri Purnima and on Shigmo in some places Icons of Ravalnath as well as some other local guardian deities are usually images but festive bantons called Taranga decorated with nine yard sarees and a metal palm or a face of the deity is fitted on the top of the banton 5 Possessions Bhaar or Avsar is a very important aspect of Ravalnath worship where the god communicate and bless the devotees via a possessed medium Blood sacrifices of cocks or goats are offered to him in some places The ritual of sprinkling the blood of the cocks offered to tarangas on cooked rice is called charu 5 Temples editThere are eight independent temples of Ravalnath in Goa where he is the presiding deity and more than 42 shrines where he is venerated as a subsidiary Parivar devata 1 2 Notes edit Most of the old documents of the colonial era mention the name Roulu which is a Portuguese version of the local word Ravalu 2 Ravalu or Roulu is also a common given name in Goa As mentioned about Ravalnath has been commonly known as Raulu the word Raulu can be derived from the word Ruru 3 In Konkani Ru can be sometimes pronounced as Rau as in Rudra is pronounced as Roudiro The change of ra Devanagari र to la Devanagari ल also common in most Indo Aryan languages furthermore in Konkani la Devanagari ल changes to ḷha Devanagari ळ References edit a b c d e f g Mitragotri Vithal Raghavendra 1999 A socio cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara Institute Menezes Braganza pp 218 225 a b c Gomes Pereira Rui 1978 Goa Hindu temples and deities translated from the original in Portuguese by Antonio Victor Couto Pereira 1978 pp 1 231 a b Joshi Mahadevshastri Gajati Daivate ग जत द वत in Marathi Pune Continental Prakashan pp 90 104 Manager of Publications 1966 Census of India 1961 Maharashtra Part 6 10 1 of Census of India 1961 India Office of the Registrar General 128 a b c Directorate of Archaeology amp Museums 1989 Puratan Department of Archaeology and Museums Madhya Pradesh 6 7 48 56 External links editShri Shivanath Ravalnath Mandir Karwar Karnataka Shri Ravalnath Mandir Satarda Maharashtra Tarang utsav during Dasara at Pedne Ravalnath temple Goa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ravalnath amp oldid 1153446376, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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