World · India Bureau
Madhya Pradesh shrine features unusual Ravana statue with donkey head atop
A centuries-old 35-foot tall statue of the demon king Ravana in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur district has become a curiosity for its bizarre iconography—featuring a donkey's head mounted above the mythological figure's ten heads. The unusual depiction at Rundi in the Khanpura area is believed to be unique among Ravana representations across India.
LSN India ·
In the Khanpura region of Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh, an extraordinary religious structure stands as a rare deviation from traditional Hindu iconography. The approximately 35-foot tall statue of Ravana, the ten-headed demon king of Hindu mythology, is distinguished by an unusual addition: a donkey's head positioned directly above the figure's iconic multiple heads.
The shrine, located at Rundi, is estimated to be nearly 200 years old, making it a historical landmark in the region. According to local accounts, this particular representation of Ravana is the only known statue of its kind in the country, drawing the attention of devotees and those curious about regional religious practices.
The statue has also acquired an unconventional ritual practice among local women, who reportedly observe customs typically reserved for revered male family members. Women visiting the shrine perform the ritual of "ghunghat" (veiling), treating Ravana as a son-in-law figure rather than the antagonistic character depicted in the Ramayana epic. This inversion of the traditional narrative reflects the complex and varied regional interpretations of Hindu mythology across India.
The site remains a point of interest for scholars studying regional variations in Hindu religious practice and folk traditions. The monument's age and unique artistic choices continue to intrigue visitors seeking to understand the diverse ways in which mythological figures are venerated across different parts of India.