Ravananugraha​ God Shiva blessing the demon king Ravana​

The Ravananugraha, (shiva blessing the demon king Ravan) is a stone sculpture found at Hinglajgarh fort in Mandsaur and now in the State Museum Bhopal, tells a powerful story from the Hindu epic Ramayana. It shows the god Shiva blessing the demon king Ravana, a moment known as "Ravana being favored by Shiva." This piece of art was not just for worship; it helped people understand important stories. The story goes that Ravana, after a victory, tried to fly his celestial chariot over Mount Kailash, Shiva's home. When he was stopped by Shiva's attendant Nandi, Ravana, in his arrogance, decided to uproot the entire mountain to show his power. As Mount Kailash began to shake, Shiva's wife Parvati became afraid and clung to him. Seeing Ravana's audacity, Shiva simply pressed down on the mountain with his big toe, trapping Ravana underneath. For a thousand years, Ravana, in immense pain, sang hymns of praise to Shiva. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva finally released him and granted him a powerful sword, naming him "Ravana," meaning "one who roared." Carved from sandstone, the sculpture features Shiva and his consort Parvati seated on Mount Kailash. Though their hands are broken, they would have shown important gestures. Below them, the mighty Ravana is depicted trying to lift the mountain. Many smaller figures, like gods and Shiva's attendants, fill the background, reacting to this dramatic event. This detailed style, with many figures in one scene, was common in ancient Indian art. The sculpture's fine carving, from detailed crowns to the expressions of the figures, shows great skill. Such artworks were crucial in temples, teaching people about their beliefs through visual stories. The Ravananugraha is a great example of how ancient Indian artists brought complex stories to life in stone.