I was also intrigued by what I had heard earlier in different versions of Ramayan - the references to Lanka and Raavan, the king that abducted Sita. Though I did get to spend much time in researching about this before or during my visit, I looked up some sites after. I also saw quite a few artistic references to Ramayana - like the jataayu-like birds and craft.
According to the Ramayana, king Rāvana brought Sita Devi from India in a “Pushpaka Vimana” which is widely known in Sri Lanka as the “Dandu Monara Yanthranaya”, or Large Peacock Machine in Sinhala.
Ashok Vatika was a garden in Lanka, the Kingdom of demon king, Ravana, as mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and Hindu epic, Ramayana of Valmiki, and all subsequent versions. It was the location, where Sita, the wife of Rama was held captive by Ravana, after her abduction, also because she refused to stay in Ravana's palace, and preferred to stay under the Ashoka tree, hence the name. It was here that Ravana's wife Mandodari came to meet her and also where Hanuman met her for the first time, and identified himself with the finger ring of Rama.
Its present day location is believed to be the Hakgala Botanical Garden, the area is known as Seetha Eliya, close to the resort city of Nuwara Eliya. [Nuwara Eliya is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka]. The Gardens is situated at the base of the Hakgala Rock forms, has Sita Pokuna, a barren area atop the Hakgala Rock Jungle, where Sita was supposedly held captive, the 'Sita Amman Temple' is located here. Other connected site is a spot where Sita bathed in a stream at Sita Eliya, called Sita Jharna.
You can read more interesting accounts here. Dont miss the video too!
2 comments:
Hey Bhaski,
Looks like you have developed a passion for Sri Lanka and The Ramayana!
hahaa! I always had the passion for travel and new places... :-)
Post a Comment