RAMANYA SITES Sri Lanka is proud custodian of more than 50 Ramayana sites from the place of Seeta Devi’s captivity to the battlefields where vast armies clashed, to the groves of exotic herbs dropped by the monkey god Hanuman, to the ultimate theater of war where Lord Rama slew Ravana, the ten – headed demon – King. People living in the areas where great events took place, remember to this day connection of their soil to the great epic. An oath taken at the spot where Seetha Devi undertook ‘ Agni Pariksha’ is still considered valid in village courts or grama sabhas. The color of the soil of the ancient battlefield is still red today, and is still surrounded by lighter colored earth. One of the airports of Ravana, torched by surrounded by brown earth, Exotic alpine Himalayan species are found suddenly amidst tropical Sri Lankan vegetation, the legacy of Hanuman’s heroic voyage carrying a mountain with life- restoring herbs. Incredibly, the names of places hae come down to modern times unchanged. Though great social, cultural and religious change have taken place in Sri Lanka since. Below we have given some of main Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka. Muneshwaram Temple: Located in Chilaw and it is believed that Munneswaram predates the Ramayana. Lord Rama after his victorious battle left for Bramhaasthi dosham as he had killed King Ravana who was Brahmin. Whilst passing over the area Rama noticed that the ‘’ Brahmaasthi Dosham’’ was not following him. He stops the Vimana at this juncture and asks God shiva for a remedy. God Shiva blessed Lord Rama and advised installing and praying for four lingams, as the only remedy to get rid of the Dosham. Manavari Temple: It is the first Lingam installed and prayed by Lord Rama and till date this lingam is called as Ramalinga Shivan. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in the world named after Lord Rama. The temple is open from 06.00 to 12.00 noon & from 04.00 P.M to 07.00 P.M Gruthapola: Situated near Mahiyanganaya and it is believed to be the first place where Sita Devi was brought into Lanka in King Ravana’ s Vimana. These Jungles are the place where the city of Lankapura once stood. The city had a beautiful palace for Queen Mandothari surrounded by water falls, streams and varieties of flora & fauna. Sitadevi was kept in this palace until she was moved to Ashoka Vatika. The remains that are found are the remnants of later civilizations, this place is now called Sita Kotuwa which means ‘Sita Fort’ and got its name because of Sita Devi Stayed here. Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple, Ramboda Ramboda, the Ramboda area is believed to be an area where Rama’s forces were gathered against Ravana. Ram Padai means Rama’s Force. The Hills of Ramboda also believed where hanuman was searching for Sita Devi. The Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka has built an Anjaeyar temple with Hanuman as the presiding deity. This temple is called Sri Baktha Hanuman temple and the image of Lord Hanuman here is 16 Feet tall. The Service times at the Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple is between 07.00am to 12.00 noon and Again 03.30 to 06.30 P.M Sita Amman Kovil in Sita Eliya: The stream that runs from the hill catered to the needs of Sita Devi during her stay at Ashoka Vatika. She is said to have bathed in this stream, now there is temple for Lord Rama, Sita Devi, Luxshmana and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that foot prints akin to Lord Hanuman’s are found by this river and some are of small size and some are large size which tells us of the immense powers of hanuman transforming himself into any size. Anjanevar Temple in Colombo This is the first Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka. It’s the only temple Panchamuga (Five faced) Anjaneyar temple in Sri Lanka and the only temple in the world to have a chariot for Anjanyear. The Chariot festivals held annually end Dec/beginning of January.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 08:56:49 +0000