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By RagasudhaVinjamuri

ri Lankahas always been referredto as Ratna Dweepa (Isle of Gems) and is wellreputed for having 75 of the world's 200minerals which qualify to be classified asGemstones. The teardrop shaped island ofexotic beauty mentioned in the stories ofSinbad, this land of three visits by LordBuddha between 528 BC and 520 BC hasalso impressed 5th century ChineseMonk Fa-Hien and 11th centurytrave ller Marco Polo .

Referred to asTaprobane by Romans and Serandib

by the Arabs, it was called as Ceilao bu hePortuguese who controlled it from 1505 focinnamon and other spices, Zeilan by the

Dutch who seized control in 1656, andCeylon by the British who finally establishedcrown colony and controlled it wholly by1815.The country gained independence in1948 and and adopted its current name in1972.

Predominantly Buddhist, SrLanka interestingly shares a specia

bond with India geographically

Exploring ofFootsteps

Ramayana in Sri Lanka

S

H O L Y P L A C E

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historically, culturally and spiritually. The epicRamayana begins with King Dasaradha's Ayodhya inIndia andclimaxes inRavana'sLankapura.

Millions of years ago,Sri Lanka was said to havebeen geologically linked with India andother countries

in a land-mass called Gondwana and was seismicallypropelled into a separate landmass while part of itsubmerged into the sea. This submerging is widelyattributed to Ravana'smisdeeds.

The following are the sites associated withRamayana:

( lo ca te d c lo se t o

Mahiyangana town): The first place where Ravanabrings Sita Devi into Lanka in his plane PushpakaVimana and holds her captive in queen Mandodari'sbeautiful palace at Sita Kotuwa (now in Gurulupotha

Werangantota

near Hasalaka Town) before moving her to AshokVatika.The palace is said to have been surrounded bystreams and waterfalls in a beautiful settingWerangantota means a place for aircraft landing inSinhalese language.

(Ramboda Hills): This i

the beautiful route taken by Ravana while relocatingSita Devi toAshokVatika.Part of the path is still visible

A pond is believed to have formed by the tears of Sitawhich has not dried up even during severe droughtwhen the adjoining rivers do.This area is alsounique to

bright coloured Sita flowers which have a peculiaconfiguration resembling a resembling a human figurewitha bow.

(close to

Nuwara Eliya city):Sita was held captive in Sita Pokunat the top of Hakgala Rock jungle. The Hakgala

The Chariot Path

Sita Eliya and Ashok Vatika

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Gardens located at the base form part ofAshokVatika.

(inWelimada area):An area having a

network of caves, tunnels and paths, it refers to theplace that had retinue of ladies Ravana made availableto look after Sita.

(on the southern coast): Lord

Hanuman uproots trees and causes destruction to

gain Ravana's attention ad invite battle. As apunishment, his tail was set ablaze by the rakshasaguards.This is one of the torched areas which holdburnt effect as a reminder of Hanuman's escapade.

(near

Galle): Hanuman was summoned to get life-saving

Istripura

Ussangoda

Rummasala Sanjeevani Drops

herbs from Sanjeevani Parvatha situated near MounKailash in the Himalayas necessary to savunconscious Lakshmana hit by powerful arrows. AHanuman was not able to identify the herbs,he is saidto have uprooted the whole mountain and brought it

Besides here, parts of the mountain fell at 4 otheplaces in Sri Lanka.

(behind Dunuvila Lake near Matale

andWasgamuwa National Park):The sentry point fromwhere glimpse of Rama's army was sighted andreported to Ravana. Lord Rama shot Bramastramarrow from Dunivila which eventually killed Ravana aLaggala.

(near Sita Eliya): The plac

where Sita Devi performd Agni Pariksha, the test ofire. Villagers still pledge their fidelity or take oathhere. It is noteworthy that even the legal systempermits and accepts these oaths at the temple whilesettling disputes.

, TirKeteshwaram in Sri Lanka and Rameshwaram in IndiaRavana was a Brahmin. Killing him results iBrahmahatya Dosham.Upon praying at Muneshwaramand seeking remedy for removing it, Lord Shiva wasaid to have advised Rama to install and pray at the fouLingas at these places.

(near Colombo

Vibhishana, Ravana's brother, ruled this place aftebeing crowned by Lakshmana. Murals are enshrinedoutside the temple depicting the crowning.

Laggala

Divurumpola

Manavari, Tiru Koneshwaram

Kelaniya BuddhistTemple