While looking for the evidence proving the Ramayana, I was also looking from the angles of Ravana’s Legacy, Sri Lanka sites referred to by Valmiki in The Ramayana.
I have found historical sites in Sri Lanka corroborating the Ramayana, the places have Sinhalese Names with Ramayana background.
I have posted an article on the places where Sita was shifted by Ravana after being kidnapped by him.
In this article i have posted information on what food was offered to Sita,Ravana’s Pushpak Vimana Service Centre, the place Sita rearranged her hair and the secret Tunnel network of Ravana.
More information may be had at the link provided in the Post.
Place where Lord Ram sent the Brahmastra to Kill RavanaPushpaka Vimana Repair Centre
Gurulu Potha,Lankapura:
There was an aircraft repair center in the capital city. This place is known as Gurulupotha. In Valmiki’s depiction King Ravana‘s Vimana resembled a huge peacock. The Vimana in Sinhala language means Dhandu Monara which is known as ‘flying peacock’, and hence the name Gurulupotha, which means ‘parts of birds’.
Where Sita Threw Rice balls around
Kondakalai.
Kondakalai like many other cities and villages in Sri Lanka also derives its name from the Ramayana, when King Ravana took Sitadevi in a chariot to Ashoka Vatika her hairs got deranged because of the speed of the chariot. Konda kalai in tamil means deranging of hair. Till date the villagers live with legacy of this event.
When King Ravana carried Sitadevi on his chariot to Ashoka Vatika, he provided her with vitaminised rice balls for refreshment. But Sitadevi who did not want to consume anything provided by King Ravana, scattered the rice balls all over the place during her journey, and they are found till date along the chariot track. The local people call these rice balls Sita Gooli and they prescribe them for their children as a cure for stomach disorders and headaches. The farmers too keep them in their cash boxes or grain pots for prosperity. It is claimed that carbon dated testing has been done in Tokyo and Delhi on these rice balls and ascertained to be more than five thousand years old.
Sentry Point of Ravana
Laggala.
The cartels behind the Dunuvila lake are called Laggala. Laggala is derived form the Sinhala term Elakke Gala, which when translated into English gives us the meaning Target Rock. Laggala served as a sentry point to the King Ravana’s army and it was from this rock the first Glimpse of Lord Rama’s army was sighted and informed to King Ravana. This hill is geographically the highest part of the northern region of King Ravana’s city and on a clear day the north east side that is Thiru Koneshwaran and north west side that is Talai mannar could be seen even today. King Ravana is believed to have done meditation on this rock and prayed Lord shiva at Thiru Koneshwaran from this point.
It is here that King Ravana was killed by Lord Rama’s Brahmaastharam. The top of Laggala is flat and is believed to have been hit by the Brahmaastharam.
Read my post on the technology used in the Pushpak Vimana.
What route did Ravana take while kidnapping Sita and how did he move her in Lanka?
As far as I could check information as to how Sita was abducted is limited Ravana taking her in Pushpak Vimana and later fighting with Jatayu and reaches Lanka, in Valmiki Ramayana.( Corrections to this welcome with slokas).
Ashoka Vatika, Asoka Van where Sita was imprisoned.
But Buddhist Legends of Lanka give a detailed description about how Sita was moved in Lanka.
“this vehicle landed at Werangatota, about 10 km from Mahiyangana, east of the hill station of Nuwara Eliya, in central Sri Lanka. Sita was then taken to Goorulupota, now known as Sitakotuwa, where Ravana’s wife, Mandodari, lived. Seetakotuwa is about 10 km from Mahiyangana on the road to Kandy. Sita was housed in a cave at Sita Eliya, on the Colombo-Nuwara Eliya road. There is a temple for her there. She is believed to have bathed in the mountain stream flowing beside the temple.
North of Nuwara Eliya, in Matale district, is Yudhaganapitiya, where the Rama-Ravana battle took place. According to a Sinhalese legend, Dunuwila is the place from where Rama shot the ‘Bramshira’ arrow that killed Ravana. The Sri Lankan king was chalking out his battle plans in a place called Lakgala when the killer arrow struck him. Lakgala is a rock from the top of which Ravana could see north Sri Lanka clearly. It served as a watchtower following the expectation that Rama would invade the island to rescue his consort. Ravana’s body was placed on the rock at Yahangala for his subjects to pay their last respects. Since Ravana was a Brahmin, it was considered a sin to kill him, even in battle. To wash off the sin, Rama performedpujaat the Munneswaram temple in Chilaw, 80 km north of Colombo. At Manaweri, north of Chilaw, there is a temple gifted by Rama.
According to another legend from the southern part of Sri Lanka, Sita was actually detained in the mountainous forest area of Rumassala near Galle. When she fell ill, Hanuman wanted to bring some medicinal plants from the Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayan chain to cure her. Since he could not find the plants, he brought the whole mountain and dropped it at Unawatuna, which is near the present Galle harbour. Unawatuna means ‘here it fell’. Indeed, the area is known for its medicinal plants.
At Ramboda, in the central highlands, known for its massive waterfalls, a temple for Hanuman has now sprung up as the belief is that he had visited Sita who was incarcerated there. Legend has it that the Koneswaram temple, in the eastern district of Trincomalee, was gifted by Lord Shiva to Ravana, as he was an ardent devotee. In the famous Buddha Vihara at Kelani, near Colombo, there is a representation of Rama handing over captured Sri Lanka to Ravana’s brother, Vibheeshana, who sided with him in his conflict with Ravana._Dandu Monara Yanthraya.
”
Ravana using a golden deer as a decoy visited Sita when she was alone in the guise of an old sage, abducted and brought her toWeragantotain Lanka in his plane, the Pushpaka Vimana.
Weragantotameans the Place of Aircraft landing in Sinhala. This is the first place Sita Devi was brought to Lankapura (capita city of king Rāvana).
Sita Devi was kept at queen Mandothari’s palace at Lankapura. The place Sita was held captive is calledSita Kotuwa (also known as Seetha Kotuwa); which means Sita’s Fort in Sinhala. It is believed Rāvana had an aircraft repair centre atGurulupothaclose toSita Kotuwa.Gurulupothameans Parts of Birds in Sinhala.
Ravana moved Sita fromSita KotuwatoAshok Vatikathe salubrious garden in the mountains. The route too was said to be spectacularly beautiful, as Ravana wanted to show Sita the beauty of his kingdom. The Chariot Path atop the mountain range is still visible. The Sita Tear Pond close to theChariot Pathis believed to have been formed by Sita Devi’s tears. Visitors could also see the famedSita Flowerswhich are endemic to this area.
I came across an interesting article which sought to prove that Tamil was the language spoken throughout India in Bharatavarsha,Tamil being the Language of Mankind and Sanskrit of God’s!
I could have brushed it aside for the thought seemed to be outrageous.
The references in the article were compelling, them being quoted from The Ramayana, the early Tamil Literature,Puranas .
The author tries to prove that Tamil was the spoken language of Bharatavarsha,Rama ,Hanuman spoke Tamil, Rama in Ayodhya, Hanuman when he met Lord Rama in Kishkinda Kandam.
It is said Sanskrit belongs to Aryan Group of languages while Tamil belongs to the Dravidian Group.
This thought was propagated by The British when they colonized India concurrent with the theory floated by them that the Aryans invaded Davidians.
I leave the judgement to the readers.
I feel that the references in the post need careful evaluation with an open mind.
‘LP. KR. Ramanathan Chettiar and a host of others. He was widely respected as letters written to him by the great scholar and patron of scholars, Pandithurai Thevar, “Thamizh Thatha” U. Ve. Saminatha Iyer, Srinivasa Pillai of Thanjavur, who wrote the “Thamizh Varalaru”, Pandithamani Kathiresan Chettiar and others, which are in our possession now, show. He has established through these articles that Tamil was the spoken language throughout Bharath or India, during the Ramayana period and even earlier while Sanskrit was the language of the litterateurs and it was in Tamil that Lord Rama and others conversed in Ayodhya).’
The “Purananooru” poem by Vanmikiyar also glorifies the importance of penance. It contains many words and sentences, which are pleasing to the ears, have great depth, and contain many Vedantic truths. It is very much in tune with his Ramayana verses.
The poem has not been commented upon by later day scholars. To help research scholars, the poem, with its commentary, is given below:
“Parithi soozhnda vippayankezhu maanilam
oru pahal ezhuvar eithiyatre
vaiyamum thavamum thookitravathukku
ayyavi anaithum aatrathu aagalin
kaivittanare kaathalar adhanal
vittorai vidaall thiruve
vidaa thorivall vidappattore”
The meaning of this poem is that the world is surrounded by the Sun who drives away darkness. This earth is full of worldly pleasures, which are not eternal, and many kings claimed possession of this world as a day is divided into many parts and each part (Horai) is looked after by a “Horai Nayagan”. Some of them are big, others small. Some of them are inauspicious, while others are considered as auspicious and some of them are considered as enemies of each other. They are the masters of their own time and cannot interfere in other’s time. The worldly life is so impermanent, but what gives one permanence is penance. If one puts the benefits of worldly life in one plate in a balance and that of penance in the other, he will find the former stands no comparison with the latter. Hence many kings who ruled this world renounced it and became ascetics’…
Instead of naming it Soundaryakandam, Valmiki has given the name of Sundarakandam as it is more pleasing to the ears and even those who are not well versed can understand its meaning. But Valmiki was a Sanskrit poet. Why did he not name it as Soundaryakandam following the Sanskrit custom and named it as Sundarakandam following the Tamil custom? It was because he was well versed in Tamil and wanted to make known to the Sanskrit scholars such a fine usage. He wanted Sanskrit scholars to study many Tamil works. It is the custom of epic poets to make known the greatness of works in other languages to Sanskrit scholars…
Tamil, The Language of Maknkind, Manusha Bhasha.
. “Antharathvaha maasaadhya raakshashenami hasthitha”
(I have reached this place when the demonesses are taking rest)
2. “Sanairachvaasyishyami santhaapa bahu dhamimam”
(I will try to pacify her, as she is highly agitated)
3. “Ahamthvathithanuchaiva vaanarascha visheshatha”
(I am a monkey, which is a small creature, not respected by others)
4. “Vaachannodhaa harishyaami maanusheemiva samskruthaam”
(If I speak the language spoken by human beings which is full of grammar)
5. Yathivaacham praathasyami dwijathiriva samskruthaam
(If I spoke Sanskrit, which is spoken by the twice born (dwija – Brahmin)
6. Ravanam manyamanaa maam sita bhithaa bhavishyathi
(Sita will think that Ravana has come disguised as a monkey)..
ஏழு வரிகளாலான சிறிய செய்யுள் இது. காஞ்சித்திணையில், மனையறம்,துறவறம் என்னும் துறையின் கீழ் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள இது, வான்மீகியார்அல்லது வான்மீகையார் என்பவரால் இயற்றப்பட்டுள்ளது என்று டா.உ.வே.சா அவர்கள் கண்டெடுத்த சுவடிகளில் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
இதன்பொருள்:-
இந்த உலகம் எல்லாப்பக்கங்களிலும் சூரியனால் சூழப்பட்டு, அதாவதுஅதன் ஒளியால் சூழப்பட்டு, அந்த சூரியன் பொருட்டு கொடுக்கப்படும்அவிப்பயனையும் பெற்று, ஒரு பகலில் ஏழு பேர்களால் (ஏழு ஓரைகள்)அடையப்படுகிறது. அப்படிப்பட்ட இந்த உலகத்தின் பொருட்டுகிடைக்கின்ற பயனையும், தவத்தின் பயனையும், ஒரு தராசில் எடைபார்த்தால், உலக இன்பத்தால் கிடைக்கும் பயன், ஒருவெண்சிறுகடுகளவும் இருக்காது. அதனால் காதலர்கள் (காதலர் = வீடுபேறு விரும்புவோர்). உலக இன்பத்தைக் கைவிட்டனர். அப்படிவிட்டவர்களை திரு என்னும் லக்ஷ்மியானவள் கைவிட மாட்டாள்.ஆனால் உலக இன்பங்களை விடாதவர்களை லக்ஷ்மியானவள் கைவிட்டு விடுவாள்.
Descriptions of Twelve Constellations during Hanuman’s return journey from Sri Lanka to Sunaabh Hill in the middle of the sea which apparently took about four and a half hours from 6:30 AM to 11 AM. All these details of planets and nakshtras with reference to eight constellations described in Sarga 57 (1, 2, 3) of chapter five tally exactly with the sky view generated by the software for the morning of 14th September 5076 BC from Lanka.
Sea Level Curve of the Rama Sethu,Adam’s Bridge.
These have been analysed by
1.Computer aided extraction of planetary references from ancient books.
2. Planetarium softwares for astronomical dating of such references
3. Satellite based Remote Sensing techniques
4. Underwater explorations and Geospatial Technologies
5. Radiocarbon dating, Thermo Luminescence dating methods
6. Human Genome studies, Biological and Cultural Anthropology
7. Palaeobotanical, Palaeozoological and Palaeoclimatic studies
8. Geographic and Geological research tools.
References:
Date of Birth of Lord Ram
Aadikavi Valmiki in 1/18/8-10 of Ramayan has given details that Shri Ram was born on 9th tithi of Chaitra month during day time when the position of different planets vis-à-vis zodiac constellations and nakshatras (visible stars) was as under:
1. Sun in Aries 2. Saturn in Libra 3. Jupiter in Cancer 4. Venus in Pisces 5. Mars in Capricorn 6. Lunar month of Chaitra 7. Ninth day after Amavasya 8. Lagna as Cancer 9. Moon near the star Punar vasu (Pollux) in Gemini Constellation.
Moon & Jupiter were shining together in Cancer.
This data was entered into the ‘Planetarium Gold’ software, the results indicated that this was exactly the location of planets/stars vis-à-vis zodiac constellations on the 10th of January noon time in the year 5114 BC if viewed from latitude/longitude of Ayodhya (25°N 81°E). Thus Shri Ram was born on 10th January in 5114 BC.
By making use of software to convert solar calendar into lunar calendar, it was found that this date also happened to be the 9th day of Shukla Paksha in ‘Chaitra’ month and the time was around 12 to 1 noontime. This is exactly the time and date when Ramnavmi is celebrated all over India till date .
Ramayan refers to the solar eclipse at the time of war with Khar-Dushan in later half of 13th year of Shri Ram’s stay in the forests. Valmiki has also mentioned that it was Amavasya day and planet Mars was in the middle. When this data was entered, the sky view generated by computer software indicated that there was a solar eclipse on 7th October, 5077 BC (Amavasya day) which could be seen from Panchvati (20° N; 73° E) (Fig. 2). On that date planetary configuration was the same as has been described by Valmiki i.e. Mars was in the middle; on one side were Mercury, Venus and Jupiter and on the other side were Sun, Moon and Saturn.
Fig. 2: Showing Planetary position on 7th October, 5077 BC (Amavasya), the day of Solar Eclipse, when Lord Ram fought the battle with Khar.
Ram’s Bridge – its satellite image and oceanographic evidences:
Ram-sena first camped in Koddikarai but after surveying the sea area, the location was found unsuitable for constructing the bridge. Therefore, Shri Ram shifted the entire army to Rameshwaram. In Yuddh Kand, sarg 22 (shlokas 45-73) Valmiki has given graphic details of Lord Ram carrying out research and exploration to identify a suitable location for construction of the bridge. After identifying the location, he requested Sugriva to search for an expert Shilpakar who could construct such a bridge. Sugriva recommended the name of Nal, a famous shilpakar, who had the expertise similar to that of Vishwakarma in constructing the bridge. Accordingly Nal was called; he concurred that bridge could indeed to constructed at the location identified by Shri Ram. The construction of this bridge was completed under the supervision of Nal in five days by filling up of the gaps in the existing natural chain of land route consisting of islands, rocks and shoals (6/22/68-73).The armymen of Lord Ram utilized various tools and implements for uprooting trees like saal, taar, coconut, mango, ashoka, arjun, bakul and bilva etc (6/22/47). With the help of various yantras they transported these stones, trees, creepers, and boulders to the seashore (2/22/60). Shilpakar Nal directed the armymen to stand with long ropes on either side and got the bridge constructed in five days by binding such transported materials together. Even the use of measuring tools has been described (6/22/65).
Satellite Image A few years back, NASA had put pictures on internet of this bridge, the ruins of which are found submerged in Palk Strait between Rameshwaram (Dhanush Koti) and Mannar (Thalaimannar). The bridge is composed of a series of islands, rocks, and shoals and it is stated to be 30 kilometers long. It is found exactly at the location narrated in Valmiki Ramayan. See NASA picture of this Bridge (Fig. 10).
Rama Sethu,Adam’s Bridge,he bridge is composed of a series of islands, rocks, and shoals and it is stated to be 30 kilometers long. It is found exactly at the location narrated in Valmiki Ramayan. See NASA picture of this Bridge (Fig. 10).
The story of Shri Rams’ life was first narrated by Maharishi Valmiki in the Ramayana, which was written after Shri Ram was crowned as the king ofAyodhya. Maharishi Valmiki was a great astronomer as he has made sequential astronomical references on important dates related to the life ofShri Ram indicating the location of planets vis-a-vis zodiac constellations and the other stars (nakshatras).
Similar position of planets and nakshatras is not repeated in thousands of years.
By entering the precise details of the planetary configuration of the important events in the life of Shri Ram as given in the Valmiki Ramayana in the software named “Planetarium” corresponding exact dates of these events according to the English calendar can be known.
Mr Pushkar Bhatnagar, of the Indian Revenue Service, had acquired this software from the US. It is used to predict the solar/lunar eclipses and distance and location of other planets from earth. He entered the relevant details about the planetary positions narrated by Maharishi Valmiki and obtained very interesting and convincing results, which almost determine the important dates starting from the birth of Shri Ram to the date of his coming back to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. ( This in formation has been blogged by me ‘Lord Rama’s Birth Date/Route taken by Lord Rama to Sri Lanka)
Shri Ram was born in Ayodhya. This fact can be ascertained from several books written by Indian and foreign authors before and after the birth of Christ – ValmikiRamayan, Tulsi Ramayan, Kalidasas’ Raghuvansam, Baudh and Jain literature,
These books have narrated in great detail the location, rich architecture and beauty of Ayodhya which had many palaces and temples built all over the kingdom. Ayodhya was located on the banks of the Saryu river withGanga and Panchal Pradesh on one side and Mithila on the other side.
Normally 7,000 years is a very long period during which earthquakes, storms, floods and foreign invasions change the course of rivers, destroy the towns/buildings and alter the territories. Therefore, the task of unearthing the facts is monumental.
The present Ayodhya has shrunk in size and the rivers have changed their course about 40 km north/south. Shri Ram went out of Ayodhya in his childhood (13th year as per Valmiki Ramayana) with Rishi Vishwamitra who lived inTapovan (Sidhhashram). From there he went to Mithila, King Janaks’ kingdom. Here, he married Sita after breaking Shiv Dhanusha.
Researchers have gone along the route adopted by Shri Ram as narrated in the Valmiki Ramayan and found 23 places which have memorials that commemorate the events related to the life of Shri Ram. These include :
Date of exile of Shri Ram: It is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayans’ Ayodhya Kand (2/4/18) that Dashrathawanted to make Shri Ram the king because Sun, Mars and Rahu had surrounded his nakshatra and normally under such planetary configuration the king dies or becomes a victim of conspiracies.
Dashrathas’ zodiac sign was Pisces and his Nakshatra was Rewati.
Lord Rama with Hanuman.
This planetary configuration was prevailing on the January 5, 5089 BC, and it was on this day that Shri Ram left Ayodhya for 14 years of exile.
Thus, he was 25 years old at that time (5114-5089).
There are several shlokas in Valmiki Ramayana which indicate that Shri Rama.
was 25-years-old when he left Ayodhya for exile. Valmiki Ramayan refers to the solar eclipse at the time of war with Khardushan in later half of 13thyear of Shri Rams’ exile. It is also mentioned it was amavasya day and Mars was in the middle. When this data was entered, the software indicated that there was a solar eclipse on October 7, 5077 BC, (amavasyaday) which could be seen from Panchvati.
The planetary configuration was also the same – Mars was in the middle,
On one side were Venus and Mercury and on the other side were Sun and Saturn.
On the basis of planetary configurations described in various other chapters, the date on which Ravana was killed works out to be December 4, 5076 BC, and Shri Ram completed 14 years of exile on January 2, 5075 BC, and that day was also Navami of Shukla Paksha in Chaitra month. Thus Shri Ram had come back to Ayodhya at the age of 39 (5114-5075).
A colleague, Dr Ram Avtar, researched on places visited by Shri Ram during his exile, and sequentially moved to the places stated as visited byShri Ram in the Valmiki Ramayan, starting from Ayodhya he went right to Rameshwaram.
He found 195 places which still have the memorials connected to the events narrated in the Ramayana relating to the life of Shri Ram and SitaThese include Tamsa Tal (Mandah), Shringverpur (Singraur), BhardwajAshram (situated near Allahabad), Atri Ashram, Markandaya Ashram (Markundi), Chitrakoot, Pamakuti (on banks of Godavari), Panchvati, Sita Sarovar, Ram Kund in Trimbakeshwar near Nasik, Shabari Ashram,Kishkindha (village Annagorai), Dhanushkoti and Rameshwar temple.
In Valmiki Ramayan it is mentioned that Shri Rams’ army constructed a bridge over the sea between Rameshwaram and Lanka.
After crossing this bridge, Shri Rams’ army had defeated Ravana.
NASA put pictures on the Internet of a man-made bridge, the ruins of which are lying submerged in Palk Strait between Rameshwaram and SriLanka.
Recently the Sri Lankan Government had expressed the desire to develop Sita Vatika as a tourist spot. Sri Lankans believe this was Ashok Vatika Where Ravana had kept Sita as a prisoner (in 5076 BC).
Indian history has recorded that Shri Ram belonged to the Suryavansh and he was the 64th ruler of this dynasty. The names and other relevant particulars of previous 63 kings are listed in Ayodhya ka Etihaas written about 80 years ago by Rai Bahadur Sita Ram. Professor Subhash Kak of Louisiana University, in his book, The Astronomical Code of the Rig Veda, has also listed 63 ancestors of Shri Ram who ruled over Ayodhya.
Sri Rams’ ancestors have been traced out as: Shri Ram, King Dasaratha King Aja, King Raghu, King Dilip and so on. From Kashmir to Kanyakumariand from Bengal to Gujarat, everywhere people believe in the reality of Shri Rams’ existence, particularly in the tribal areas of Himachal,Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and the North-East.
Most of the festivals celebrated in these areas revolve around the events in the life of Shri Ram and Shri Krishna. The events and places related to the life of Shri Ram and Sita are true cultural and social heritage of every Indian irrespective of caste and creed. Therefore, it is common heritage.
After all, Shri Ram belonged to the period when Prophet Mohammed or Jesus Christ were not born and Muslim or Christian faiths were unknown to the world.
The words Hindu (resident of Hindustan) and Indian (resident of India) were synonymous. India was also known as Bharat (land of knowledge) and Aryavarta (where Aryans live) and Hindustan (land of “Hindus” – derived from word Indus). During Ram Rajya, the evils of caste system based on birth were non-existent. In fact, Maharishi Valmiki is stated to be of Shudra class (scheduled caste), still Sita lived with him as his adopted daughter after she was banished from Ayodhya.
Luv and Kush grew in his ashram as his disciples. We need to be proud of the fact that Valmiki was perhaps the first great astronomer and that his study of planetary configurations has stood the test of times. Even the latest computer softwares have corroborated his astronomical calculations, which proves that he did not commit any error.
Shabri is stated to be belonging to the Bhil tribe. Shri Rams’ army, which succeeded in defeating Ravana, was formed by various tribas from Central and South India.
Taking into account these details the Birth date of Lord Rama is January 10 in the year 5114 BC.
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