Seethai Amman Temple | |
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சீத்தா எலிய சீதையம்மன் கோவில் සීතා එළිය සීතා අම්මන් දේවස්ථානය अशोक वाटिका सीता देवी मंदिर | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Nuwara Eliya |
Province | Central Province |
Deity | Sita |
Features |
|
Location | |
Location | Sita Eliya |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Geographic coordinates | 6°56′00″N80°48′38″E / 6.9332°N 80.8105°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Hindu Temple |
Style | Tamil Architecture |
Direction of façade | East |
Seetha Amman Temple, or Seetha Eliya Seethai Amman Thirukkovil, also known as Ashok Vatika Sita Temple, is an ancient Vaishnavite Hindu temple located in the Nuwara Eliya District of Central Sri Lanka. The temple's folklore is deeply connected to the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. According to the epic, after Sita was abducted by King Ravana of Lanka, she was brought to this location. Ravana sought vengeance against Rama and Lakshmana to avenge the disrespect shown to his sister, Shurpanakha. [1]
In the Ramayana, Ravana offered Sita a place in his palace, but she refused, choosing instead to remain in exile for 14 years, waiting for Rama to rescue her. Ravana then created a natural garden, now known as Hakgala Botanical Garden, near the temple where Sita could wait. The nearby river is said to be the place where Sita bathed under the guard of Asura women and meditated until Rama's arrival. It is also believed to be the site where Hanuman first met Sita and gave her Rama's wedding ring as a sign of hope.This temple is believed to be the only Sita temple in the world. [2]
Initially, this site featured a simple temple with stones representing Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. When Indian Tamils arrived as indentured workers brought by the British, they constructed the current temple. To this day, the temple is maintained by the Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, rather than the native Sri Lankan Tamils. It is primarily visited by Indians as a pilgrimage to one of the Ramayana Sthalas. [3]
Sita Eliya Sita Temple is located 8 km (5.0 mi) southeast of the main town of Nuwara Eliya, along the Peradeniya-Badulla-Chenkaladi Highway. Approximately 1.7 km (1.1 mi) southeast of the temple lies Hakgala Botanical Garden, believed to be the garden created by Ravana for Sita according to the Ramayana. [4]
Seetha Eliya Seethai Amman Thirukkovil, also known as Ashok Vatika Sita Temple, is believed to be the site where Sita was held captive by the Rakshasa king Ravana, according to the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Sita prayed daily for her husband Rama to rescue her from this place. The temple is located in the Nuwara Eliya District of Central Sri Lanka and is surrounded by significant mythological landmarks.[ citation needed ]
Near the temple runs a stream, said to have been formed to meet the needs of Sita Devi during her captivity at Ashok Vatika. It is believed that Sita bathed in this stream. On the rock face across the stream are circular depressions, which are regarded as the footprints of Hanuman. According to the Ramayana, Hanuman met Sita at this location and gave her Rama's wedding ring as a sign of hope. Additionally, Ravana had created a natural garden, now known as Hakgala Botanical Garden, for Sita to wait for Rama's arrival. This site, rich in mythological significance, continues to attract devotees and tourists who revere the story of Sita's devotion and endurance. [5]
The Ramayana, also known as Valmiki Ramayana, as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text from ancient India, one of the two important epics of Hinduism known as the Itihasas, the other being the Mahabharata. The epic narrates the life of Rama, the seventh avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu, who is a prince of Ayodhya in the kingdom of Kosala. The epic follows his fourteen-year exile to the forest urged by his father King Dasharatha, on the request of Rama's stepmother Kaikeyi; his travels across forests in the Indian subcontinent with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana; the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, the king of Lanka, that resulted in war; and Rama's eventual return to Ayodhya along with Sita to be crowned king amidst jubilation and celebration.
Ravana is a mythological demon-king of the island of Lanka and the chief antagonist in the Hindu epic Ramayana. In the Ramayana, Ravana is described as the eldest son of sage Vishrava and Kaikasi. He abducted Rama's wife, Sita, and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her in the Ashoka Vatika. Rama, with the support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanaras, launched a rescue operation for Sita against Ravana in Lanka. Ravana was subsequently slain, and Rama rescued his beloved wife Sita.
Hanuman, also known as Maruti, Bajrangabali, and Anjaneya, is a deity in Hinduism, revered as a divine vanara, and a devoted companion of the deity Rama. Central to the Ramayana, Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering devotion to Rama and is considered a chiranjivi. He is traditionally believed to be the spiritual offspring of the wind deity Vayu, who is said to have played a significant role in his birth. In Shaiva tradition, he is regarded to be an incarnation of Shiva, while in most of the Vaishnava traditions he is the son and incarnation of Vayu. His tales are recounted not only in the Ramayana but also in the Mahabharata and various Puranas.
Lakshmana, also known as Laxmana, Saumitra and Ramanuja, is a Hindu god and the younger brother of Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is considered as an incarnation of Shesha, the lord of serpents. Lakshmana was married to Urmila, and is known for his loyalty and dedication towards Rama.
Meghanada, also referred to by his epithet Indrajita, according to Hindu texts, was the eldest son of Ravana and the crown prince of Lanka, who conquered Indraloka (Heaven). He is regarded as one of the greatest warriors in Hindu texts. He is a major character mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana. Meghanada is the central character in Bengali ballad Meghnad Badh Kavya. He played an active role in the great war between Rama and Ravana. He acquired many kinds of celestial weapons from his Guru Shukra. His most prominent feat is having defeated the devas in heaven. Using the Brahmastra, Indrajita killed 670 million vanaras in a single day; nearly exterminating the entirety of the vanara race. No warrior had ever achieved this statistical feat before in the Ramayana. He is the only warrior in the entire Ramayana to defeat both Rama and Lakshmana twice while they were both armed by making them unconscious in a battle with the help of astras and sorcery and finally got killed by Lakshmana. He was said to be more powerful and superior warrior than his father Ravana by Brahma and Agastya.
Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its name means "city on the plain " or "city of light". The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. The city is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is known for its temperate, cool climate – the coolest area in Sri Lanka.
Sita, also known as Siya, Janaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is the chief goddess of the Ramanandi Sampradaya and is the goddess of beauty and devotion. Sita's birthday is celebrated every year on the occasion of Sita Navami.
Sundara Kanda is the fifth book in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The original Sundara Kanda is in Sanskrit, and was composed in popular tradition by Valmiki, who was the first to scripturally record the Ramayana. Sundara Kanda is the only chapter of the Ramayana in which the principal protagonist is not Rama, but Hanuman. The work depicts the adventures of Hanuman and his selflessness, strength, and devotion to Rama are emphasised in the text. Hanuman is believed to have been fondly called “Sundara” by his mother Anjani, and Sage Valmiki is stated to have chosen this name over others as the Sundara Kanda is about Hanuman's journey to Lanka.
Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of the five botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. The other four are Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Henarathgoda Botanical Garden, Mirijjawila Botanical Garden and Seetawaka Botanical Garden. It is the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka. The garden is contiguous to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve.
Rama is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man, Rama is the male protagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana. His birth is celebrated every year on Rama Navami, which falls on the ninth day of the bright half of the lunar cycle of Chaitra (March–April), the first month in the Hindu calendar.
Ashoka Vatika is a grove in Lanka that is located in the kingdom of the rakshasa king Ravana. It is mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and the Hindu epic Ramayana of Valmiki, and all subsequent versions, including the Ramacharitamanas written by Tulsidas, where it finds mention in the Sundara Kanda. The Vatika has garden houses around it, built by Vishvakarma himself.
Thiruputkuzhi is a small temple town in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated about 7 miles west of Kanchipuram and half a kilometre from Baluchetti Chattiram which lies on the Chennai - Vellore highway. The place is known after the Vijayaraghava Perumal temple.
Ramayana: The Epic is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language computer-animated mythological action film from Maya Digital Media. Directed by Chetan Desai and produced by Ketan Mehta, it was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on 15 October 2010.
Sita Eliya is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Central Province.
Hakgala is a mountain situated in the Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka at 2,169 m (7,116 ft) above mean sea level, most parts of the mountain are covered with forest belonging to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve. Hakgala Botanical Garden is situated on the northeastern slope of the Hakgala Mountain. The southwestern side of the mountain has a wet climate compared to the northeastern slope since the southwestern part faces directly to the southwest Monsoon.
Ramleela – Ajay Devgn Ke Saath, commonly known as Ramleela, is a mythological on-stage musical drama, based on the Indian epic poem Ramayan. The show premiered on 21 October 2012 on Life OK and completed the story in five episodes on 18 November 2012. The show was narrated by Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, who provided a prologue at the beginning of each episode or act. The show aired during the period from Dussehra in October till Diwali in November.
In some adaptations of the Hindu epic Ramayana, Maya Sita or Chaya Sita is the illusionary duplicate of the goddess Sita, who is abducted by the demon-king Ravana of Lanka instead of the real Sita.
Trijata is a rakshasi (demoness) in the Hindu epic Ramayana who is assigned the duty of guarding Sita who was kidnapped by the demon-king of Lanka Ravana. In later adaptions of Ramayana, Trijata is described as a daughter of Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana.
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Sarama is the wife of Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana, the demon (rakshasa) king of Lanka. Sometimes, she is described as a rakshasi (demoness), at other times, she is said to have gandharva lineage. All accounts agree that Sarama was friendly to Sita, the consort of Rama, who was kidnapped by Ravana and imprisoned in Lanka. Like her husband who sides with Rama in the war against Ravana, Sarama is kind to Sita and aids Rama. Sarama and Vibhishana had a daughter called Trijata.