The place referred to as Lanka or Lankapuri in ‘Ramayana’ is the country presently known as Sri Lanka. Shri MahaVishnu incarnated as Shriram in ‘Treta-Yuga’ and eliminated demons like Ravana; going to Lankapuri. Hindu culture was followed in this country for ages. 2300 years ago, Buddhism entered Sri Lanka due to Sanghamitra, the daughter of King Ashok. Though 70 % of the population in Sri Lanka follows Buddhism now, there are several places giving evidence of presence of Shriram, Seeta and Lakshman. There are ample proofs of incidents which occurred during the period of Ramayana, as written by Maharshi Valmiki. There are many places, ‘teerthas’, caves, mountains and temples showing connection with Shriram, Seeta, Hanumant, Lakshman, Ravana and Mandodari etc. Therefore, Sadguru (Sou.) Anjali Gadgil and 4 student-seekers of ‘Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalaya’ toured Sri Lanka for a month so as to get information on such places which will be passed on to Hindus all over the world.
Ravana kept Sitamata in Queen Mandodari’s palace after abduction during the period of Vanavas (stay in forest). Maharani Mandodari’s palace is 1.5 kms inside the forest from Gurulupotha village. Local people refer to Maharani Mandodari’s palace as ‘Sita Kotuwa’.
At the entrance of the Ravana Cave, a demonic face has been imprinted on a stone and there are many scary faces imprinted on stones inside the cave with eyes seemed to be looking at us. Ravana ruled this part during ‘Treta-Yuga’ that is millions of years ago. Even then, everything created by Ravana gives out same vibrations.
‘Gayatri Peetha’ was founded by Saint ‘Murugesu Siddher’ in ‘Nuwara Eliya’ city in 1970. In this ashram, there is Srilankadheeshwar Mandir’, a Shiva-temple and a temple of Gayatridevi. It is said that the land of ‘Gayatri peetha’ was the land where Ravana’s son Meghnaad took penance.
Ramaboda Mountain where Hanumant stopped for taking rest on this mountain while searching for Sitamata. The mountain opposite ‘Ramaboda’ Mountain is known as ‘Ravanaboda’ Mountain where ‘Rama-Ravana’ war had started.
Rama, Lakshman and Sita temple built on the banks of River Sita in ‘Sita Eliya’ village in mountainous region of Sri Lanka ! There is a thick forest behind Rama, Lakshman, Sita temple. One look at the forest invoked ‘bhav’ in us which is actually ‘Ashok Vatika’ sanctified by the presence of Sitamata.
There is an idol of Seetamata in standing position and on the wall behind that idol is picture of Seetamata going through ‘Agnipariksha’. Presence of ‘Ashvattha’ tree at the place of ‘Agnipariksha’ undertaken by Seetamata
