Showing posts with label Ravana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ravana. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

SriLanka to hype Ramayana

SriLanka is going to use the Ramayana to attract Indian tourists in a big way.

"The SriLanka Tourism Development Authority has formed a committee to work out a scheme to promote 34 sites associated with the Ramayana," the body's chief, Mr S. Kalaiselvam, said.

According to the Ramayana, Ravana brought Sita to SriLanka in a Pushpaka Vimanam which landed at Werangatota, about 10 km from Mahiyangana, east of the hill station of Nuwara Eliya, a hill station.

Sita was taken to Goorulupota, now Sitakotuwa, about 10 km from Mahiyangana on the road to Kandy. She was housed in a cave at Sita Eliya on a highway that links Colombo with Nuwara Eliya. North of Nuwara Eliya, in Matale district, is Yudhaganapitiya, where the Rama-Ravana battle took place. Dunuwila is the place from where Rama shot the Brahmastra that killed Ravana. Ravana was making battle plans in a place called Lakgala.

Ravana's body was placed on the rock at Yahangala for his subjects to pay their last respects.

To wash off the sin of killing a Brahmin that Ravana was, Rama prayed at Munneswaram in Chilaw, 80 km north of Colombo. At Manaweri, north of Chilaw, is a temple Rama is said to have gifted. There are also many sites associ ated with Hanuman.