Lanka
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Lanka (Sanskrit/Hindi लंका lankā, means "island") is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. Lanka is also mentioned frequently in other Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas and Hindi poems written by Tulsidas. In the present day, it is now referred to as Sri Lanka. It was burnt by ape-faced man Hanuman when Ravana ordered his tail to be set on fire. In Ashoka vatica (garden), the garden full of ashok trees was where Ravana kept Sita as prisoner. She was guarded by female rakshasanis who later befriended her. After the death of Ravana, Rama coronated Ravana's brother Vibhishana as the new King.
It was situated in a plateau between three mountain peaks known as the Trikuta Mountains. Highest of those peaks is known today as Adam's Peak. This mountains were in an island called Lanka or modern day Sri Lanka. After Ravana was killed by Raghava Rama of Kosala Kingdom, Ravana's brother Vibhishana ruled the kingdom. His decendands ruled the kingdom even during the period of the Pandavas. As per the epic Mahabharata, the Pandava Sahadeva had visited this kingdom duirng his southern military campaign for the Rajasuya sacrifice of Pandava king Yudhisthira.
[edit] See also
[edit] Reference
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna L. Dallapiccola
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