The Visit to this Sita Eliya at
Ashoka Vatika a part of Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka was a part of Sri Lanka’s (Ezha Nadu ) Paadal Petra sthalangal Visit scheduled between 28th
November to 2nd December
2013. Utilizing this opportunity, we have Visited some, Shiva, Murugan, and Amman
Temples and Epic Ramayan-associated sites of Sri Lanka.
This Sita Eliya is associated with
the Epic Ramayan. In India, there were more than 20 Ramayans, like Valmiki
Ramayan, Tulsidas Ramayan, Kambar Ramayan, etc. Similarly, Sri Lanka has several Ramayana written by various authors and one such epic Janaki
Harana was written by King Kumaradasa (506 – 516 CE), which focuses on the abduction of Sita. The temple is dedicated to Matha Sita, also called Seetha
Eliya, which means Light of Seetha. Hanuman prays …
“நமோஸ்து
ராமாய ஸலக்ஷ்மணாய
தேவ்யைச் தஸ்யை
ஜநகாத்மஜாயை!
நமோஸ்து
ருத்ரேந்திரயமாநிலேப்யயோ, நமோஸ்து
சந்த்ரார்க்க மருத்துகணேப்ய:”
Moolavar : Sri Rama with Seetha
and Lakshmana
Presiding Deity : Sri Sita
Some of the salient features of this
temple are...
The temple faces east on the
banks of a river with an entrance arch. A small Hanuman’s sannadhi with a Stucco
image is on the left side of the entrance. Stucco images of Rama, Sita,
Lakshmana, and Hanuman, Maha Vishnu’s dasa avatars, Maha Vishnu and Maha
Lakshmi’s various forms are on the arch, parapet wall, and Vimanam,s etc. Hanuman’s stucco images as
Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the entrance arch. Sannadhis of Vinayagar, Rama,
Sita and Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman, Vinayagar with nagars under Ashoka Tree,
Thulasi Madam are in the praharam. The Hanuman's paws/foot prints are on the
banks of the river with stucco images of Sita receiving the ring of Rama from
Hanuman.
Hanuman
ARCHITECTURE
The Sita shrine is on a pada bandha adhistanam
on a raised upanam with 6 angas ie, Adhistanam, bhitti, prastaram, greevam,
sigaram, kalasam. A 3 tier Nagara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco Dwarapalakis
are in front of the Sita Amman temple. The Koshtas are sala style without any
image. A Two-tier Vesara Vimanam is on the Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana’s shrine. The
Total complex was built in recent years with Concrete, Bricks, and cement.
The epic Ramayana is in the form of a painting done on the upper walls of prahara and Sannidhi.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The Original stone Murtis in the
sanctum Sanctorum is said to have been installed by Vibheeshana after his
coronation as a King of Sri Lanka. The Marble idols are installed at a later
date on the back side of the stone idols.
It was told that a statue of Sita
was unearthed from this area, a hundred years before. This is one of the temples
exclusively built for Sita. Locals claim that the original temple maybe 5000
years old.
The Sita with Hanuman stucco images
on the banks of the river was constructed and consecrated by Sr Poojya Sri
Ravisankar Guruji on 18th May 2016 in the presence of Sri Lanka’s
speaker of the Parliament Hon. Karulayasoorya and Devotees. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted.
A Stone from this place/temple was
shifted to use for the building of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.
LEGENDS
As per the epic Ramayan, to the wish
of Kaikeyi, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana were exiled from the country for 14 years. They
lived in the forests. After seeing the beauty of Rama, Soorpanaka, the sister
of Ravana told Rama to marry her. Her wish was turned down and Lakshma cuts off
her nose. Soorpanaka returned to Sri Lanka and lied to her brother Ravana that
Lakshmana cuts off her nose when She want to take Sita to Sri Lanka for him. To
take revenge for cutting off his sister’s nose and after knowing the beauty of
Sita, Ravana with the help of his uncle Mareesan, abducts Sita to Sri Lanka. Sita
was kept captive in an Ashoka vana/forest. Hanuman came in search of Sita and
found her in this place and gave the ring of Rama. The epic continues…..
It is believed that the temple was
constructed in a place where Sita was kept in captivity. The temple is also
called Seetha Eliya, which means Light of Seetha Matha.
It is believed that Sita was kept in captivity at this place and the erosions of the rock are believed to be Hanuman’s footprints/paws. And some claim as foot marks of Ravana’s elephant's footprints. It is
further believed that Sita took bathe in this place.
The taste of the water in the river/stream differs from place to place behind the Temple. It is believed that
this was due to Sita’s curse.
The Hilltop on the back side of the
Temple resembles like monkey’s/ Hanuman’s face. It is believed that Hanuman
is staying on the hill and looks after Sita.
Ashoka vana Tree
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from Regular Poojas, special
poojas are conducted on Ramar Jayanthi, Hanuman Jayanthi, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open
between 08.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 14.00 hrs to 18.30 Hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The landline numbers 052-2235536, and 052-2222038 may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
This Sita Amma temple is 3.6 km from
Nuwara Eliya, 80 km from Kandy, 105 km from Colombo, and 400 km from Yazhpanam.
The nearest Railway station is Nanuoya
and the Airport is Bandaranayake Airport.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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