Ajay Kumar at 07:27, 31 August 2023

2023-08-31T07:27:07Z

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[[File:Hanuman's visit, in bazaar art with a Marathi caption, early 1900s.jpg|thumb|Hanuman encounters Sita in the Ashoka Vatika, bazaar art, early 1900s]]{{Short description|Grove in the Hindu epic Ramayana}}
'''Ashoka Vatika''' ({{Lang-sa|अशोकवाटिका|translit=Aśokāvāṭikā}}) is a grove<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krishna |first=Nanditha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M_xsAwAAQBAJ&dq=ashoka+vatika&pg=PT119 |title=Sacred Plants of India |date=2014-05-15 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-93-5118-691-5 |language=en}}</ref> 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]].<ref>[http://www.urday.in/rarrival.htm Sundar Kand - Arrival of Ravana at Ashoka Vatika (English translation)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001190348/http://www.urday.in/rarrival.htm |date=October 1, 2009 }}.</ref> The Vatika has garden houses around it, built by [[Vishwakarma|Vishvakarma]] himself.<ref name="vis">''Historic Rama of Valmiki: Shastragrahi Rama'', by Visvanath Limaye. Published by Gyan Ganga Prakashan, 1985. ''Page 142, 189''.</ref>

== Literature ==
It was the location where [[Sita]], the wife of [[Rama]], was held captive by Ravana after her abduction, also because she refused to stay in Ravana's palace and preferred to stay under ''shimshapa'' tree in Ashoka Vatika. It was here that Ravana's wife [[Mandodari]] came to meet her and also where [[Hanuman]] met her for the first time, and identified himself with the finger ring of Rama.

[[File:Sita-Ashok (Saraca asoca) leaves & flowers in Kolkata W IMG 4175.jpg|right|190px|thumb|[[Saraca asoca|Ashoka tree]] (''Saraca asoca''), often known as Sita-Ashoka owing to its connection with the ''[[Ramayana]]'']]

Sita stayed at Ashoka Vatika until the end of the epic battle between Rama and Ravana, which resulted in the destruction of Ravana himself and most of this clan. Much of the Ashoka Vatika was destroyed by [[Hanuman]] when he first visited Lanka searching for Sita. Also destroyed was the Pramda Vana at the centre of the Ashoka Vatika.<ref name=vis/>

==Identification==
[[File:Hanuman temple Nurawa Eliya.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hindu temple called "Seetha Kovil" (Hanuman Kovil) at Seeta Eliya village, close to [[Hakgala Botanical Garden]]]]
Its present location is believed to be the [[Hakgala Botanical Garden]], in the area known as Seetha Eliya, close to the resort city of [[Nuwara Eliya]]. The garden is situated at the base of the Hakgala Rock forms, has Sita Pokuna, a barren area atop the Hakgala Rock Jungle, where Sita was supposedly held captive; the [[Seetha Amman Temple|Sita Amman Temple]] is located here. Another connected site is a spot where Sita bathed in a stream at Sita Eliya, called Sita Jharna.<ref>[http://www.tourslanka.com/ramayana-sri-lanka.php Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka] ''tourslanka.com''.</ref> The site has attracted media interest in recent years owing to its connection with Hindu mythology.<ref>[http://www.zeenews.com/Zee-Exclusive/2007-11-07/406053news.html Tracing evidence of Lord Ram and his times] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310112445/http://www.zeenews.com/Zee-Exclusive/2007-11-07/406053news.html |date=2009-03-10 }} ''[[Zee News]]''.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140904075333/http://www.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14260172 "Sita's Ashok Van awaits restoration in Lanka"]. [[Sify.com]].</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikisourcelang|1|रामचरितमानस|Ramacharitamana}}
* [https://polkajunction.com/ashoka-vatika-ramayana-trail-sri-lanka/ - Ashoka Vatika in Sri Lanka]

{{Ramayana}}

[[Category:Places in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Nuwara Eliya]]
[[Category:Locations in Hindu mythology]]

Ashoka Vatika - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 07:27, 31 August 2023