Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ The Ramayana, the most illustrious epic of ancient India, chronicles the adventures of Lord Ram traveling from Ayodhya, India, to Sri Lanka, searching for his beloved Sita. This epic is all about love, war, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, pain, determination, bravery, and power. It is the first epic that transcends borders in pursuit of love. In a beautiful blend of Ram’s love, Sita’s purity, Hanuman’s loyalty, Ravana’s power, and a strong message for life, the Ramayana still stands as the greatest epic of ancient India, inspiring many to explore its narrative and the exciting journey of Lord Ram in search of Sita. In reviving and exploring this grand saga of Lord Ram and Sita, the Ayodhya Temple of India and the Government of Sri Lanka, in partnership with the Commonwealth Union, have launched a historic project known as the Rama Sita Pilgrimages. It is an initiative to boost tourism and enhance bilateral cultural relations between the two nations.
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The Ramayana pilgrimage
The Ramayana pilgrimage, though ancient, has now been given a new lease of life with the recent construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year. Accordingly, with the advent of Ayodhya Ram Mandir, this holy pilgrimage can now be completed by retracing Lord Ram’s journey to Sri Lanka to rescue his beloved Sita from King Ravana. This grand project was launched by the President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and initiated by the Presidential Envoy and President of the Commonwealth Union, the Hon. Niranjan Deva-Aditya, together with Mr. Muralidharan Murthy, Chairman of the Commonwealth Peace Foundation and Global Peacemaker, and Mr. Rogan Muralidharan, Member of the International Advisory Board of the Commonwealth Union, and R. M. Manivanan, Chairman of Supreme Holdings.
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It all began with Swamji Giriji Govindenji Maharaj’s visit to Sri Lanka
In April, a sacred delegation from the Ayodhya temple led by His Holiness Swamiji Giriji Govindenji Maharaj, Chief Priest and Treasurer of the Ayodhya Temple, visited Sri Lanka to launch the Ramayana Trail. This visit marked a new chapter in linking the island nation’s spiritual and cultural journey with India, establishing a strong connection between the Ayodhya Ram Mandir and Seeta Amman Temple in Sri Lanka and 9 other sites associated with the Ramayana. By linking these sacred sites, the pilgrimage offers a complete spiritual experience for devotees worldwide.
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The President’s letter
Following the successful launch of the Ramayana trail in Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe sent a letter of appreciation to the Chief Priest and Treasurer of the Ayodhya Temple in UP India. In his correspondence, the President commended Swamiji Maharaji for his historic visit and for strengthening India-Sri Lanka relations through the promotion of the Rama Sita Pilgrimages. The president’s letter, carried by a Commonwealth Union team to Ayodhya Ram Mandir, was personally delivered to Swamiji Maharaji, underscoring the deepening cultural and spiritual ties between the two nations.
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Important landmarks of Ramayana
This historical pilgrimage covers the key landmarks from the Ramayana visited by Lord Ram during his search for Sita. Beginning in Ram’s birthplace, Ayodhya, the pilgrimage crosses the borders of India and extends to Sri Lanka, culminating in the heart of King Ravana’s kingdom, traversing all major historical landmarks in the Ramayana. This pilgrimage is expected to boost the economies of Chilaw, Mannar, Anuradapura, Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Hambatota, Kataragama, Galle, and Kelaniya, drawing thousands of devotees to these sacred sites. Notable locations include:
- Adam’s Bridge in Mannar Basin—the Ram Bridge or Hanuman Bridge built by Lord Ram to connect India and Sri Lanka.
- Ashoka Vatika in Sita Eliya—a revered site in Nuwara-Eliya where Sita was held captive by King Ravana.
- Welimada Divurumpola—Divurumpola is the place of Sita’s oath, representing her purity and innocence and the strength of her character.
- Ussangoda National Park—Ussangoda was one of the landing strips of Ravana’s Pushpaka vimana and the place burned by Lord Hanuman.
- Rumassala in Galle—Rumassala is where parts of the hill fell during Hanuman’s journey, symbolizing divine intervention and support in his mission.
- Koneswaram in Trincomalee—Thiru Koneswaram temple in Trincomalee is believed to have been visited by Ravana and is associated with the Ramayana epic as one of the sacred sites he revered.
- Manawari Temple in Chilaw—Manavari is where the first Lingam was installed by Lord Rama, representing the beginning of a new era in Lanka.
- Ravana Cave in Ella—the cave is used by King Ravana to hide Princess Sita.
- Sanjeevani Parvatha in Galle—Sanjeevani Parvatha is where Hanuman retrieved medicinal plants, showcasing his devotion and resourcefulness.
- Dunuwila lake in Kandy—Dunuvila lake is where Lord Rama fired the Brahmastra arrow at Ravana, symbolizing his downfall and the end of the war.
- Lankapura in Polonnaruwa—Lankapura was the capital city of King Ravana, playing a crucial role in the events of the Ramayana.
- Kataragama—where Lord Karthikaya Subramaniyam was requested to go to battle, emphasizing divine support and intervention.
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Rama Sita Cultural Exchange
This historical adventurous Rama Sita pilgrimage is exclusively handled by the Rama Sita Cultural Exchange, based in Ayodhya, India, and Sri Lanka—an exclusive travel service for Ramayana pilgrimage founded with the blessings of Swamiji. Moreover, with the arrival of Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Rama Sita Cultural Exchange offers a comprehensive guide to the fascinating journey of the Ramayana, exploring key locations from Lord Ram’s birthplace to Adam’s bridge, Sita’s prison in Sita Eliya, Hanuman Temple, and all historical sites blessed and touched with the footprints of Lord Ram and Hanuman in the Ramayana.
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A boost for tourism and cultural exchange
Championed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Rama Sita pilgrimage is set to dramatically enhance Indian tourism to Sri Lanka, fostering stronger bilateral ties, elevating the relationship to new heights, and strengthening direct people-to-people ties, influencing the lives of many. Accordingly, the Ramayana landmarks in Sri Lanka will be renovated, and infrastructure will be improved to accommodate the vast influx of tourists, including the wealthy Indian Diaspora in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, and across the world. Additionally, the pilgrimage also targets the 150,000 plus devotees visiting Ayodhya daily. Even a small portion of these pilgrims coming to Sri Lanka will significantly boost its economy.
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Turning the myth into history
The Ramayana, the first ancient Indian epic to traverse seas and borders in pursuit of love, represents a deep historical and cultural bond between India and Sri Lanka. This epic not only connects the two nations through the symbolic Hanuman Bridge but also through a shared heritage that has enriched their cultures. Furthermore, the Rama Sita pilgrimage is also an attempt to transform the mythology into history, showcasing our real history to the world. After centuries of hiatus, it is a rebirth for Rama and Sita with the advent of Ayodhya Ram Mandhir. The Ramayana pilgrimage now offers a complete spiritual journey extending from Ram’s birthplace in Ayodhya to Sita’s prison in Sri Lanka, celebrating a timeless saga of devotion and adventure.
