Thread2 #DiwaliSpecial #RamayanaDiaries In the thread below I discuss historicity of Rama. Pl RT to spread truth of Rama. Cc @vivekagnihotri @DimpleAtra @DikshitSmita @shakkuiyer @Shubhrastha @TVMohandasPai @RajivMessage @koenamitra @seriousfunnyguy @SurabhiHodigere

2/n There are numerous places that are indicated as the locations where various events happened in reference to Ramayana.
There are quite less archeological evidence as an effort has not been made with systematic excavations.

3/n To doubt the existence of Rama is to doubt all literature. There is little archaeological or epigraphic evidence for either Jesus or Muhammad who are known only from the scriptures. Does it mean they did not exist?

4/n If Rama performs miracles such as liberating Ahalya, the Biblical story of Jesus walking on water or the Koranic tale of Muhammad flying to heaven on a horse are equally miraculous. The Ramayana is geographically very correct.

5/n Every site on Rama's route is still identifiable & has continuing traditions to commemorate Rama's visit. Around 1000 BC or earlier,no writer had the means to travel around the country inventing a story, fitting it into local folklore for greater credibility.

6/n Rama was born in Ayodhya and married in Mithila, now in Nepal. Not far from Mithila is Sitamarhi, where Sita was found in a furrow, still revered as the Janaki kund constructed by her father Janaka. Rama and Sita left Mithila for Ayodhya via Lumbini.

7/n In 249 BC, Ashoka erected a pillar in Lumbini with an inscription referring to the visits by both Rama and Buddha to Lumbini. Ashoka was much nearer in time to Rama and would be much aware of facts.

8/n Rama, Lakshmana and Sita left Ayodhya and went to Sringaverapura - modern Sringverpur in Uttar Pradesh - where they crossed the River Ganga. They lived on Chitrakoot hill where Bharata and Shatrughna met them and the brothers performed the last rites for their father.

9/n Thereafter, the three wandered through Dandakaranya in Central India, described as a land of Rakshasas, obviously tribes inimical to the brothers' habitation of their land. Tribals are still found in these forests.

10/n The trio reached Nasik,on the Godavari,which throbs with sites& events of Rama's sojourn, such as Tapovan where they lived, Ramkund where Rama & Sita used to bathe, Lakshmankund, Lakshmana's bathing area & several caves in the area associated with their lives in the forest.

11/n Rama then moved to Panchavati where Ravana abducted Sita.The dying Jatayu told them of the abduction,so they left in search of Sita.Kishkinda, near Hampi, where Rama first met Sugriva and Hanuman, is a major Ramayana site, where every rock and river is associated with Rama.

12/n Anjanadri, near Hospet, was the birthplace of Hanuman (Anjaneya); Sugriva lived in Rishyamukha on the banks of the Pampa (Tungabhadra); Sabari probably also lived in a hermitage there.

13/n Rama with Vanara army left Kishkinda to reach Rameshwaram, where the they built a bridge from Dhanushkodi on Rameshwaram Island to Talaimannar.NASA's satellite has photographed an underwater man-made bridge of shoals in the Palk Straits,connecting Dhanushkodi & Talaimannar.

14/n On his return from Sri Lanka, Rama worshiped Shiva at Rameshwaram, where Sita prepared a Linga out of sand. It is still one of the most sacred sites of Hindus.

Sri Lanka also has relics of the Ramayana.

15/n There are several caves, such as Ravana Ella Falls, where Ravana is believed to have hidden Sita.The Sitai Amman Temple at Numara Eliya is situated near the ashokavana where Ravana once kept her prisoner.

16/n In describing the places in Sri Lanka that are associated with Lord Rama and the Ramayana, "Sri Lankan folklore and religious scholars have identified more than 30 places on the island which are associated with the Ramayana.

17/n “interestingly enough, people in these places have a strong sense of history & lore, & a strong sense of possession. They are proud of their association with the Hindu epic," (Ref:S. Kalaiselvan, director general Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority)

18/n Ravana brought Sita to Sri Lanka by a vehicle called 'Pushpaka Vimanam’ as per Hindus & 'Dandu Monara Yanthraya' as per
Sinhalese Buddhists. As per scriptures this vehicle landed at Werangatota,about 10 km from Mahiyangana, east of the hill station of Nuwara Eliya.

19/n Sita was then taken to Goorulupota, now known as Sitakotuwa, where Ravana's wife, Mandodari, lived. Seetakotuwa is about 10 km from Mahiyangana on the road to Kandy. Sita was housed in a cave at Sita Eliya, on the Colombo-Nuwara Eliya road.

20/n There is Amma temple dedicated to her. She is believed to have bathed in the mountain stream flowing beside the temple.

North of Nuwara Eliya, in Matale district, is Yudhaganapitiya, where the Rama-Ravana battle took place.

21/n According to a Sinhalese legend,Dunuwila is the place from where Rama shot the 'Bramshira' arrow that killed Ravana.The Sri Lankan king was chalking out his battle plans in a place called Lakgala when the killer arrow struck him.

22/n Lakgala is a rock from the top of which Ravana could see north Sri Lanka clearly. It served as a watchtower. Ravana's body was placed on the rock at Yahangala for his subjects to pay their last respects.

23/n Since Ravana was a Brahmin, it was considered a sin to kill him, even in battle. To wash off the sin, Rama performed puja at the Munneswaram temple in Chilaw, 80 km north of Colombo. At Manaweri, north of Chilaw, there is a temple gifted by Rama.

24/n According to another legend from the southern part of Sri Lanka, Sita was actually detained in the mountainous forest area of Rumassala near Galle.When she fell ill, Hanuman wanted to bring some medicinal plants from the Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayan chain to cure her.

25/n Further geographical relation with Ramayana continues from 26/n which I shall be posting soon as addition #Ramayanadiaries #AyodhyaHiddenFacts

26/n Since he could not find the plants, he brought the whole mountain and dropped it at Unawatuna, which is near the present Galle harbour. Unawatuna means 'here it fell'. Indeed, the area is known for its medicinal plants.

27/n At Ramboda,known for its massive waterfalls,a temple for Hanuman has now sprung up as the belief is that he had visited Sita who was incarcerated there.Legend has it that the Koneswaram temple,in the eastern district of Trincomalee,was gifted by Lord Shiva to Ravana.

28/n In the famous Buddha Vihara at Kelani,near Colombo,there is a representation of Rama handing over captured Sri Lanka to Ravana's brother,Vibheeshana.

All the places visited by Rama still retain memories of his visit, as if it happened yesterday.

29/n Time, in India, is relative. Some places have commemorative temples; others commemorate the visit in local folklore. But all agree that Rama was going from or to Ayodhya. Why doubt connections when literature, archaeology and local tradition meet?

30/n Y doubt the connection between Rama Setu & Rama,when nobody else in Indian history has claimed its construction?Y doubt that Rama traveled through Dandakaranya or Kishkinda,where local tribes still narrate tales of Rama? Why doubt that he was born in & ruled over Ayodhya?

31/n Rama's memory lives on because of his extraordinary life & reign,which was obviously a period of great peace & prosperity,making Ramarajya a benchmark.People only remember the very good or the very bad. Leftist have chosen to rubbish archaeology,literature & local tradition.

32/n Nobody believed that Homer's Iliad was a true story till Troy was discovered after extensive archaeology.Unfortunately,the sites of the Ramayana & Mahabharata have now been built over many times & it may never be possible to excavate extensively either at Ayodhya or Mathura.

33/n Lack of archaeological evidence is no excuse for denying the existence of history. If the buildings of that time over 7000 years ago do not exist today, can we just infer that civilizations and personalities of that time also did not exist?

34/n In literature,we have the Ramayana and other texts such as the Puranas which also relate and verify the history and existence of Lord Rama. People from many other regions of the world have also accepted the Ramayana as worthy of attention, devotion, and historical evidence.

35/n For example, we can see the affects of the Ramayana tradition in many countries who have adapted their own form of the Ramayana and worship of Lord Rama, especially in the countries of Southeast Asia.

36/n These include Burma,Cambodia (Capuchia),Thailand,Indonesia, Malaysia,Philippines & Vietnam. Other areas can also be found where the influence of the history of Lord Rama is in affect,such as the continent of Africa was once known as Kushadvipa for having been ruled by Kush.

37/n The other fact is that many millions of people feel the reciprocation from Lord Rama whenever they engage in devotion to him or read the Ramayana, or hear the Ramayana in a katha, or watch a television show or movie about him or go to one of the temples dedicated to him.

38/n This cannot be denied or neglected.Just because we have insensitive politicians who cannot perceive this reciprocation does not mean that we all are so spiritually undeveloped. This dedication and reciprocation has spread throughout the world.

39/n There have also been astronomers who have identified the approximate time of the Ramayana by the descriptions of the stars and constellations as given in the Ramayana, or even in the Bhagavata Purana and other texts.

40/n Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana, was a contemporary of Rama. While narrating the events of the epic, he has mentioned the position of the planets at several places.

41/n By using recent planetary software, it has been possible to verify that these planetary positions actually took place precisely as specified in the Ramayana.

42/n onwards in thread below (pl excuse irregularities) https://twitter.com/aabhas24/status/1060043380447563776?s=21