PLACES RELATED TO RAMAYANA IN INDIA $ SRI LANKA

The Ramayana is geographically very correct. Every site on Rama’s route is still identifiable and has continuing traditions or temples to commemorate Rama’s visit. Around 1000 BC, no writer had the means to travel around the country inventing a story, fitting it into local folklore and building temples for greater credibility.

In 1975 the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) unearthed fourteen pillar bases of kasauti stone with Ram motifs near the Ram Janam Bhumi(Birth Place of Ram) at Ayodhya; reports of the excavations are available with the ASI. 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. 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 well aware of his facts.

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

Rama then moved to Panchavati near Bhadrachalam (AP), 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. Anjanadri, near Hospet, was the birthplace of Hanuman (Anjaneya); Sugriva lived in Rishyamukha on the banks of the Pampa (Tungabhadra); Sabari probably also lived a hermitage there. Rama and the Vanara army left Kishkinda to reach Rameshwaram, where the Vanaras built a bridge to Lanka from Dhanushkodi on Rameshwaram Island to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. While parts of the bridge — known as Adam’s Bridge — are still visible, NASA’s satellite has photographed an underwater man-made bridge of shoals in the Palk Straits, connecting Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar. 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 Hinduism.

Sri Lanka also has relics of the Ramayana. There are several caves, such as Ravana Ella Falls, where Ravana is believed to have hidden Sita to prevent Rama from finding her. The Sitai Amman Temple at Numara Eliya is situated near the ashokavana where Ravana once kept her prisoner.

The presence of the Vanaras or monkeys, including Hanuman, has made the authenticity of the epic suspect. But this is the most plausible part of the story. The Vanaras were obviously tribes with the monkey totem: after all, the Ramayana belongs to a period when most of India was jungle with tribal forest-dwellers. India still contains several tribes with animal totems. An early issue of the Bellary District (now in Karnataka) Gazetteer gives us the interesting information that the place was inhabited by the Vanara people. The Jaina Ramayana mentions that the banner of the Vanaras was the vanaradhvaja (monkey flag), thereby reinforcing the totemic theory. Similarly, Jatayu would have been the king of the vulture-totem tribe and Jambavan of the bear-totem tribe.

Was Lanka the modern Sri Lanka? One school of thought places Lanka on the Godavari in Central India, citing the limited descriptions of the South in the latter half of the epic. Narada does not mention Panchavati or Rameshwaram, but refers to Kishkinda and Lanka. Living in the north, it is unlikely that Valmiki knew the south. But Valmiki would know the difference between a sea and a river. Lanka, says the author definitively, was across the sea.

All the places visited by Rama still retain memories of his visit, as if it happened yesterday. 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? Why doubt the connection between Adam’s Bridge and Rama, when nobody else in Indian history has claimed its construction? Why doubt that Rama traveled through Dandakaranya or Kishkinda, where local non-Vedic tribes still narrate tales of Rama? Why doubt that he was born in and ruled over Ayodhya?

Major settlements, including temples, were renovated several times: restoration is a 20th century development. When the main image was made of perishable materials, it was replaced by stone. For example, we know that the wooden image of Varadaraja Perumal of Kanchipuram was replaced by a stone image, for the earlier image is still preserved in a water tank. The present architecture belongs to the sixteenth century Vijayanagara style. Yet the temple was known to have existed before the Pallava period (seventh century). This is the story of many sacred sites in India. This happened to several Rama temples too.

Rama’s memory lives on because of his extraordinary life and his reign, which was obviously a period of great peace and prosperity, making Ramarajya a reference point. People only remember the very good or the very bad.

The Ravana Palace which was burnt by Hanuman, Ashok vatika where Ravana kept Sita, Sugriva Cave, Sanjivani Mountain from where Sanjivani Booti was acquired to save Lakshman which has many exotic herbs even now





ASHOKA VATIKA





FLOATING STONE FROM RAMESWARAM




RAVANA'S PALACE BURNT BY HANUMAN





SANJEEVANI HILL






SUGREEVA'S CAVE





SUGREEVA'S CAVE

Electricity in vedas

Electricity in the Atharva Veda

INTRODUCTION:

For centuries, the history of India and in particular Hindu culture has been presented in the most distorted and falsified fashion. Most recently, Western historians and Indian historians influenced by the West, have constantly portrayed it in an absolutely erroneous manner. The most significant example of this type is the aberrant analysis has been applied to the greatest and most profound Hindu literature of all time, namely the Vedas.

For Hindus, the Vedas are of completely divine origin. We believe that the Vedas are words of divine wisdom from the eternal source of Supreme Consciousness itself. Over many centuries, men of supremely exalted wisdom called "Rishis" compiled these eternal spiritual and natural laws into several volumes, which are called "Vedas". However, according to self styled analysts like Max Mueller and thousands of Western as well as pseudo secular Indian historians, the Vedas are nothing but a bunch of ritualistic hymns connected with nothing more spiritual than charms and incantations. These people would have us believe that the profound heights of spiritual philosophy that are expressed in the Vedas, are nothing short of tribal superstitions upheld by a primitive people.

Of all the Vedas, none has been more maligned than the Atharva Veda. Many historians have even gone on to say that it is nothing but "a manual of black and white magic". Such exceptionally ignorant statements make it clear that sacred Hindu literature is being treated in the most demeaning and prejudiced way. Take for example such statements as "Above all the principal aim of the Atharva Veda is to appease the demons, to bless friends and to curse" by V.M. Apte, an Indian writer of modern times, or " There are then numerous verses in the Atharveda, which according to their character and often also in their contents, differ just as little from the magic formulas of American Indian medicine-men and Tarter Shamans.." by Winternitz. These type of views clearly demonstrate the prejudices and biased approach that Western-educated historians bring to their analysis. Not only that, but it also shows that their views are conditioned by Western outlooks and ideals, bundled with the misgivings that the Christian viewpoint displays in dealing with anything mystical and alien to their own perception of "spiritual strictures of morality"

While reading the Vedas, one must keep certain facts in mind:

1. The Vedas are NOT historical accounts. They are not biographies of great kings and the battles they fought with demons, nor are they mythical legends about emperors and intrigues that existed long ago.
2. The Vedas date MUCH further back than any Indus Valley Civilization. Long before the Harappans existed, these spiritual, scientific and natural laws had been collected by numerous brilliant Rishis and compiled into several unified compositions, all of which were given the general descriptive label of "Vedas".
3. The Vedas ARE compilations of the eternal laws governing human existence. Moreover each of the four Vedas was a treatise on particular subjects, specific only to itself. The word "Veda" itself means "sacred or pure knowledge" , having come from the root "Vid" meaning "to know".

Of these, the Atharvaveda consisted of nine branches or sakhas, according to sage Patanjali. These were:

1) Paippalada

2) Tauda

3) Munda

4) Saunakiya

5) Jajala

6) Jalada

7) Brahmaveda

8) Devadarsa

9) Charanavaidya

Of these nine, we know of only two, namely Saunaka and Paippalada branches. Even in this incomplete form, the Atharvaveda was the source of development for such immense philosophical systems as Tantra and practical systems like Ayurveda. Often, Hindu scriptures have been criticised, as being too vague and full of profoundly difficult philosophical flights and abstract concepts, that are impossible for the common reader to grasp. In fact, the Atharvaveda is a prime example of how the majority of Hindu scriptures DO delve into practical and material matters that affect everyday human life. The Vedas are a wealth of information, not only about philosophical and spiritual ideals, but also invaluable reference manuals that clearly explain the laws governing scientific phenomenon, practical applications, and the methods for utilization of awesome natural resources. Scientists, mathematicians, manufacturers, computer programmers and many others can greatly benefit from this vast repertoire of information and knowledge.

Although most people today concentrate on significant aspects of the Atharvaveda such as medicinal plants and healing practices, many other fascinating subjects such as marriage rites, the healing properties of water, atomic and solar energy, electricity, and the states of the Supreme Consciousness are also discussed. (I will expound more on these subjects in future articles)

One of the most exciting topics covered in the Atharvaveda is electricity and specifically, the detailed description of valuable applications that harness and utilize this immense source of energy. Some of the applications described, include important specifications for a control system that harnesses the intense power of electricity for use as a deadly weapon, utilization of hydroelectric power for manufacturing and the fission properties of electricity. These are only some of these amazing instances that clearly demonstrate how the most advanced scientific laws and phenomenons are described in the Atharvaveda.

It will be fully apparent from the following verses that Electrical Energy and its properties were fully understood by Vedic sages. It was definitely used in everyday technological applications as much (if not more), as it is for us today. It is also clear that Vedic scientists knew far more about the properties of electricity than us. It was not till very recently, that modern day scientists discovered and began research on the potential usage of electrical energy in military science and related areas.

What these verses clearly demonstrate to us is the fact that Vedic Society was at an extremely advanced state of technological advancement and fully utilized Electricity in innumerable productive applications

I have followed a standard format to make identification of the verses easy. All of the verses have been taken from Kanda (Book) XX of the Atharvaveda translated by Devi Chand. The Sanskrit verses are highlighted in maroon where as their translations are highlighted in Blue. Each verse can be referenced directly in the order of Chapter (Anuvaka), Hymn (Sukta) and Verse number.

NON-MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF ELECTRICITY:

According to the descriptions found in Atharvaveda, electrical energy can be utilized in many useful applications such as creation of powerful engines, illumination, agricultural machinery, hydroelectric power plants, manufacturing plants, biomedical engineering, extraction of medicines, etc. and thus serve to greatly enhance the daily life of people.

Chapter 1: Hymn VII

Verse 2: Nav Yo Navati Puro bibhed bahvotjasaa
Ahi Cha vritrahaavadheet

Electricity , which breaks, by the energy of its arms the 99 cities, destroys the cloud, which covers the rays of the sun, the source of all energy and power.

This initial description describes the inherent properties of of electrical energy. Here the "arms of electricity" refers to positive and negative currents. The 99 cities refers to the 99 elements, as known to modern day scientists. In Vedic terminology, these essential elements were known as "Bhogas".

Verse 3: Sa na Indrah Shivah sakhashwavad gomadvavama
Urudhaarev dohate

That very electric power may be our peaceful friend, providing us with the horse-power to drive our machines, light to light up our houses, and power to produce grains in the fields. Let it bring on prosperity and well-being for us by flowing into numerous currents.

These verses clearly refer to the various useful applications of electricity. The mention of horse powered driving machines is a direct reference to electronically powered vehicles like automobiles, aircraft, etc. In our times, even prototypes of electric cars are a very recent development. In the present era, Electric car prototypes were created due to the dawning realization that gasoline fuel is a perishable resource as well as polluting to the environment. It looks like thousands of years ago, our Rishis were already aware of these dangers and used electric engines in their vehicles, as one of their primary modes of transport as well as for motors, etc. for other types of machinery. This verse also clearly mentions that electricity was used to light up buildings, just as we do today. In addition there is a reference to electrically powered agricultural machines, which helped in the manufacture and processing of crops from the fields.

Verse 4: Indra Kratuvidang sutang somang harya purushtut
Piba vrishaswa taatripim

Let electricity, so highly spoken of by many learned people, help extract the essence of medicines, thus produced by those, who are well-versed in manufacturing things. Let it keep safe and shower, on us the rain, satisfying all.

In modern times, we have discovered that certain electronic devices such as centrifuges, deep refrigeration, etc. are extremely helpful in deriving medicinal extracts. Apparently our ancient scientists were well aware of these methods and perhaps even more advanced than us in their knowledge. The last sentence refers reverentially to the role of electricity, which in the form of lightning is instrumental in creating life giving rain for the entire planet. The picture that emerges from these verses is that of an extremely advanced culture, that utilized superlative technology and yet maintained an enormous respect and reverence for the ecosystem and the natural environment. The proponents of Vedic culture saw spirituality everywhere, and held sacred the power of all divine forces, from water, to electricity. Not only this, but they had analysed the properties and laws of all these natural energies and thus comprehended perfectly the best way to utilize them.