Irrefutable proofs that indicate Ramayana actually existed

Ramayana: History or mythology?

The Ramayana is one of two epics, the other being the Mahabharata, which have had a crucial influence in shaping the nature of Indian civilization. The Ramayana existed in the oral tradition perhaps as far back as 1,500 BCE, but the fourth century BCE is generally accepted as the date of its composition in Sanskrit by Sage Valmiki. Many historians claim that Ramayana actually happened and is not a mythological folklore. Here are a few evidences that make a compelling case.

Cobra Hood cave, Sri Lanka

The tradition states that Sita was held in confinement in the Cobra Hood cave. There are many pre-historic drawings on its ceiling. An inscription in the cave that reads, ‘Parumaka naguliya lene’ further establishes a distinct link between Sita and the Cobra Hood cave. The Demons who guarded Sita while she was Ravana’s prisoner called her her Naguliya – one who was born off the ploughshare.

Existence of Hanuman Garhi

Lord Hanuman is one of the most important characters of Ramayana and an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. Hanuman Garhi, now a temple is a place in Ayodhya, where Hanuman was waiting patiently for Lord Rama who was in exile. Hanuman Garhi temple is also famous for its strategic location. It is situated at such a height and at such a site, from where the sunrises and sunsets are artistically visible.

Foot Prints of Lord Hanuman

When Hanuman reached Ashok Vatika, he is said to have come in the form of a giant. There are giant imprints on one side of the lake there which are said to be Hanuman's footprints, formed when he landed.

Ram Sethu

It is estimated that 'Rama's Bridge' is constructed in around 5000 B.C, with the use of wood and stones. This supports the claim of Ramayana being Historical. It is also backed by the construction method used to build the bridge is mentioned in the Valmiki's text.

Sync between time history and ages

Archaeological studies reveal that the first human inhabitation happened in Sri Lanka around 1,750,000 years ago and it’s been proved that the bridge’s age dates back to the same equivalent. To top it, the dates mentioned in the text of Valmiki matches with that of primitive age as well.

Mystery of Floating stones

In Ramayan it is mentioned that the Ram Setu was built by Stones and these stone starts Floating on water by touch of Nala & Neel. Some such stones were scattered at Rameswaram during the Tsunami, these stones still float on water. Many Geologist says RAMA Setu is built by natural process but failed to Provide enough proofs. Apart from Ramayana there are several facts which say Rama Setu is Man-made Structure.

Sanjeevani Mountain, Dunagiri

Lord Hanumana carried the entire mountain that had Sanjeevani Booti when Lakshmana lost his conscious during the Lanka war. This mountain was named as Dunagiri. In most re-tellings of Ramayana, after the medicines were used, Hanuman flies again to replace the mountain in its rightful place. There lies a scar on the side of Dunagiri where Hanumana sliced off a big chunk of mythological real estate, a scar which “bleeds” in the afternoon sun.

Himalayan Herbs in Sri Lanka

Exotic alpine Himalayan species are found suddenly amidst tropical Sri Lankan vegetation, the legacy of Hanuman’s heroic voyage carrying a mountain with life-restoring herbs called Sanjeevani.

Ashok Vatika, Sri Lanka

It was the location where Sita was held captive by Ravana after her abduction, because she refused to stay in Ravana's palace, and preferred to stay under the Ashoka tree, hence the name. Much of the Ashoka Vatika was destroyed by Hanuman, when he first visited Lanka, searching for Sita. Its present location is believed to be the Hakgala Botanical Garden, the area is known as Seetha Eliya.

Existence of Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh

When Sita was abducted by Raavan, they bumped into Jatayu, a demi-god in vulture form, who tried his best to stop Raavan. Lepakshi, in Andhra Pradesh, is said to be the place where Jatayu fell. Ram, accompanied by Hanuman, met the dying Jatayu. Ram helped him attain moksha by uttering the words "Le Pakshi", which is Telugu for "Rise, bird". There's also a large footprint in that area which is said to be that of Hanumana's.

Four-tusked elephants

Sundar Kanda [4.27.12] states that Hanuman, on entering Lanka, sees Four-Tusked elephants guarding the palaces of Ravana. These elephants are tall and imposing and have been trained to protect Lanka from invaders. Well, fossil remains show that there were many steps in the evolution of the 'Modern Elephant' and there did exist four-tusked ancestors of elephants in various shapes and sizes such as Trilophodon, Tetralophodon, Gomphotherium etc around 20 million years ago!

Existence of Konda Kattu Gala, Ishtreepura

This was one of the places to which King Ravana shifted Sita as a precautionary measure which he was forced to take by Lord Hanuman's advent. There are lots of intruding tunnels and caves in this area. This seems to be a part of a great ingenious network of paths, which is interconnected to all the major areas of King Ravana's city.

Ravana’s palace

These tunnels prove beyond doubt the architectural brilliance of King Ravana. These tunnels served as a quick means of transport through the hills and also as a secret passage and networked all the important cities, airports and dairy farms. A .close look at these tunnels indicates that they are man-made and not natural formations. This Buddhist shrine at Kalutara was where once King Ravana's palace and a tunnel existed.

Kalaniya

After King Ravana’s death, Vibeeshana was coroneted as King of Lanka by Lakshmana at Kelaniya. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of Vibeeshana. The Kelani River is mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana and Vibeeshana palace was said to be on the banks of this river.

Proof of Lord Hanuman setting fire to Ravana’s kingdom

The color of the soil of the ancient battlefield is still red today, and is still surrounded by lighter colored earth. One of the airports of Ravana, torched by Hanuman when he came looking for Sita, still has a scorched-earth look. A patch of darker soil surrounded by brown earth.

Divurumpola, Sri Lanka

After Ram rescued Sita from Lanka, he made her go through Agni Pariksha to test her purity. The place where this is said to have happened is Divurumpola in Sri Lanka. There is a tree in that exact spot and even today, local disputes are settled through debates and discussions under that tree.

Ramalingam

Since Rama felt guilty of killing a Brahmin (Brahmahasthi Dosham), he decided to take penance at Munneswaram, 80 km from present Colombo. This is the place where lord Rama prayed to lord Shiva and lord Shiva answered his prayer by asking him to install four lingams. Out of this four, one of the linga was made of sand by sita and other brought by lord hanuman from Kailas Mountain. Lingams at Rameshwaram and Manavari temple was built by lord Rama himself and so, is known as Ramalingam.

What happened to Vanara Sena after Ramayana

SPEAKING TREE

Everyone is familiar with the glorious role played by the Vanara Sena, or monkey clan, led by Hanuman, Vaali and Sugreeva, in the Ramayana. But not many know what happened to them afterwards. Let’s find out!

An excerpt from the Ramayana

An excerpt from the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana describes the fate of the various Vanaras post-Ramayana when Rama was told by Yama, the god of death, that his time on Earth was nearing an end, he prepared to depart the Earth by going into the Sarayu river.

Angada in charge

When Sugriva heard about this, he put Vaali's son Angada in charge of the Vanara kingdom of Kishkindha, after which, he and a group of Vanaras went to Ayodhya to join Rama in departing the Earth.

Monkeys

Then, the Vanaras, accompanied by bears and rakshasas (demons), began to assemble there. Apprised of Rama's determination of going to heaven, the Vanaras, along with Rishis and Gandharvas, came to see Rama.

What they said to Rama

And they told Rama: "O Rama, foremost among men, if you depart for heaven forsaking us all, it will be akin to hurling Yama's rod upon us." The highly powerful Sugriva too saluted Rama, saying: "O lord of men, having placed Angada on the throne, I have come hither. I am determined to follow you, O King."

Rama agrees

Hearing the words of the Vanaras, Rama agreed to fulfil their wishes. He tells Hanuman, "It is settled that you shall live forever. As long as my history is spoken in this world, you will also be praised. Being thus addressed by his beloved Master, Hanuman was delighted, and said, "As long as the sacred theme is present in this world, I shall live here, carrying out your command."

Hanuman assures other Vanars

Thereupon, Hanuman tells Jambhavan, Mainda, Dwrivida and other Vanaras: "As long as the Kali Yuga exists, so will you all live." Thus, while Sugriva and other Vanaras departed the Earth along with Rama, Hanuman, Jambavan, Mainda, Dvivida, and five other Vanaras (including Nila and Nala), are said to be still alive today.

Famous appearances of a Vanara

The most famous appearance of a Vanara is Hanuman's encounter with the Pandavas, in a much-later Yuga. The “Vana Parva” of the Mahabharata describes how Hanuman once blocked the path of Bhima in the Gandhamadana mountains in the Himalayas. Incidentally, both being the sons of Vayu, the wind god, they were also brothers.

Arjuna meeting Hanuman

Then, there is the story of Arjuna meeting Hanuman at Rameshwaram and challenging him to make a sturdy bridge of arrows. This encounter is said to be responsible for Arjuna putting the flag of Hanuman on his chariot, and also why Arjuna is also known as “Kapidhwaja”.

Krishna and Jambhavan

In another instance, the Srimad Bhagavatam describes how Krishna was once falsely accused of stealing the Syamantaka gem, and he launched a quest to clear his name. The gem had actually fallen into the hands of Jambhavan, who lived in a mountain cave, who in turn gave it to his son to play with.

Krishna fights Jambhavan

So Krishna fought Jambhavan to get the gem back. Jambhavan, realising that Krishna was a reincarnation of Rama, to whom Jambhavan had the utmost loyalty, happily gives Krishna the Syamantaka gem, as well as his daughter's hand in marriage. Jambhavan's daughter Jambhavati thus became one of Krishna's queens.

Pandavas and other Vanars

The Sabha Parva of the Mahabharata describes how Yudhishthira conducted a Rajasuya Yagna, during which he sent his four brothers in all four directions, and each king they encountered had to either accept the sovereignty of Yudhisthira, or fight them. Sahadeva was sent South, where he conquered the Vanara kingdom of Kishkindha after a week-long battle with Mainda and Dvivida, who were ruling it at the time.

The caves of Kishkindha

The long-armed hero marched further south, where he beheld the celebrated caves of Kishkindha and fought for seven days with the monkey kings Mainda and Dwivida. Those illustrious kings, however, without being tired of the encounter, expressed gratification with Sahadeva. And joyfully addressing the Kuru prince, they said, "O tiger among the sons of Pandu, go hence, taking the tribute from us all. Let the mission of king Yudhishthira be accomplished without hindrance."

Legend of Dvivida

There was an ape named Dvivida who was a friend of Narakasura. This powerful Dvivida, the brother of Mainda, had been instructed by King Sugriva to avenge the death of his friend Naraka. Indeed, the ape Dvivida ravaged the land, setting fires that burned cities, villages, mines and cowherd dwellings.

Mass destruction

Dvivida tore up a number of mountains and used them to devastate all the neighbouring kingdoms, especially the province of Anarta, wherein dwelt his friend’s killer, Lord Hari. Another time, he entered the ocean and, with the strength of 10,000 elephants, churned up its water with his arms, thereby submerging the coastal regions.

Sages tormented

The wicked ape tore down the trees in the hermitages of exalted sages and contaminated their sacrificial fires. Just as a wasp imprisons smaller insects, he arrogantly threw both men and women into caves in a mountain valley and sealed the caves shut with boulders.

Krishna's brother Balarama

Finally, Dvivida harassed a group of young women who were with Krishna's brother Balarama, so Balarama fought him in an epic battle. While Lord Balarama took up his club and plow weapon, having decided to put his enemy to death, mighty Dvivida himself clenched his fists and beat them against Balarama’s body. The furious Lord of the Yadavas then threw aside his club and plow and using his bare hands, hammered a blow upon Dvivida’s collarbone. The ape collapsed, vomiting blood. 

From Treta Yuga to Dwapar Yuga

Thus, we have proof of the Vanaras existing since the Treta Yuga up until Dwapar Yuga are they around in Kali Yuga? Only time will tell.