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Lanka Kingdom

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Lanka was the kingdom of the Rakshasa king Ravana. It was situated in high altitude, just like other Rakshasa kingdoms in the Himalayas. It was situated in a plateau between three mountain peaks known as the Trikuta Mountains. Highest of those peaks is known today as Adem's Peak. This mountains were in an island called Lanka or modern day Srilanka. After Ravana was killed by Raghava Rama of Kosala Kingdom, Ravana's brother Vibhishana ruled the kingdom. His decendands ruled the kingdom even during the period of the Pandavas. As per the epic Mahabharata, the Pandava Sahadeva had visited this kingdom (or only sent a messenger ? ) duirng his southern military campaign for the Rajasuya sacrifice of Pandava king Yudhisthira.

Contents

References in Mahabharata

Yudhisthira's Rajasuya Sacrifice

''Vasudeva Krishna to Yudhisthira

All kings, even those of the Vangas and Angas and Paundras and Odras and Cholas and Dravidas and Andhakas, and the chiefs of many islands and countries on the sea-board as also of frontier states, including the rulers of the Sinhalas, the barbarous mlecchas, the natives of Lanka, and all the kings of the West by hundreds, and all the chiefs of the sea-coast, and the kings of the Pahlavas and the Daradas and the various tribes of the Kiratas and Yavanas and Sakras and the Harahunas and Chinas and Tukharas and the Sindhavas and the Jagudas and the Ramathas and the Mundas and the inhabitants of the kingdom of women and the Tanganas and the Kekayas and the Malavas and the inhabitants of Kasmira, were present in obedience to your invitation, performing various offices.

The above lines can be interpreted like this 1) the Sinhalas were the barbarous mlecchas that inhabited Lanka or like this 2) the rulers of the Sinhalas, the barbarous mlecchas, the natives of Lanka --- all three groups viz the Sinhalas, the mlecchas and the Lankas, as independent of each other.

Ramayana within Mahabharata

The summary of the Indian epic Ramayana is found in the great Indian epic Mahabharata. Detailed summary can be found in sage Markandeya's narrations to Yudhisthira.

Hanuman's Narration

Hanuman to Bhima

I saw in Ravana’s residence, the daughter of king Janaka, Sita, like unto the daughter of a celestial. And having interviewed that lady, Vaidehi, Rama’s beloved, and burnt the whole of Lanka with its towers and ramparts and gates, and proclaimed my name there, I returned.

Bhima to Hanuman

Depending on the strength of thy arms, thou wert capable of instantly destroying Lanka, with its warriors, and horses, elephants and chariots.

Markandeya's Narration

Sage Markandeya narrates the history of Raghava Rama to Yudhisthira, which is a summarized form of Valmiki's Ramayana.

Even Raghava Rama suffered unparalleled misery, for the evil-minded Ravana, king of the Rakshasas, having recourse to deceit and overpowering the vulture Jatayu, forcibly carried away his wife Sita from his asylum in the woods. Indeed, Rama, with the help of Sugriva, brought her back, constructing a bridge across the sea, and consuming Lanka with his keen-edged arrows.

Lanka under the Yaksha King Kubera

Grandsire gave him (the Yaksha named Vaisravana alias Kubera) for his capital Lanka, which was guarded by hosts of Rakshasas, and also a chariot called Pushpaka capable of going everywhere according to the will of the rider. And the kingship of the Yakshas and the sovereignty over sovereigns were also his.

Rakshasa Ravana becomes the ruler of Lanka

Ravana defeated Kuvera in battle and obtained from him the sovereignty of Lanka. Kuvera, leaving Lanka and followed by Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshas, and Kinnaras, went to live on mount Gandhamadana.

The Capital City of Lanka

Ravana to Sita:- I am, O Sita, the king of the Rakshasas, known by the name of Ravana! My delightful city, known by the name of Lanka is on the other side of the great ocean!

Jatayu to Hanuman:- Lanka is Ravana's capital. I beheld it on the other side of the sea in a valley of the Trikuta hills!

Rakshasa Vibhishana becomes the ruler of Lanka

And having slain Rakshasa Ravana, Rama of worldwide fame bestowed Lanka on Vibhishana.

Bhishma's Narration

The 1000 names of Vishnu

Vishnu assumed the form of Rama, the son of Dasaratha, and going into exile at the command of His sire made a treaty with Sugriva the chief of the Apes for aiding him in the recovery of his kingdom from the grasp of his elder brother Vali in return for the assistance which Sugriva promised Him for recovering from Ravana His wife Sita who had been ravished by that Rakshasa and borne away to his island home in Lanka.

See also

Kingdoms of Ancient India

Srilanka

Vanga Kingdom

Sinhala Kingdom

Kerala Kingdom

References

 

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