Lanka
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''For the town of Lanka, please refer to [[Lanka, Assam]]. For the [[flea beetle]] [[genus]], see ''[[Lanka (beetle)]].<!-- leave redlink to avoid incorrect "(genus)" -->
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[[Image:Rama preparing Lanka siege.jpg|thumb|250px|right|19<sup>th</sup>century painting depicting [[Rama]] preparing for war against [[Ravana]].]]
'''Lanka''' ([[Sanskrit]]: '''लंका''' ''lankā,'' means "island") is the name given in [[Hindu mythology]] to the island fortress capital of the king [[Ravana]] in the epics [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]], and is what is thought to be present day [[Sri Lanka]]. The fortress was situated in a plateau between three mountain peaks known as the '''Trikuta''' Mountains [[Trincomalee]]. The ancient capital city of Lanka was burnt by Lord [[Hanuman]].
After Ravana was killed by [[Rama]], Ravana's brother [[Vibhishana]] ruled the kingdom. His descendants ruled the kingdom even during the period of the [[Pandavas]]. As per the epic Mahabharata, the Pandava [[Sahadeva]] had visited this kingdom during his southern military campaign for the [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice of Pandava king [[Yudhisthira]].
== Rulers of Lanka ==
Lanka was originally ruled by a Rakshasa named Sumali (as per [[Ramayana]]). Later it was taken by Visarvana (Kubera) who was a Yaksha. From him, Rakshasa Ravana, took the rulership of Lanka. Rama killed Ravana and installed his brother Vibhishana on the throne of Lanka.
According to Mahabharata, ''[[Yaksha Kingdom| Yaksha]] king [[Vaisravana]] alias [[Kubera]] was the ruler of Lanka. His capital was guarded by Rakshasas.His cousin Ravana fought with Kubera in battle and obtained the sovereignity of Lanka from him. Ravana ruled Lanka as the king of [[Rakshasa Kingdom| Rakshasas]]. Having slain the king of the Rakshasas, viz Ravana, with his brother [[Kumbhakarna]], and sons and kindred, Rama installed in the kingdom of Lanka the Rakshasa chief, [[Vibhishana]], pious, and reverent, and kind to devoted dependants.
== Rama's invasion and conquest of Lanka ==
According to the story set forth in the [[Ramayana]] and (in an abbreviated version) in the Mahabharata (Book III: Varna Parva, Section 271 ff.), Ravana was a powerful king in Lanka who ruled Lanka as well as reasonable area in India. [[Laxman]] who was Rama's brother cut off Ravana's sister [[Surpankha's]] nose when she was going to assault [[Sita]]. To avenge this, Ravana captured Sita and carried her off to his fortress in Lanka. Rama formed an alliance with the monkey king [[Sugriva]], who placed an army of monkeys at Rama's disposal. Rama and his army marched to liberate Sita, but found their way obstructed by an ocean. They then built a gigantic bridge that enabled them to cross into Lanka. There the troops caused great devastation to the local infrastructure before laying siege to the citadel itself. After much savage fighting, the monkey host prevailed, Rama slew Ravana in a duel, and Sita was liberated from her captivity.
The Battle of Lanka is depicted in a famous [[bas-relief]] in the 12th century [[Khmer people|Khmer]] temple of [[Angkor Wat]].
== References to Lanka in the Mahabharata ==
Many of the references to Lanka in the Mahabharata are found in sage [[Markandeya]]'s narration of the story of [[Rama]] and [[Sita]] to king [[Yudhishthira]], which narration amounts to a truncated version of the [[Ramayana]]. The references in the following summary are to the Mahabharata, and adhere to the following form: (book:section). Markandeya's narration of the story begins at Book III (Varna Parva), Section 271 of the Mahabharata.
=== Sahadeva's expedition to South ===
The son of [[Pandu]], viz. [[Sahadeva]], conquered the town of Sanjayanti and the country of the Pashandas and the [[Karnata Kingdom| Karanatakas]] by means of his messengers alone, and made all of them pay tributes to him. The hero brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the Paundrayas ([[Pandya Kingdom| Pandyas]]?) and the [[Dravida Kingdom| Dravidas]] along with the [[Kerala Kingdom| Udrakeralas]] and the [[Andhra Kingdom| Andhras]] and the Talavanas, the [[Kalinga Kingdom| Kalingas]] and the Ushtrakarnikas, and also the delightful city of Atavi and that of the [[Yavanas]]. And, He having arrived at the sea-shore, then dispatched with great assurance messengers unto the illustrious [[Vibhishana]], the grandson of Pulastya and the ruler of [[Lanka Kingdom| Lanka]] (2:30).
=== Presence in Yudhisthira's Rajasuya ===
''Lanka king is listed as present in the conclave of kings present in [[Pandava]] king [[Yudhisthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice.''
..the [[Vanga Kingdom| Vangas]] and [[Anga Kingdom| Angas]] and [[Pundra Kingdom| Paundras]] and [[Odra Kingdom| Odras]] and [[Chola Kingdom| Cholas]] and [[Dravida Kingdom| Dravidas]] and [[Andhra Kingdom| Andhakas]], and the chiefs of many islands and countries on the sea-board as also of frontier states, including the rulers of the [[Sinhala Kingdom| 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 [[Pahlava Kingdom| Pahlavas]] and the [[Darada Kingdom| Daradas]] and the various tribes of the [[Kirata Kingdom| Kiratas]] and [[Yavana Kingdom| Yavanas]] and [[Saka Kingdom| Sakras]] and the [[Hara Huna Kingdom| Harahunas]] and [[China of Mahabharata| Chinas]] and [[Tushara Kingdom| Tukharas]] and the [[Sindhu Kingdom| Sindhavas]] and the Jagudas and the Ramathas and the Mundas and the inhabitants of the kingdom of women and the Tanganas and the [[Kekaya Kingdom| Kekayas]] and the [[Malava Kingdom| Malavas]] and the inhabitants of [[Kasmira Kingdom| Kasmira]]... (3:51).
===Other fragmentory references===
*Lanka, with its warriors, and horses, elephants and chariots (3:149).
*Lanka with its towers and ramparts and gates (3:147)
*The walls of Lanka (3:282).
== See also ==
*[[Kingdoms of Ancient India]]
*[[Sri Lanka]]
*[[Vanga Kingdom]]
*[[Sinhala Kingdom]]
*[[Kerala Kingdom]]
*[[Vishwakarma]]
==External links==
*[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm Mahabharata] of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated from Sanskrit into English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
*[http://srilankareference.org/ Sri Lanka Reference - Country Information, History and Maps]
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[[Category:Ancient Indian kingdoms]]
[[Category:Kingdoms in Ramayana]]
[[Category:Ramayana]]
[[Category:Mahābhārata]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
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