| Seethai Amman Temple | |
|---|---|
சீத்தா எலிய சீதையம்மன் கோவில் සීතා එළිය සීතා අම්මන් දේවස්ථානය अशोक वाटिका सीता देवी मंदिर | |
 by Buddhika Mawella 2010 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Nuwara Eliya |
| Province | Central Province |
| Deity | Sita |
| Features |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Sita Eliya |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
  Shown within Sri Lanka | |
| Geographic coordinates | 6°56′00″N 80°48′38″E / 6.9332°N 80.8105°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Hindu Temple |
| Style | Tamil Architecture |
| Direction of façade | East |
Seetha Amman Temple, or Seetha Eliya Seethai Amman Thirukkovil, also known as Ashok Vatika Sita Temple, is an ancient Vaishnavite Hindu temple located in the Nuwara Eliya District of Central Sri Lanka. The temple's folklore is deeply connected to the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. According to the epic, after Sita was abducted by King Ravana of Lanka, she was brought to this location. Ravana sought vengeance against Rama and Lakshmana to avenge the disrespect shown to his sister, Shurpanakha.[1]
In the Ramayana, Ravana offered Sita a place in his palace, but she refused, choosing instead to remain in exile for 14 years, waiting for Rama to rescue her. Ravana then created a natural garden, now known as Hakgala Botanical Garden, near the temple where Sita could wait. The nearby river is said to be the place where Sita bathed under the guard of Asura women and meditated until Rama's arrival. It is also believed to be the site where Hanuman first met Sita and gave her Rama's wedding ring as a sign of hope.This temple is believed to be the only Sita temple in the world.[2]
Initially, this site featured a simple temple with stones representing Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. When Indian Tamils arrived as indentured workers brought by the British, they constructed the current temple. To this day, the temple is maintained by the Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, rather than the native Sri Lankan Tamils. It is primarily visited by Indians as a pilgrimage to one of the Ramayana Sthalas.[3]
- ^ Goonatilake, Susantha (2014). "Introduction to the Issue on the Rāmāyaṇa". Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. New Series, Vol. 59, No. 2 (Special Issue on the Ramayana): 1–21. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "WWW Virtual Library: Sita Eliya / Seetha Eliya / Sitha Eliya".
- ^ "Ramayanaya". www.srilanka.travel. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
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