Rāma’s Character as the Guardian God of Sri Lankan People according to the Historical Legends in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The main objective of this research paper is to examine how Rāma influenced and inspired the people of Sri Lanka to absorb a great many elements of the Indian cultural heritage. At the same time, it will examine how the Rāma’s character is considered as the guardian god of Sri Lankan People according to the historical legends in Sri Lanka. Rāma, who is worshipped in Sri Lanka to this day as Viṣṇu was in an earlier times hailed as a hero by the Sinhala race since it was he who brought victory to the Aryans over the non- Aryan Yakṣas then inhabiting the Island. The prestigious value accorded to this story has survived till the beginning of the 20th century. Rājāvaliya, Sihabā Asna, Maleraja Kathāva Nohoth Dandumonara Yanthraya, Hanthane Deviyange Kavi, Rāvana Kathava, and Rāvana Sanhāraya, is some of the works worth mentioning in connection with Rāma and Rāvana. The Rājāvaliya emphatically states that the battle between Rāma and Rāvana. The poetical work Ran Dunu Paralaya, praises the heroism and prowess of god Rāmaover Rāvana. This work is important because it says that Rāma is at the same time Upulvan Visnu. Ingirisi Hatana, describing the battle between the Sinhalese and the English, compares the Sinhala leaders to Rāma and the British general to Rāvana. These examples say that the two characters of Rāma and Rāvana are the heroes of a pre-historic battle between two race groups. Rāma, the victorious, in course of time was defined by his people and remembered with affection. According to the folk legends and beliefs among the Sinhalese people regarding Rama and Rāvana, it is clear that Rāma lives in the heart of every Buddhist and Hindu in Sri Lanka in the form of god Viṣṇu