Nirupam
Interesting .. What was known as Thoppigala to the Sinhalese, was known as Kudumbimalai to the Tamils.
We tend to come back again, and again to this theme : Who was 'here' first ?
Well, let me suggest to those who pursue this line of 'reasoning' to take a look at this posting - which came out earlier under another 'thread' -
Amongst the myths that Tamils have tried to propagate is the antiquity of Hindu shrines which pre- date Vijaya's arrival in Lanka - and hence their 'earlier presence' in Lanka.
There is a lot of truth in the Ramayanaya .. which is strictly a record of the conquest of the Southern kingdoms of ancient India, by the Vedic (or Aryan) peoples of the North .. led by Prince Rama. The Southern region of India was over-run by the Northern Vedic people cc. 6,000BC. After conquering the South, Prince Rama crossed over to Lanka, disposed of Ravana and extended his king-dom to include Lanka.
The Vedic people were Hindus, and Hinduism came to Sri Lanka cc. 6,000 BC with the Vedic invasion of Sri Lanka. (There is some doubt as to the origins of Ravana and his people .. it is probable they were of malaysian stock. The Sage Agasthya is said to have accompanied Prince Rama as his Counselor and Guide .. if he was a Tamil, it is un-likley he would have accompanied the man who was on a mission to wrest control of Lanka from a Tamil King. Either, Agasthya or Ravana was not Tamil .. more likely, both were non-Tamil).
I do believe, the ancient Hindu Temple at Kataragama was built to commemorate the conquest of Lanka by Prince Rama. Like-wise, the other ancient Hindu Temple sites at Gokanna (Trincomalee), and else-where may not have been the creations of ancient Tamil rulers .. but more likely by Vedic kings who've ruled in Lanka since cc 6,000BC. (King Devanampiyatissa, who ruled at the time of the mission of the Arahat Mahinda .. son of Emperor Asoka .. would have been a Hindu king. But he would have been of Vedic or Aryan origin, like-wise the elites of those times).
Sinhalese of the present day carry the genes of Ravana's people, and North Indian (Vedic) invaders going back to 6,000BC or earlier .. also of others coming into the island, at later times. (This would include, Tamils, Middle-eastern / Arabic people, and Europeans .. from cc 1500AD onwards).
Edited By - SenaM - 21 Jul 2007 20:10:44 GMT |