GENE Olot’s Post

The wife of Lord Rama, Sita, is held captive by the demon king Ravana. The garden in Lanka is known as Ashoka Vatika, and it plays a pivotal role in the story. It is a much secluded and beautiful place where Sita is confined against her will. When Hanuman, the devoted monkey deity and ally of Lord Rama, is sent to Lanka in search of Sita, he encounters the Ashoka Vatika. This garden is where Hanuman first meets Sita, bringing a message of hope and reassurance from Rama. The idea of a secret garden often symbolizes hidden beauty, renewal, and transformation. In the Ramayana, while Ashoka Vatika is not portrayed as a secret garden, the experiences within it lead to transformative moments. Sita's resilience and Hanuman's unwavering devotion represent the inner strength that can be found even in challenging and secluded circumstances. Metaphorically, one could interpret the inner journey of characters like Sita and Hanuman as a quest to find their own inner sanctuaries amidst adversity. The trials and tribulations they face in the garden become a path to self-discovery and spiritual growth. While the Ramayana itself does not directly feature a secret garden in the conventional sense, the themes of hidden beauty, resilience, and the #transformative power of inner strength are prevalent throughout the epic. The metaphorical connection between the concept of a secret garden and the symbolic elements in the Ramayana allows for a deeper exploration of the spiritual and emotional aspects of the narrative.