In Search of Sita's Eyes which is 2,000 year old!

It's not an article about Ramayana. While I was traveling to a village in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, I happened to see a historical place related to Ramayana (A Sanskrit epic of Ancient India which tells the story about Rama and his beloved wife Sita. Ravana abducted Sita by her beauty and how Rama rescued her is the story) I've written in this article what exactly happened to me in that village where Sita was in solitary confinement 2,000 years ago. 

Now, Let's go to the place.  

I was waiting at the Marthandam bus stand to go to Pechiparai. As always... Everything except the buses we needed came and went. There were three buses in front of me. All three were carrying the 'Thengapattanam' name board. It was written via 'Mun Sirai'. 

Mun Sirai 

'Mun Sirai' is a Tamil word. Mun (Front), Sirai (Jail) So the exact translation for the word in English is Front Jail. I wonder why this village is named as 'Mun Sirai'? Was there any jail in ancient times? I don't know anything. This name was bizarre. Some prison must have been there I thought. That's why it has such a name. 

I couldn't stop my urge to know the reason behind this name. So, I got on the bus to 'Mun Sirai'. The rubber plantations were spotted on the road with a short distance away. The bus then filled with the smell of rubber from the green and cool road. Although the bus journey made discomfort with poor maintenance, the spectacular views of nature made the trip pleasant.

After a half-hour journey, the bus stopped in 'Mun Sirai'. A small town only! In the course of half an hour, we can round the city by walking. It's that small. 

Sita's eyes..!

An elderly man was walking in front of me. I stopped him and asked for an explanation about 'Mun Sirai'. He asked me "Oh...Did you come here to see Sita's eyes?" That old man looked at me with a faint look. I don't understand anything! 

My confusion was greater than ever before. What is the relationship between Sita and 'Mun Sirai'? I looked at the old man's face without knowing the answer.

"When the Demon Ravanan took away the little girl Sita, at that time the prison custody for her was not ready in Sri Lanka. Till it gets ready Ravanan kept Sita here only. That's why this place is called Mun Sirai". He explained clearly. 

I got the explanation about 'Mun Sirai'. But what about the eyes?

"Ohhh... While Sita was in this prison, she sculpted her eyes on this rock as a sign of Rama who is searching for her. Even now it expresses her sad feelings. Not surprisingly, Being woman is difficult" He left this answer with sadness. After two thousand years, he depicted Sita's feelings with his words made me wonder. 

It couldn't control my interest anymore. 'What do Sita's eyes look like? Can a woman in the prison sculpt her eyes on the rock without the knowledge of Ravanan?' So many questions were piercing my mind, I looked for the eyes of Sita. 

I wouldn't have walked half a kilometer. A Siddha medical college came into my sight. 'Sita's eyes are in this college' people have already said. I asked the security reluctantly. 'Along with the hostel, the path will go down into a ditch. That's right there' he replied. 

 I walked... It was a rocky hill. It was a little difficult to look for the eyes of Sita on that rocky bed. The mid-day sun was intensifying its work. The hill was about 250 feet from the ground. It was an isolated area with no sign that humans exist farther away from that place. 'How Sita felt in solitary confinement in this isolated region?' I thought while in search of her eyes.

Pond Where Sita Took bath 

There were two ditches near the rock where there was little water. It is not known whether it was rainwater or water from a nearby hill. This is the sign that Sita created for Rama. Did Rama understand that It was created by Sita as a sign for him to find her? Who knows?! 

 A short distance away from this place, there was a pond and a small room. This was built by Ravana for Sita for bathing and changing clothes, people said. It looks like a newly built area. So what they said was not convincing. From there I started walking. 

Thenga Pattanam

Thenga Pattanam is situated at a distance of 54 kilometers from Kanyakumari. The seaside village is home to the beautiful nature of the Arabian coast. The name of the village comes from the fact that coconut trees compete and occupy this coastal area. Best quality coconuts are cheaper here. Thus, it's called 'Thenga Pattanam'. Thenga (coconut), Pattanam (town) in the Tamil language. 

The fishing harbor over there which was artificially created is a source of access to 11 fishing villages around the Kanyakumari district. Every day, thousands of catamaran boats go to sea in search of fish. Some of these cross Gujarat and enter Pakistan's territory. But the Pakistan Navy has not even shot a single fisherman from India. 

How different is Pakistan from the Sri Lankan navy? A fisherman said that 'Despite having a valid ID, the navy does not greatly observe fishing in the Pakistan territory'. 

Even the hostile countries are compatible with Indian fishermen. But Sri Lanka, which is a friendly nation to India, continues to persecute Tamil Nadu fishermen every day. 

This time will change one day. Let's wait! 

Most of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu are in poverty and these village fishermen are only prosperous. Because this is the area with the most fish in the world. More expensive fish such as Shrimp, Squid, Ribbonfish, and King Mackerel are caught in their trap only. 

From here the 'Anantha Victoria Marthandam Canal' begins to transport fish to the port of Cochin and public transport. Traveling along the west coast is a very pleasant experience as is the East Coast Road in Chennai. On one side we can see coconut trees, on the other side of the blue sea. We can spend a couple of days at this place by making a small tent with the campfire. 

 Thenga Pattanam is a peaceful beach. Its beauty and tidal waves will always fill the mind. Though It was an unexpected tour, it's filled my heart every time I think of Indian Epics.