Lanka

Comprehensive Theosophical Dictionary

Terms (+) • Persons (+) • Periodicals (+) • Sources

H A S

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Lanka

(Sk.)

The ancient name of the island now called Ceylon. It is also the name of a mountain in the South East of Ceylon, where, as tradition says, was a town peopled with demons named Lankapuri. It is described in the epic of the Ramayana as of gigantic extent and magnificence, “with seven broad moats and seven stupendous walls of stone and metal”. Its foundation is attributed to Visva‐Karma, who built it for Kuvera, the king of the demons, from whom it was taken by Ravana, the ravisher of Sita. The Bhâgavat Purâna shows Lanka or Ceylon as primarily the summit of Mount Meru, which was broken off by Vayu, god of the wind, and hurled into the ocean. It has since become the seat of the Southern Buddhist Church, the Siamese Sect (headed at present by the High Priest Sumangala), the representation of the purest exoteric Buddhism on this side of the Himalayas (TG).

DATA

To show: ; sortable: Lanka
Lifetime:
Shortly: The ancient name of the island now called Ceylon. It is also the name of a mountain in the South Eas...