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Kishkindha Kshetra - Where Sri Rama visited during the forest exile

• Meditation:

शबरीदत्तफलाशन राम् ॥ कबन्धबाहुच्छेदक राम् ॥
हनुमत्सेवितनिजपद राम् ॥ नतसुग्रीवाभीष्टद राम् ॥
गर्वितवालिसंहारक राम् ॥ वानरदूतप्रेषक राम् ॥
राम् राम् जय राजा राम् । राम् राम् जय सीता राम् ।
- Nama Ramayana - verses 47 to 52 (Sri Rama visited Kishkindha and met Shabari and Hanuman; made friendship with Sugreeva and slayed Vali; the search for Devi Sita began from here)

• Kishkindha (Koppal district, Karnataka) (Vijayanagara district, Karnataka) (Ballari district, Karnataka) → (Pancha Sarovar)

• Greatness:

• Kishkindha was the kingdom of Vanaras.

• Pampa Sarovar of Kishkindha is a Pancha Sarovar (Five sacred lakes of Bharatavarsha) [Manasarovar, Pushkar Sarovar, Narayana Sarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar].

• Kishkindha is primarily a Rama Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Rama):
- Sri Rama met Shabari near Pampa Sarovar.
- Sri Rama met Hanuman near Pampa Sarovar.
- Sri Rama made friendship with Sugreeva here and made him the king after slaying Vali.
- Sri Rama stayed in Mount Prasravana for several months during the rainy season (and thereafter till the news of Devi Sita was obtained).
- Sri Rama started the search for Devi Sita from Kishkindha with the help of Vanaras.

• Kishkindha is also a Hanuman Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Hanuman):
- One of the birthplace of Bhakta Hanuman is identified in Kishkindha (Anjanadri Parvata).

• Kishkindha is also a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):
- The Pampa Sarovara is associated with the story of Pampa Devi.

• Kishkindha is also a Rishi Sthalam (Place of Rishis):
- Sage Matanga had his ashrama in Kishkindha region near Pampa Sarovar where Sri Rama visited and met Shabari.
- Sages Saptajana (seven sages) had their ashrama in the Kishkindha region where Sri Rama visited while going to slay Vali.

• Sacred Geography:

▬ River Tungabhadra flows
◼ Pampa Sarovara
◼ Sita Jhil (Rishyamuka Parvata region)
☗ Rishyamuka Parvata
☗ Matanga Parvata
☗ Malyavanta Parvata (Mount Prasravana)
☗ Anjaneya Parvata or Anjanadri

• Temples and Places:

• Temples and Places of Sri Rama in Kishkindha:

• Sri Rama visiting Matanga Ashrama near Pampa Sarovar and meeting Shabari (Kishkindha outskirts)
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 74)

► Kishkindha outskirts - Shabari Kolla
(Belagavi district, Karnataka)
(200 km from Hampi)

Shabari Kolla is identified with the place where Sri Rama met Shabari. It is located in Sureban in the Belagavi district of Karnataka. The place is around 200 km from Hampi. Anegundi and adjoining Hampi regions are identified with the puranic Kishkindha.

• Sri Rama visiting Pampa Sarovar and describing its beauty
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 75 to Kishkindha Kanda - 1)
• Sri Rama meeting Hanuman at Pampa Sarovar
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 2 to 4)

► Kishkindha - Pampa Sarovara
(Koppal district, Karnataka)

Pampa Sarovara of Ramayana is identified with the Pampa Sarovara of Anegundi in Karnataka. This place is an abode of Pampa Devi (a form of Devi Parvati) who is the presiding deity of this place. Pampa Devi was devoted to Lord Shiva and performed penance in this place. Lord Shiva who was abiding in the Hemakuta Hill married her. Sri Rama came to this place during forest exile when he was searching for Devi Sita. Anegundi and adjoining Hampi regions are identified with the puranic Kishkindha.

• Sri Rama making friendship with Sugreeva in the Rishyamuka Parvata
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 5 to 12)

► Kishkindha - Rishyamuka Parvata
(Vijayanagara district, Karnataka)

Rishyamuka Parvata of Ramayana is identified with Rishyamuka Parvata of Hampi in Karnataka. There is a Sugreeva Gufa (Cave of Sugreeva) in that hill. Anegundi and adjoining Hampi regions are identified with the puranic Kishkindha.

• Sri Rama sending Sugreeva to fight with Vali in Kishkindha (first duel)
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 12)
• Sri Rama slaying Vali during the second duel with Sugreeva
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 14 to 25)

► Kishkindha - Vali Kila
(Koppal district, Karnataka)

Vali Kila (Fort of Vali) of Anegundi in Karnataka is identified with the place of Vali of Ramayana. There is a Vali Gufa (Cave of Vali) nearby. Anegundi and adjoining Hampi regions are identified with the puranic Kishkindha.

► Kishkindha - Chintamani Gufa
(Koppal district, Karnataka)

Chintamani Gufa (Chintamani Cave) of Anegundi in Karnataka is identified with the place where Sri Rama slayed Vali. The place is known as Chintamani because Sri Rama did Chintan (thinking and planning) with Sugreeva and others within this Cave. During the course of duel with Vali, Sugreeva brought Vali near this Gufa and Sri Rama shot his arrow on Vali from the hiding of this Cave. Vali had the boon due to which nobody can defeat him on a face to face fight. Anegundi and adjoining Hampi regions are identified with the puranic Kishkindha.

• Sri Rama spending the four months of rainy season in Mount Prasravana
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 27 to 28)

► Kishkindha - Malyavanta Raghunatha Temple (Sphatik Shila)
(Ballari district, Karnataka)
(Around 7 km from Hampi)

Malyavanta Raghunatha Temple of Ballari district in Karnataka is identified with the Mount Prasravana of Ramayana. The temple is on the Malyavanta Parvata. The place is also known as Sphatik Shila and is around 7 km from Hampi. Anegundi and adjoining Hampi regions are identified with the puranic Kishkindha.

• Other Places

► Kishkindha - Matanga Parvata
(Vijayanagara district, Karnataka)

Matanga Parvata is the place of the hermitage of sage Matanga. Matanga Parvata is located in Hampi.

• Temples and Places of Bhakta Hanuman in Kishkindha:

• Jambavanta motivating Hanuman to cross the ocean
(Jambavanta telling the story of the birth of Hanuman)
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 66)

► Kishkindha - Anjanadri Parvata
(Koppal district, Karnataka)

Anjanadri Parvata of Anegundi in Karnataka is identified as one of the birth places of Hanuman. There is a temple of Hanuman on the top of this hill. Anegundi and adjoining Hampi regions are identified with the puranic Kishkindha.

• Temples and Places of Devi in Kishkindha:

• Pampa Sarovar is associated with the story of Pampa Devi

• Temples (Summary):

• Rama:
- Pampa Sarovara (Anegundi, Koppal district)
- Rishyamuka Parvata (Hampi, Vijayanagara district)
- Sugreeva Gufa (Hampi, Vijayanagara district)
- Sita Jhil (Hampi, Vijayanagara district)
- Malyavanta Raghunatha Temple (7 km from Hampi, Ballari district)
- Sphatik Shila (7 km from Hampi, Ballari district)
- Shabari Kolla (Belagavi district, 200 km from Hampi)

• Hanuman:
- Rishyamuka Parvata (Hampi)
- Sugreeva Gufa (Hampi)
- Vali Kila (Anegundi, near Durga Betta)
- Vali Gufa (Anegundi, near Durga Betta)
- Anjaneya Parvata or Anjanadri (Anegundi)

• Devi:
- Pampa Devi (Anegundi)
- Durga Betta (Anegundi)

• Sages:
- Matanga Ashrama (Pampa Sarovara)
- Matanga Parvata (Hampi)

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Sri Rama in Kishkindha:
(1) Sri Rama met Shabari at Matanga Ashrama near Pampa Sarovara (Kishkindha outskirts).
(2) Sri Rama described the beauty of Pampa Sarovara.
(3) Sri Rama met Hanuman at Pampa Sarovara.
(4) Sri Rama made friendship with Sugreeva in the Rishyamuka Parvata.
(5) Sri Rama sent Sugreeva to fight with Vali in Kishkindha (first duel).
(6) Sri Rama visited the Saptajana Ashrama while going to Kishkindha.
(7) Sri Rama slayed Vali during the second duel with Sugreeva in Kishkindha.
(8) Sri Rama made Sugreeva the king of Kishkindha after slaying Vali.
(9) Sri Rama spent the four months of rainy season in Mount Prasravana.
(10) Sri Rama sent Lakshmana to Sugreeva to remind him of his promise of help.
(11) Sugreeva sent Vanaras for searching Devi Sita in the four directions.
(12) Jambavanta telling the story of the birth of Hanuman (while motivating Hanuman to cross the ocean).
(13) Hanuman reporting about Devi Sita to Sri Rama after returning from Lanka.
(14) Sri Rama marched towards the Southern Sea from Kishkindha.

• Puranic References:

• Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 74, Kishkindha Kandha (About Sri Rama visiting Kishkindha during forest exile)

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