It is possible that a structure mentioned in the Indian Scripture, the Ramayana, is really the Gympie Pyramid located close to Brisbane in Australia.
'Goddess' Sita, the wife of the Vedic 'god' Lord Rama is abducted by the (Sri) Lankan Celestial ruler Ravana. Plans are made to send search parties in four directions. As the strategy is devised, Sage Valmiki, the author, describes the route that each of the parties is instructed to take in their search for Sita. Of the places mentioned along the route that the search party headed east of India is to take, the first one that is easily identifiable is Java. It is referred to as 'Yava Dvipam' (or the Yava Island). Here is the actual verse from the Valmiki Ramayana (4-40-30).
यत्नवन्तो यव द्वीपम् सप्त राज्य उपशोभितम् |
सुवर्ण रूप्यकम् द्वीपम् सुवर्ण आकर मण्डितम् || 4-40-30
Following this verse, there are descriptions of a mountain by the name Shishira which 'pierces the heaven'. (4-40-31) Then there is a mention of 'rapid red waters' of the River Shona. 'Shona' (शोण) means 'red' in Sanskrit. (4-40-33).
यव द्वीपम् अतिक्रम्य शिशिरो नाम पर्वतः |
दिवम् स्पृशति शृन्गेण देव दानव सेवितः || 4-40-31
ततो रक्त जलम् प्राप्य शोण आख्यम् शीघ्र वाहिनीम् |
गत्वा पारम् समुद्रस्य सिद्ध चारण सेवितम् || 4-40-33
They are told to proceed to an island called Plaksha and further on to Ikshu Island. They will then confront a furious and tempestuous tide-ripped ocean and its islands. Ahead is another ocean named Lohita. (Lohita means 'yellow' but the waters are described as a mix of yellow and red. This is most likely the Coral Sea of Australia.
After crossing the sea, the author says, becomes visible the tallest ever 'Shalmali' (शाल्मलि) tree on an island. The botanical name for the Sanskrit 'Shalmali' is Salmalia Malabaricatralia and is also referred to as Bombax Ceiba. It is native to Asia and Northern Australia. The island is probably the Fraser island. The Bombax Ceiba species of silk-cotton trees is sometimes known as Kapok in Northern Australia. And the 'Shalmali' are tall trees growing up to a height of 80 feet. Interestingly, the Vishnu Purana refers to Australia as 'Shalmali Dwipa'.
The island mentioned in the verse is most probably the Fraser Island because immediately following the verse about the 'Shalmali tree on an island', comes the mention of 'a gigantic, peak-like structure' resembling 'Kailasha'. (Verse 4-40-40). This structure is the Gympie Pyramid!
The peak-like structure, says the Ramayana, was built by Vishwakarma, a 'celestial' architect, responsible for the construction of many gigantic cities and structures (probably the megaliths) around the world. The Ramayana also says that the structure or the mansion belongs to 'Garuda', the offspring of 'Vinata'. (The Kailasha is a peak in the Himalayan Range, and is a pilgrimage point for Hindus to this day).
Here is the verse:
An old photograph of the Summit of the Gympie Pyramid in Queensland, Australia which has now been bulldozed by the authorities. |
गृहम् च वैनतेयस्य नाना रत्न विभूषितम् |
तत्र कैलास संकाशम् विहितम् विश्वकर्मणा || ४-४०-४०
(There built by Vishwakarma, peak-like, gigantic, resembling Kailasha, is the mansion of Vinata's offspring.) 4-40-40
The only land that one can reach after crossing an ocean further east of Java and Indonesia is Australia, and the structure is the Gympie Pyramid unless there is another 'peak' like structure in this area. The Gympie pyramid site in Queensland is about 120 Km away from Fraser Island. The author then says that after one passes this gigantic structure, one will see a shore which is white and shaped like a necklace. This is probably the coast off the shores of Brisbane.
The Ruins of the Base of the Gympie Pyramid, Australia |
The Vedic Goddess Artifact found at the Gympie site |
A Ganesh statue found at the Gympie site |
OM