Divurumpola is known to be the place where Sitadevi experienced ‘Agni Pariksha’. This is one of the most popular events from the Ramayana epic since Lord Rama was one of the symbols of Lord Vishnu, therefore it is an important part of the Holy scripture of Hinduism. When Rama had won the battle to free Sita and when she had bowed to Rama, he had doubted her innocence and regarded her impure. This had upset Sita and had prompted her to prove herself ultimately resolving into undergoing a fire ritual – ‘Agni Pariksha’ which required Lakshmana to light a pyre. She leapt into the fire sacrificing herself, calling upon the fire god of Agni to attest to her innocence, who therein after lifted her unharmed out of the fire, handing her over to Rama thereby proving her completely innocent and pure. Rama had eventually admitted that he had always known that she was pure but this test was needed to prove her truth to the people.
Divurumpola, when translated means ‘marketplace of oath’ which signifies this event as Agni Pariksha. This temple has been revered as a place for oaths in solving conflicts between people. Over the years, it has been transformed into a shrine dedicated to this event being an important part of the Ramayana epic, with paintings of Ramayana being added to the temple, thereby attracting large Hindu pilgrims from India. After the sacred site of Ashok Vatika, this place of Divurumpola is the second most crucial site in the Ramayana Yatra.
