Our Destination – Ayodhya

Our Destination - Ayodhya

Ayodhya also known as Saket, is the birthplace of Lord Rama and setting of the Hindu epic Ramayana. On the right bank of river Saryu it was also the capital of the ancient Kosala Kingdom. The city of Ayodhya is more than 9,000 years old and was founded by Manu, the first man on Earth as described in the Vedas, and considered to be the law-giver of the Hindus. Other sources hold that it was founded by and is named after, KingAyudh. Ayodhya was the capital of the Solar dynasty, of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king. Skanda Purana and other Puranas list Ayodhya as one of the seven most sacred cities of India, as it has been the backdrop for many Hindu scriptures. Today, it is predominantly a religious city with its historical and cultural significance and sacred temples. The Atharva Veda describes Ayodhya as “a city built by God and being prosperous as paradise itself’.

Several religions have prospered in Ayodhya simultaneously in different periods. Elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam can be found in the city till date. The Five Tirthankaras ofJainism were born in Ayidhya, including Adinath, the first Tirthankar, Ajitnath the second Tirthankar, Abhinandanath was the fourth, while Sumatinath was the fifth Tirthankar and Anantnath was the fourteenth Tirthankar in line. According to the belief in Jainism, Ayodhya is the second eternal city after Shikharji, and will never vanish during the changing epochs. Ayodhya like Lucknow, demonstrates a Ganga-Jamuni culture of secularism, where as an evidence, the Hanuman Garhi temple was built on the land donated by Nawab of Awadh, Nawab Asif-ud-Daula for the purpose.

Ram Janambhoomi ....

The Ram Janambhoomi is the birthplace of Lord Rama. Lord Ram according to the Indian epic, Ramayana, was Lord Vishnu's seventh manifestation and was born and brought up in Ayodhya. Ram Janambhoomi temple had been under controversy for quite some time, till recently in 2020 when the highest court gave its rights to Hindus and now a grand temple is under construction at the site. This is the most sacred spot for Hindus and every Hindu must visit this temple to seek blessings in his lifetime.

Kanak Bhawan....

Kanak Bhawan temple was constructed in 1891 and lies towards the northeast corner of the Ram Janambhoomi. This temple is also known as Sone-ka-Ghar’, meaning house of gold. It is a holy site dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Rama and his wife, Goddess Sita. It is believed that this shrine was gifted to Lord Rama and Sita by Rama’s stepmother, Kaikeyi. Present Temple was erected during the reign ofVikramaditya at its present site and was then entirely renovated in Bundela-style by Vrish Bhanu Kunwari in the year 1891.

Hanuman Garhi....

Hanuman Garhi, is the most popular shrine inAyodhya after Ram Janambhoomi. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Since Hanuman was believed to be the protector of Ayodhya, the legend goes that Hanuman lived here in a cave and guarded the Janambhoomi from this hillock. Later, at the site this temple was constructed in a fortified design. Built during the 10th century, this hilltop temple hones a 76- steps staircase to the entrance. Housed within the panoramic view of the surrounding hills is the idol of Lord Hanuman. Nawab Asif-ud-Daula had donated this land for the construction of this temple here.

NageshwarNath Temple....

Established in the name of the local deity, Lord Nageshwarnath, This temple is believed to have been set up by Kush, Lord Rama’s son. The legend has it that Kush came across a Shiva devotee girl called Naga Kanya who fell in love with him. Upon learning that the girl was deeply in love with Kush, he constructed a Shiva temple here as a tribute to the true love of the girl for him.