 Prince Rama of Ayodhya breaking the Pinaka bow at the court of King Janaka in Mithila Kingdom. | |
| Folklore | Legendary Ramayana |
|---|---|
| Country | India and Nepal |
| Region | Mithila region |
| Details | Sacred places in the journey of Lord Rama in Mithila |
Rama's Journey in Mithila is the part of Ramayana from the Vishwamitra Ashram at Buxar to the Kingdom of Mithila.
It is said that when Lord Rama completed his Vedic education from the Guru Vashishtha, he came to the royal palace at Ayodhya. After some time, sage Vishwamitra came to the palace and demanded the princes Rama and Lakshmana with King Dasharatha for the protection of the Yajna at his ashram. After that princes Rama and Lakshmana were sent with the Guru Vishwamitra to his ashram.
Lord Rama and Lakshman came to Vishwamitra Siddhashram to protect the Yajna of the sages. There, he killed many demons like Tadaka and Subahu during the Yajna. According to historians, Lord Rama was not brought only to protect the Yajna but they were also taught many lessons in weapons besides the Vedas in the gurukula of Maharishi Vishvamitra. It is said that after the completion of Yajnas at the Ashram, Vishwamitra received invitation from the King Shreedhwaja Janaka of Mithila Kingdom for the participation in Sita Swayamvar at the court of the King Janaka. After that Guru Vishwamitra with his disciples Rama and Lakshmana started journey towards Mithila Kingdom. [1]
According to legend, after crossing Ganga river by boat they first came to Ramchaura Mandir in Vaishali while going to Janakpur for Sita Swayamvar. This place is located in Hajipur in Vaishali district of the Mithila region in the present state of Bihar. It is said that they were welcomed here by King Sumati of Vishala Nagari. It is believed that Lord Rama, Lakshman and Vishvamitra rested here at a mound on the bank of the Ganga river for one night. This place is now known as Ramchaura. [2] [3]
Then they traveled towards Gautam Ashram at Ahiyari village in the Mithila region of the present Darbhanga district of Bihar. When they reached Gautam Ashram, Lord Rama became curious to know the deserted situation of the ashram so he asked his teacher about its history. Then Guru Vishwamitra narrated the story of the curse of Ahalya and the history of Ahalya sthan at the Ashram. It is said that Lord Rama freed Ahalya from her curse there. [4]
After that they went to Bisaul village near the city Janakpur of Mithila. It is said that in Bisaul village there was a royal mango garden, where King Janaka built an ashram for the residence of the sage Vishwamitra in Mithila. This place is called as Vishwamitra Ashram, Bisaul. Lord Rama and Lakshmana with his teacher Vishwamitra stayed here. [5]
Nearby the ashram there was a royal flower garden in Phulhar village, where Lord Rama and Lakshmana went to pickup some flowers for their teacher to worship. In the same garden there is Girija Devi temple, where princess Sita used to come for worshipping the goddess Girija Devi. It is believed that the first meeting of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita was witnessed in this garden of Phulhar while picking the flowers in the garden. [5]
After resting at Bisual , Lord Rama and Lakshmana with their teacher Vishwamitra went to court of King Janaka at Janakpur where Swayamvar Sabha for the purpose of marriage of princess Sita was organised. In the competition of Swayamvar ceremony prince Rama was declared as the winner.
According to legendary story in Mithila, after winning Swayamvar Sabha at the court of Janaka, Lord Rama along with his other three brothers were married at Manimandapa . [6] After the prince Rama broke the bow at the court of Janaka, the procession for marriage came from Ayodhya. The place where the altar and sacrificial pavilion (Yajna Mandap) decorated with gems was built for the marriage in Janakpur is near Rani Bazar known Manimandapa. In the campus of the shrine there is a pond where the feet of the four brothers were washed at the time of the marriage. [7]
Sita, also known as Siya, Janaki, Maithili, Vaidehi, Bhumija and Seetha is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is the chief goddess of the Rama-centric Hindu traditions and is known as the goddess of beauty and devotion. Sita is known for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage, and purity.
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Baliraajgadh is an archaeological site located at Babubarhi block in Madhubani district of Mithila region of Bihar state in India. The site is locally known as Raja Bali ka Garh. It is among the three important archeological sites Balirajgarh fort, Telhara and Nalanda in the state of Bihar in India. The site of Balirajgarh is greater than the site of Vikramshila and Vaishali but it has not yet been developed as a tourist place. Balirajgarh Fort is located on the territory of Mithila, 7 kilometers east of Kamlabalan River and 35 kilometers west of Kosi River. It has been claimed by some scholars to be the location of the ancient city of Mithila. The headquarter of the Ancient Mithila University was at the court of King Janaka in Mithila. Therefore, Balirajgadh is also the possible site of the Ancient Mithila University. It is the place from where most of the schools of the ancient Indian philosophy emerged. Nyaya Shastra, Logical sciences, Samkhya Shastra, Mimansa Shastra and many more Indian philosophy emerged from the Ancient Mithila University.
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Maa Janaki Janmbhoomi Mandir or Punaura Dham is a proposed grand temple of princess Sita in Mithila at her birthplace. The site is located at the Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district of Bihar in India. The site is considered as the appearance place from where Sita was found closed in a box from a farm field while the King Janaka was ploughing the farm field. Ramayana Research Council has proposed the construction of the world's tallest 251-feet statue of Mother Sita at Sitamarhi. There is a plan to build Janaki Dham in Sitamarhi on the lines of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. A grand campus known as Janaki Dham will be built on 57 acres of land near Punauradham. It is expected that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will laid the foundation stone of the Janaki Dham before upcoming Lok Sabha Election 2024. The foundation stone of the Janaki Janmasthali Mandir was laid by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of Bihar on 13 December 2023 at Punauradham in Sitamarhi, the place of manifestation of Goddess Janaki.
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Vishwamitra Ashram at Bisaul village of Madhubani district in the Mithila region of Bihar was the residence place related to the Vedic sage Vishwamitra in Ramayana. It is located near the capital city Janakpur of ancient Mithila Kingdom.
Dhruva Kund is an ancient site in the Mithila region of Nepal related to the Vedic sage Dhruva. It is located near Kanchan Van in Mahottari district of Madhesh Pradesh in the present Nepal. Dhruva Kund is also the part of Mithila Madhya Parikrama.
Kanak Bhawan is a temple in Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya, which is in the north-east of Ramkot. It is one of the most famous temples of Ayodhya. It is believed that this palace (temple) was gifted by Kaikeyi, immediately after the marriage of Rama with Sita and hence, it is their personal palace. According to the mythology, after the original Kanak Bhawan was damaged, it was rebuilt by Krishna himself in the Dvapar Yuga. It is believed that it was renovated by Vikramaditya in the medieval period. Later, it was renovated by Queen Vrishabhanu Kunwari which is still present today. The main idols installed in the sanctum sanctorum are of Rama and Sita.
Manokamna Mandir is an ancient Hindu temple located at Kamtaul village of Harlakhi block in Madhubani district of Mithila region in Bihar, India. According to legend, it is said that the temple existed from Treta Yuga. It is associated with Ramayana.
Janaki Sthan is a historical place related to the temple of Goddess Sita in the city of Sitamarhi. According to some scholars and Saints, Janaki Sthan is claimed to be the manifestation place of Goddess Sita in Ramayana. This is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Sita called Janaki Sthan Mandir. This temple is about 2 kilometers away from Sitamarhi Railway Station. The temple comes under Ramanuja tradition in Hinduism.
Ram Mandir at Janakpurdham is a historical Hindu temple devoted to Lord Rama. It is located near the world famous Janaki Mandir in the city of Janakpur.
Manimandapa is a Hindu temple believed to be the actual place of marriage between the Prince Rama of Ayodhya and the Princess Sita of Mithila Kingdom. It is located at the outskirts of Janakpur city in the Mithila region of Nepal.
Rajdevi Mandir at Janakpurdham is the Kuldevi temple of the King Janaka in the ancient Mithila Kingdom. It is located at a distance of a few steps from the Janaki Mandir in Janakpur.
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