Ayodhya Unveiled: Discover the Birthplace of Lord Rama

 

Ayodhya Unveiled: Discover the Birthplace of Lord Rama


Ayodhya

Ayodhya is a religious and historical city located on the banks of the Sarayu River in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation. The ancient name of Ayodhya is Saket, and it is revered by Hindus as the sacred birthplace of Lord Rama. In ancient times, Ayodhya was the capital of the Kosala kingdom and the central setting of the famous epic, Ramayana. Due to its association with Lord Rama, Ayodhya is considered a major pilgrimage site and is believed to grant liberation.


History

Ayodhya is mentioned in ancient Indian Sanskrit epics, such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as the mythical city and capital of the famous Ikshvaku kings of Kosala, including Rama. Earlier Sanskrit texts, like the Vedas, do not mention Saket, but later non-religious Sanskrit texts, such as Panini's Ashtadhyayi and Patanjali's commentary, do. Buddhist texts, such as the Mahavastu, describe Saket as the seat of King Sujata of the Ikshvaku dynasty, whose descendants founded the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu.

The oldest Buddhist texts in Pali and Jain texts in Prakrit mention a city named Saketa as an important city of the Kosala Mahajanapada. Topographical clues in these texts suggest Saket corresponds to present-day Ayodhya. For example, according to the Samyutta Nikaya and Vinaya Pitaka, Saket was six yojanas from Shravasti. The Vinaya Pitaka mentions a large river between the two cities, and the Sutta Nipata describes Saket as the first stop on the road south from Shravasti to Pratishthana.

Pilgrimage Sites

Ram Temple

The Ram Temple is a significant ancient Hindu temple currently located in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. As of January 2024, the sanctum sanctorum and the first floor of the temple are complete, and the consecration ceremony for the idol of infant Ram is scheduled for January 22, 2024. This temple stands at the believed birthplace of Lord Ram. Previously, the site housed the Babri Masjid, built after demolishing a pre-existing non-Islamic structure. In 2019, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the disputed land belonged to Hindus and allowed the construction of the Ram Temple while allocating another piece of land for Muslims to build a mosque

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi



Located in the western part of the city in Ramkot, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi is Ayodhya’s most prominent site. It features the childhood images of Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughna. Devotees from India and abroad visit throughout the year, with the Ram Navami festival in March-April being celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Kanak Bhavan



Near Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhavan is a notable temple in Ayodhya, known for the golden-crowned idols of Sita and Ram. It is sometimes referred to as the “House of Gold” due to these crowns. Built by the Queen of Tikamgarh in 1891, the temple is renowned for its beautiful idols and the grand celebrations of various festivals.

Hanuman Garhi



Located in the center of the city, this temple is reached by climbing 76 steps. Ayodhya is known as the city of Lord Ram, and it is believed that Hanuman resides here, making it customary for devotees to visit Hanuman Garhi before seeing Ram. This temple is also known for its Deepavali celebrations and the belief that visiting it fulfills all wishes.

Rajdwar Temple



This significant temple near Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya is dedicated to Lord Ram. It stands on high ground with a tall spire, visible from afar, exemplifying contemporary architecture.

River



The Sarayu River, also known as the Ghaghra River, originates in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, merging with the Sharda River, which is also known as the Kali River, and flows through Uttar Pradesh. Near Ayodhya, the river is known as Sarayu and eventually merges with the Ganges in Bihar.

Transport

Railways

Ayodhya Junction is a station on the Lucknow-Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay railway section. It is connected to many major cities in Uttar Pradesh and the rest of the country, with direct trains to Basti, Banaras, and Rameshwaram.

Roadways

Buses operated by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation connect Ayodhya with major cities. It is well-connected by National Highways 27 and 330, and state highways.

By Air

Voyagers hoping to go to Ayodhya have more than one options regarding the matter of air venture. The nearest air terminal is Faizabad Air terminal, arranged an immaterial 8 kilometers from Ayodhya. While it gives advantageous closeness, Faizabad Air terminal is minuscule and may not give enormous flight choices. Thusly, it's far typically used by sightseers flying in from adjacent regions.

For those going from farther away or looking for additional regular and various flights, the Chaudhary Charan Singh Air terminal in Lucknow is the more noteworthy achievable decision.
For those going from farther away or looking for additional regular and various flights, the Chaudhary Charan Singh Air terminal in Lucknow is the more noteworthy achievable decision. This significant air terminal is prepared 130 kilometers from Ayodhya and fills in as a significant center point inside the spot. Lucknow Air terminal is appropriately associated with numerous really Indian towns, which incorporates Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, among others.


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