Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya – Legends

Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya –  Legends

Ayodhya:

According to Purana. Ayodhya is famous for its close association of Ramayana. It’s a city full of sacred temples and historical significance. Atharvana Veda describes Ayodhya as “a city built by Gods and being prosperous as Paradise itself”. This town is closely associated with Rama, Seventh incarnation of Vishnu. According to the Ramayana, the city is 9,000 years old, and was founded by Manu, the first man in the Vedas, and law-giver of the Hindus. Other sources hold that it was founded by its namesake, King Ayudh.

For centuries, it was the capital for the Surya dynasty, of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king. At the time it was known as Kaushaldesa. Skanda and other puranas list Ayodhya as one of the seven most sacred cities of India, as it has been the backdrop for much of Hindu scripture. Today it is predominantly a religious destination with its historical significance and sacred temples. The Atharvaveda described Ayodhya as "a city built by God and being prosperous as paradise itself." Its first ruling king was Ikshvaku, of the solar clan Suryavansa and eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu.

The sixth king of this line, Prithu, is linguistically the etymology of earth, or `Prithivi’. Mandhatri was a later king of the region, and the 31st king of his descent was Harichandra, known for his truthfulness, or Sathya-sandhata. His lineage was Surya Vamsa and, in turn known for their honesty as rulers. Raja Sagar of the same clan performed the Ashvamedha Yajna, and mythology holds that his great-grandson Bhagiratha brought the river Ganges to the earth through penance.

Later came the great King Raghu, after whom the dynasty was called Raghuvamsa. His grandson was Raja Dasaratha, of the Kausalya dynasty, and father of Rama. It is said that earlier Ayodhya had 2700 temple of Sri Rama near the South shore of Sarayu Nadhi. Ayodhya is believed to be a component of Vaikuntham, given to Manu by Vishnu, and installed on the banks of the Sarayu.

Mukthi Kshetrams:

Ayodhya is said to be one among the 7 Mukthi Kshetrams. These 7 mukthi Sthalam represents different part of the body of Lord Vishnu. Avanti is represented as the divine feet, Kanchipuram, represents the waist, Dwaraka represents the Nabhi (the lower stomach), Maya represents the chest, Madhura represents the neck, Kasi represents the nose and finally, Ayodhya represents the Head of Lord Vishnu.

Birth Place & Mukthi Sthalam of Lord Rama:

Ayodhya is said to be the birth place of Lord Rama and he got Mukthi (Paramapadha) also from this place only i.e. the final place where the Rama Avathara ended.

Sarayu River:

Lord Brahma did a strong penance towards Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu gave his darshan for Brahma and both of them hugged together. On seeing the devotion of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu is so emotionally attracted towards him and his eyes started to swell tears. But Brahma doesn’t want the tears to let down it into the earth and he collected all of his tears in the Kamandalam (a small vessel which all the Rishis have). Using his power, Brahma created a Pushkarani and all the drops of tears was mixed into the Pushkarani. This Pushkarani came to be called as Maanasasaras and is located in mighty Himalayas. Since, the Theertham is created along with the tears drops of Lord Vishnu and the Manasika power (created from his heart fulfilled) of Lord Brahma, this Theertham is so called as "Maanasasaras".

When Ikshvaku was ruling Ayodhya he pleaded to Vasishta Maharishi that if a river flows in his empire he would feel happy. Vasishta Maharishi went towards Brahma in Sathya Loka and along with the help of him, he made the Maanasasaras to flow near Ayodhya. Since, Maanasasaras was made to flow in Ayodhya, it is called as "Sarayu Nadhi". Since, this river flowed as the step taken by Vasistar, this Theertham is also called as "Vasistai". This river is said to be the body of a women and said that it talked to Sri Rama and Dasaratha because of this, the river is also called as "Rama Gangai".

Part of Sri Vaikuntam:

Swayavambhuvamanu, who was the first son of Brahma, met in Sathya Loka and asked him which is the place he need to start the task of creation. Brahma along with his son, went towards Lord Vishnu in Sri Vaikuntam. Through Brahma, Lord Vishnu hands over the middle portion of Sri Vaikuntam which is said to be the Ayodhya.

Religion of Ayodhya:

Ayodhya is a city of worship. Several religions have prospered simultaneously as well as at different periods of time, and elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam can be found in the city. In Jainism, for example, five Tirthankaras were born here, including Adinath, first Tirthankar, Ajitnath, second Tirthankar, Abhinandanath (fourth Tirthankar), Sumatinath, fifth Tirthankar, and Anantnath, fourteenth Tirthankar. Ayodhya demonstrates Ganga-Jamuni culture in the Hanumangarhi temple, built by Nawab of Awadh. Sundar Bhavan, a temple of Rama, had a devoted caretaker, Munne Mian, who looked after it for fifty years until his death in 2004.

According to Jain Agamas, it is the second eternal city after Shikharji, and will never vanish or disappear during the changing epochs. Ayodhya had also become a great centre of Vaishnavism. It was one of the nine `Yantras`- places selected for the propagation of the Ramanuja`s philosophy of Vishistadwaitha and thus counteracting the growing influence of Islam. Ramananda, a famous disciple of Ramanuja School of philosophy, was closely associated with Ayodhya.