Ayodhya Temple Pilgrimage
Distance : 6km from
Faizabad, 135km from Lucknow, 190km from Varanasi
Population : 41,000
¤ Ayodhya - Lord Rama's Janam
Bhumi (Birth Place)
Though a thinly-populated town now, Ayodhya ranked amongst the six
most important Indian cities in the 6th century b.c. Sacred to the
Hindus because it was Rama’s birthplace, it continues to hog the
limelightfor the same reason.
It caught global attention in 1992, when the Babri Masjid (it was, as
claimed by some people, built on the same spot where Rama was born)
was demolished. The demolition was followed by large-scale communal
violence in most parts of the country. The place is now a
high-security zone.
 Amongst
the places of interest in the town are some Hindu temples and bathing
ghats (steps leading down to the river). Lakshman Ghat, and Swarga
Dwara (Rama Ghat) are important ghats. Besides these, there are some
kunds (wells) which serve as bathing spots.
¤ Historic Prespective
Also known as Saketa in ancient times, Ayodhya is really centuries
old. It was the capital of the kingdom of Kosala, of which Rama (the
seventh incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu Preserver of the Universe),
the hero of the Ramayana, was the most important king. His story forms
the kernel of the Ramayana (for more details see ancient scriptures).
Kosala was one of the sixteen great Janpadas (great nations) that
ruled the area from the Kabul valley to the banks of the Godavari on
the eve of the rise of Buddhism in the 6 th century b.c. Prasenajit
was the ruler of the kingdom at that time. Later the Kosala kingdom
was swallowed up by the powerful kingdom of Magadha which corresponds
to the districts of Patna and Gaya in Southern Bihar.
¤ Places of Interest
Ramjanambhumi
Ramjanambhumi is the place where Rama is believed to have been born.
The Mughal Emperor Babur had built a mosque on this spot. The mosque
was razed to ground in 1992.
Temples
Over 100 temples exist in Ayodhya of which Hanuman Gadhi is very
famous. It is dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey-god. Treta Ka Mandir is
another important temple where Rama is believed to have performed a
yajna (sacrifice). Kshireswara Nath Temple is a very old temple and is
supposed to have been built by Kaushalya, mother of Rama. She is said
to have constructed this temple for her daughter-in-law, Sita (consort
of Rama). Other temples you could visit include Kanak Bhavan and Kala
Rama Temple which house idols of Rama and Sita.
Ghats
Ayodhya is situated on the banks of the Gogra (Ghaghara or Saryu)
River. There are many holy ghats along its banks. Bathing in these
ghats, it is believed, absolves people of their sins. Ram Ghat, which
is also known as Swarga Dwara, is the most famous one amongst these.
Lakshman Ghat is another important bathing ghat which is considered to
be sacred, as Lakshman, Rama’s brother, is said to have bathed at
this ghat.
Apart from these ghats, there are some wells (kund) which serve as
bathing places. The most famous one is Vasistha Kund.
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