AYODHYA DRASHAN (PART IV)

Hanuman Garhi

Hanuman Garhi is located in a fort situated at the western gate of Ram Kot as a place of watchman. Hanuman ji, (a brave devotee to Lord Ram) is considered (on the basis of mythological faith), the Kotwal (watchman) of Ayodhya city.

King Vikramaditya constructed this temple of Hanuman ji. After a period Nawab Mansoor Ali constructed a fort around the temple through Tikait Rai which is now famous as Hanuman Garhi. In this temple, golden idol of Shri Hanuman ji in the lap of his mother Anjani is established.

For the management of Hanuman Garhi, there are four arrays of saints named as Haridwari Patti, Basantia Patti, Ujjainia Patti and Sagaria Patti. They have their own Chief as well as a principal Chief who is known as Gaddinashin.

At present, Mahant Shri Ramesh Das is Gaddinashin. In this temple, anniversary of Shri Hanuman ji is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Valmiki Bhawan

Valmiki Bhawan is constructed in the form of Baba Maniramdas Chhawani in Vasudeo Ghat area. In this temple, the complete sanskrit-verses of Valmiki Ramayan, an epic in Sanskrit language is inscribed on white marble and portraits relating to Ram Katha are painted on the walls.

Idols of Maharshi Valmiki along with his pupils Lav and Kush, the twin sons of Lord Ram are established here. A large number of books in Sanskrit language are collected in a library established in this temple.

In this building, International Shri Sita Ram Nam Bank is established in which devotee people deposit Shri Sita Ram Nam writing on a copy provided for that purpose in different languages. This temple is under supervision of Mahant Nritya Goplal Das Ji at present.

Ratna Sinhasan

Ratna Sinhasan Mandir is located near Kanak Bhawan. It is said that Lord Ram was coronated at this very place. An idol of Lord Ram and his wife Sita, made of black stone is worth seeing here.

Lord Ram and Sita along with Laxman, Bharat, Shatrughna are seated here on a throne decorated with gems in the shadow of Kalp vriksha. In its vicinity, idols of Jambvant, Vibhishan, Guru Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Sugriv and Angad are established. At present, this place is famous as Rajgaddi.

Hanuman Bagh

It is said that Shri Ram Padarath Das, the main disciple of Shri Ram Vallabh Sharan Ji Vyas had planned to construct a Hanuman Temple for which the idol was brought from Jaipur and temporarily placed at a garden (Bagh).

Thereafter, when the attempt was made to shift the idol to its final place, it did not budge. As a result, the temple was constructed at that very place where it was initially and temporarily placed and is now known as temple of Hanuman Bagh.

Divya Sheesh Mahal

This Temple is located about 500 yards from Hanuman Garhi crossing. The Inner decoration of the temple is made by Cut Glass. Here the Icons of Lord Ram, Laxman and Sita are installed.

AYODHYA DRASHAN (PART II)

Kanak Bhawan

Kanak Bhawan is one of the important temples in Ayodhya. It is a grand temple situated in Ramkot ward. It was constructed by the courtesy of Ram Priya Queen Shri Vrishbhanu Kunwari of Orchha situated in the district Tikamgarh over 200 years ago!! In this temple, three divine idols of Ram, Sita and Laxman are established.

According to a popular story, this Gold-made Temple (Kanak Bhawan) was presented to Sita ji by her mother-in-law Kaikeyi in her first meeting. Also, a legend there is that Lord Krishna reconstructed the temple and placed here an idol of Ram-Janki.

After a period, Maharaj Vikramaditya and thereafter Queen of Tikamgarh again reconstructed the temple. The birth-ceremony of Lord Ram and Shri Kishoriji is celebrated with a great enthusiasm in the temple on Chaitra Shukla Navami and Vaishakh Shukla Navami respectively every year. In the yard of the temple, there is a well popularly known as Sita-koop. Devotees get delighted to drink its sweet water. There is a bed-room in the upper portion of the temple in which foot-prints of four brothers are kept on a thin leaf of silver.

Hanumat Niwas

This is meditation place, which was established by Baba Gomatidas. This is a place known by the service it renders to the Saints.

Gurudwara Brahmakund

This is also one of the oldest Gurudwara situated on the Brahmaghat. In the Hindu mythology, it is said that Brahma ji had meditated at this place for 5000 years due to which the Gurudwara that was constructed on this place came to be known as Gurudwara Brahmkund.

This first saint of Sikh community, Guru Nanak ji, the ninth Guru Tej Bahadur Singh and the tenth Guru Govind Singh, all meditated at this place and gave advice.

Ravidas Mandir

This mandir was constructed around 50-60 years ago. This temple was constructed for propagation of religion of the Raidas community. This temple was named after Saint Ravidas.

Rang Mahal

This is modern temple constructed approximately 35-45 years ago. The festival of Jhulanotsav during the month of Sawan is celebrated over here with pomp and gaiety.

Nishad Raj Temple

This temple was constructed by the followers of Nishad community in the memory of Shri Nishad Raj. Construction of temple was commenced in the year 1917.

Jain Swetamber Mandir

The followers of Jain community constructed this temple for the promotion and propaganda of Jainism and for providing residential facilities for the Tourists of Jain community.

This is the birthplace of five Lords namely Rishabh Deo, Ajitnath, Abhinandannath, Anudnath and Sumitinath.

Dharm Hari

There exits an ancient temple known as Dharm Hari near Ram ki Paidi. According to a popular myth, once Maharaja Dharm Raj visits Ayodhya and felt in his heart that this Vishnupuri is a blessed city, its significance is unparallel.

Lord Vishnu got pleased with his frequent greetings in the name of Ayodhya so he graced him by making an appearance before him and instructed him to ask for a boon. Dharm Raj requested Lord Vishnu to be present in Ayodhya forever and be famed after his name and so established the temple of Dharm Hari. On Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi, devotee people visit and pray at this place to repent their sins.

Keep looking more to come..............