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Pilgrimages and Temples of Sri Rama

Introduction:

Sri Rama is the 7th incarnation among the ten major incarnations of Lord Vishnu (Dasavataras) who are widely remembered and quoted. Sri Rama is the 18th incarnation among the series of incarnations of Lord Vishnu mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam. The major purpose of the incarnation of Sri Rama was to vanquish Ravana and establish Dharma in the world. The life of Sri Rama embodied Dharma to such an extent that he is referred to as Maryada Purushottama.

Though Sri Rama incarnated in Ayodhya, he travelled widely across the length and breath of ancient Bharatavarsha in order to accomplish the purpose of his incarnation. The place where he travelled became pilgrimages. During his travels, he accomplished the purpose of the sages (like protecting the yagna of sage Vishwamitra and eliminating Khara and Dushana from Dandakaranya), delivered many (like Ahalya, Shabari and Jatayu), met Hanuman and gathered the army of Vanaras, and installed suitable personages as kings (like Sugreeva and Vibhishana) to establish Dharma.

During his travels, Sri Rama covered mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, seas and hermitages of sages. The account of the travels of Sri Rama is a major source in defining the sacred geography of ancient Bharatavarsha. During his travels, Sri Rama himself appreciated the beauty of Nature (like Chitrakoota and Pampa Sarovar) and paused to relish and describe it. Many of those ancient places are still present today enveloped in modern surroundings. Those who wish to contemplate on that ancient sacredness need to read the details in Valmiki Ramayana and other Ramayanas.

This article classifies the Pilgrimages of Sri Rama into the following groups:

(1) Pilgrimages related to the Life of Sri Rama
-- (1a) Pilgrimages related to the Incarnation of Sri Rama
-- (1b) Pilgrimages related to the Journey of Sri Rama with sage Vishwamitra
-- (1c) Pilgrimages related to the Journey of Sri Rama during forest exile

(2) Divya Desams of Sri Rama

(3) Other famous Pilgrimages of Sri Rama

(1) Pilgrimages related to the Life of Sri Rama:

(1a) Pilgrimages related to the Incarnation of Sri Rama:

• Ayodhya:

• Sri Rama incarnating in Ayodhya
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 11 to 18)

► Ayodhya (Moksha Puri) (Divya Desam)
(Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh)

▬ River Ghaghara (Sarayu) flows → Saryu Ghat (Aarti)
- Lakshman Ghat - Vaidehi Ghat - Ram Ghat - Bharat Ghat - Shatrughna Ghat - Swargadwar Ghat - Guptar Ghat
▬ River Tamasa flows
(Middle Ganga Plain)

(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Skanda Purana - Ayodhya Mahatmya)

- Sri Rama incarnated in Ayodhya, grew up in Ayodhya, ruled his kingdom from Ayodhya and finally returned to his divine abode from Ayodhya.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 11 to 18)
(Skanda Purana - Ayodhya Mahatmya - 3 and 6)

(1b) Pilgrimages related to the Journey of Sri Rama with sage Vishwamitra:

1. Ayodhya:

• Sri Rama starting his journey with sage Vishwamitra from Ayodhya.

2. Anga:

• Sri Rama hearing about Lord Shiva burning Kama deva at Anga
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 23 to 24)

► Ballia (Anga)
(Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh)

◉ Ganga - Ghaghara (Sarayu) Sangam
(Middle Ganga Plain)
(Valmiki Ramayana)

- Sri Rama visited Anga (identified with Ballia Kameshwar Dham) with sage Vishwamitra and heard about Lord Shiva burning Kama deva in that place.

3. Tataka Vanam:

• Sri Rama slaying demoness Tataka
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 24 to 26)
• Sri Rama receiving divine weapons from sage Vishwamitra
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 26 to 28)

► Buxar - Tataka Vanam
(Buxar district, Bihar)

☸ Tataka Forest (Puranic)
(Middle Ganga Plain)

(Valmiki Ramayana)

- Sri Rama visited Tataka Vanam with sage Vishwamitra and slayed demoness Tataka.
- Sri Rama received divine weapons from sage Vishwamitra in Tataka Vanam.

4. Siddhashrama:

• Sri Rama hearing the story of Vamana Avatara at Siddhashrama
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 28 to 29)
• Sri Rama protecting the yagna of sage Vishwamitra at Siddhashrama
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 30 to 31)

► Buxar - Siddhashrama (Vamaneshwar Dham)
(Buxar district, Bihar)

☸ Siddhashrama forested region (Puranic)
(Middle Ganga Plain)

(Valmiki Ramayana)

- Sri Rama visited Siddhashrama with sage Vishwamitra and heard about the Vamana Avatara of Lord Vishnu in that place.
- Sri Rama protected the yagna of sage Vishwamitra in Siddhashrama.

5. Mithila:

• Sri Rama hearing the story of the appearance of Devi Sita at Mithila
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 66)
• Sri Rama hearing the story of the bow of Lord Shiva at Mithila
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 66)
• Sri Rama breaking the bow of Lord Shiva at Mithila
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 67)
• Sri Rama marrying Devi Sita at Mithila
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 68 to 73)

► Mithila (Shakti Peetha)
(Darbhanga district, Bihar)
(Sitamarhi district, Bihar)
(Madhubani district, Bihar)
(Dhanusha district, Nepal)

▬ Rivers Dudhmati, Jalad, Rato, Balan and Kamala surround Janakpur
(Nepal-Bihar Terai Region)

(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

- Devi Sita incarnated from Bhoomi (Earth) in Mithila (Bihar side of Mithila). Devi Sita married Sri Rama in Mithila during the swayamvara ceremony (Nepal side of Mithila).
- Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya from the curse of sage Gautama on the Upavana of Mithila (Bihar side of Mithila). Sri Rama broke the bow of Lord Shiva during the swayamvara ceremony and married Devi Sita in Mithila (Nepal side of Mithila).

6. Ayodhya:

• Sri Rama and Devi Sita staying in Ayodhya after marriage
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 77)

(1c) Pilgrimages related to the Journey of Sri Rama during forest exile:

1. Ayodhya:

• Sri Rama departing for forest exile from Ayodhya
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 40)

2. Shringaverapura:

• Sri Rama visiting Shringaverapura and meeting Guha
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 51 to 52)

► Shringverpur
(Prayagraj district, Uttar Pradesh)

▬ River Ganga flows
(Middle Ganga Plain)
(Valmiki Ramayana)

- Sri Rama visited Shringaverapura during forest exile and met Guha, the king of the Nishadas.

3. Prayaga:

• Sri Rama visiting the Bharadwaja Ashrama at Prayaga
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 54 to 55)

► Prayagraj (Place of Kumbha Mela) (Shakti Peetha)
(Prayagraj district, Uttar Pradesh)

◉ Ganga - Yamuna - hidden Saraswati Triveni Sangam (Confluence) → Ram Ghat (Ganga Aarti) -- Balua Ghat (Yamuna Aarti)
☘ Akshay Vat
(Middle Ganga Plain)
(Matsya Purana)
(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

- Sri Rama visited Prayaga during forest exile and met sage Bharadwaja in his hermitage.

4. Chitrakoota:

• Sri Rama visiting the Valmiki Ashrama while entering Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 56)
• Sri Rama staying in Chitrakoota in a Parna-shala
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 56, 94, 95)
• Sri Rama meeting Bharata and giving his padukas in Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 99 to 112)
• Sri Rama visiting the Atri-Anusuya Ashrama while leaving Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 117 to 119)

► Chitrakoot (Shakti Peetha)
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)

☗ Chitrakoota Mountain
☸ Chitrakoota Forest (Puranic)
▬ River Mandakini (Payaswini) flows
- Ram Ghat - Raghav Prayag Ghat - Bharat Ghat - Raj Ghat
(Bundelkhand)
(Baghelkhand)

(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

- Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Valmiki while entering Chitrakoota.
- Sri Rama stayed in Chitrakoota during forest exile in a Parna Shala (Leaf Hut). During his stay in Chitrakoota, Sri Rama described the beauty of Chitrakoota Mountain and river Mandakini to Devi Sita.
- Sri Rama gave his Padukas to Bharata in Chitrakoota.
- Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Atri and Devi Anusuiya while leaving Chitrakoota.

5. Dandakaranya:

• Sri Rama entering the Dandakaranya forest and seeing hermitages of sages
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 1)
• Sri Rama encountering demon Viradha in the Dandakaranya forest
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 2 to 4)
• Sri Rama visiting the Sharabhanga Ashrama in the Dandakaranya forest
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 5)
• Sri Rama visiting the Suteekshna Ashrama in the Dandakaranya forest
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 7 to 8)
• Sri Rama visiting various hermitages of sages for ten years in the Dandakaranya forest
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 11)
• Sri Rama visiting the Agastya Ashrama near Panchavati
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 11 to 13)

► Dandakaranya
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Panna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Bastar division, Chhattisgarh)

☸ Dandakaranya Forest
(Baghelkhand) (Entry region to Dandakaranya)
(Bastar Plateau) (Core Dandakaranya)
(Dandakaranya Highlands) (Core Dandakaranya)

- Sri Rama encountered demon Viradha in the Dandakaranya forest.
- Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Sharabhanga in the Dandakaranya forest.
- Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Suteekshna in the Dandakaranya forest.
- Sri Rama stayed in the Dandakaranya forest for ten years in various hermitages.
- Sri Rama revisited the hermitage of sage Suteekshna in the Dandakaranya forest after ten years.
- Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Agastya in the outer fringe of Dandakaranya forest near Panchavati.

6. Panchavati and Janasthana:

► Nashik (Jyotirlinga) (Shakti Peetha) (Place of Kumbha Mela)
(Nashik district, Maharashtra)

☗ Brahmagiri Hills (Tryambakeshwar)
☗ Saptashrungi Hills (Saptashrungi Gadh)
☗ Anjana Hills (Anjaneri)
► River Godavari Udgam (Tryambakeshwar)
▬ River Godavari flows → Ram Kund (Aarti)
◉ Aruna - Varuna - Godavari Triveni Sangam (near Panchavati)
◉ Godavari - Kapila Sangam (near Panchavati)
• River Godavari Ghats: Ram Kund - Lakshman Kund - Sita Kund - Ashti Vilay Kund - Dhanushya Kund - Khandova Kund - Indra Kund
☸ Panchavati Forest (Puranic)
☘ Five Banyan Trees (Panchavati)
(Maharashtra Ghats)
(Maharashtra Plateau)
(Shiva Purana)
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
(Devi Bhagavatam)
(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Brahma Purana)

- Sri Rama stayed in the Panchavati forest during the forest exile (identified with Nashik).
- Sri Rama slayed demons Khara and Dushana while staying in the Panchavati forest.
- Sri Rama went after the golden deer in the Panchavati forest.
- Devi Sita was abducted by Ravana from the Panchavati forest.

7. Kishkindha:

• Sri Rama visiting Matanga Ashrama near Pampa Sarovar and meeting Shabari (Kishkindha outskirts)
(Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 74)
• Sri Rama meeting Hanuman at Pampa Sarovar
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 2 to 4)
• Sri Rama making friendship with Sugreeva in the Rishyamuka Parvata
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 5 to 12)
• Sri Rama slaying Vali during the second duel with Sugreeva
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 14 to 25)
• Sugreeva sending Vanaras for searching Devi Sita in the four directions
(Valmiki Ramayana - Kishkindha Kanda - 37 to 47)

► Kishkindha (Anegundi) (Hampi) (Pancha Sarovar)
(Koppal district, Karnataka)
(Vijayanagara district, Karnataka)
(Ballari district, Karnataka)

☗ Rishyamuka Parvata
☗ Matanga Parvata
☗ Malyavanta Parvata (Mount Prasravana)
☗ Anjaneya Parvata or Anjanadri
▬ River Tungabhadra flows
◼ Pampa Sarovara
◼ Sita Jhil (Rishyamuka Parvata region)
(Karnataka Plateau)

- Sri Rama met Shabari near the Pampa Sarovar in Kishkindha.
- Sri Rama met Hanuman in the Pampa Sarovar in Kishkindha.
- Sri Rama (through Hanuman) made friendship with Sugreeva at Rishyamuka Parvat in Kishkindha.
- Sri Rama slayed Vali in Kishkindha and made Sugreeva the king of Kishkindha.
- During the stay of Sri Rama in Kishkindha, Sugreeva sent Vanaras in various directions to search for Devi Sita.

8. Rameshwaram:

• Sri Rama giving refuge to Vibhisana
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 6 to 19)
• Sri Rama protecting Shuka
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 20)
• Sri Rama encountering the Ocean-god
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 19 to 22)
• Sri Rama building a bridge across the ocean
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 22)

► Rameshwaram (Jyotirlinga) (Paadal Petra Sthalam) (All India Char Dham)
(Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu)

☗ Gandhamadana Parvat
☁ Sea Shore (Rameshwaram)
(Tamil Nadu Eastern Coastal Plain)

- Sri Rama worshipped Lord Shiva at Rameshwaram before waging war with Ravana at Lanka.
- Sri Rama gave refuge to Vibhisana while camping in the Southern Sea.
- Sri Rama gave protection to Shuka in the Southern Sea.
- Sri Rama encountered the Ocean-god in the Southern Sea to get a way to cross the ocean.
- Sri Rama built a bridge across the ocean to Lanka with the help of the vanaras.

9. Lanka:

• Sri Rama slaying Kumbhakarna in battle
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 60 to 68)
• Sri Rama destroying army of demons in battle
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 93 to 94)
• Sri Rama slaying Ravana in battle
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 102 to 108)
• Sri Rama installing Vibhisana as king of Lanka
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 109 to 112)
• Devi Sita giving Agni Pariksha in Lanka after Ravana was slain
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 113 to 118)
• Dasharatha meeting Sri Rama in Lanka after Ravana was slain
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 119)

► Sri Lanka (Shakti Peetha) (Paadal Petra Sthalam)
(Sri Lanka)

- Sri Rama waged a war against Ravana in Lanka.
- Sri Rama slayed Kumbhakarna and Ravana in Lanka.
- Sri Rama installed Vibhisana as king in Lanka.
- Devi Sita gave Agni Pariksha in Lanka.
- Dasharatha met Sri Rama in Lanka after Ravana was slain.

(2) Divya Desams of Sri Rama:

• Thirupullam Bhutangudi (Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu) → Sri Rama abides in Thirupullam Bhutangudi Divya Desam as Sri Valvil Raman (DD-10).

• Thiruvelliyankudi (Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu) → Sri Rama abides in Thiruvelliyankudi Divya Desam as Sri Kolavilli Raman (DD-22).

• Thiruputkuzhi (Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu) → Sri Rama abides in Thiruputkuzhi Divya Desam as Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal (DD-57).

• Thiruneermalai (Chennai district, Tamil Nadu) → Sri Rama abides in Thiruneermalai Divya Desam as Sri Neervanna Perumal (DD-61).

• Ayodhya (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) → Sri Rama abides in Thiru Ayodhi Divya Desam as Sri Chakravarthy Thirumagan (DD-65).

(3) Other famous Pilgrimages of Sri Rama:

• Dev Prayag (Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand) → Sri Rama abides in Dev Prayag as Sri Raghunathji.

• Vindhyachal (Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh) → Sri Rama performed the shraddha of his father in Vindhyachala. The place is known as Rama Gaya.

• Gaya (Gaya district, Bihar) → Sri Rama performed Pinda Dana to king Dasharatha in the Rudra-pada of Gaya.

• Orchha (Niwari district, Madhya Pradesh) → Sri Rama is regarded as the King of Orchha. Queen Kunwar Ganesh (of Orchha king Madhukar Shah) brought the Image of Sri Rama from Ayodhya and established here.

• Triprayar (Thrissur district, Kerala) → Sri Rama abides in Triprayar in his form with four hands holding Sankha, Chakra, Kodanda (Bow) and Mala (Garland).

• Rameshwaram (Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu) → Sri Rama worshipped Lord Shiva at Rameshwaram before waging war with Ravana at Lanka.
- Sri Rama gave refuge to Vibhisana while camping in the Southern Sea.
- Sri Rama gave protection to Shuka in the Southern Sea.
- Sri Rama encountered the Ocean-god in the Southern Sea to get a way to cross the ocean.
- Sri Rama built a bridge across the ocean to Lanka with the help of the vanaras.

• Madurantakam (Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu) → Sri Rama abides in Madurantakam as Eri Katha Rama.

Sri Rama:

• Stotras of Sri Rama

• Qualities of Sri Rama

• Incarnation - Lineage - Deeds of Sri Rama

• Scriptures of Sri Rama

• Pilgrimages of Sri Rama

• Mountains - Forests - Rivers - Lakes - Trees of Sri Rama

• Festivals of Sri Rama

• Devotees - Penances of Sri Rama

Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:

• Stotras

• Scriptures

• Pilgrimages - by Groups - by Deities - by States - by Geography

• Sacred Geography - Mountains - Rivers

• Festivals

• Sages - Hermitages - Penances

• Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana

• Sadhana

• Sanskrit

• Nature

• Arts and Sciences

• Bharatavarsha - Puranic History - Puranic Lineage