Ayodhya Kshetra - Moksha Puri and where Sri Rama incarnated
• Meditation:
► Ram Janambhoomi: I meditate on Sri Rama incarnating in Ayodhya, growing up in Ayodhya, getting coronated in Ayodhya, ruling the kingdom from Ayodhya, and finally returning to his divine abode from Ayodhya.
► Saptahari: I meditate on Sri Hari abiding in Ayodhya in different forms (Vishnuhari, Dharmahari, Chandrahari, Chakrahari, Guptahari).
• Greatness:
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Ayodhya Kshetra - Moksha Puri and where Sri Rama incarnated:
• Ayodhya(Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh):Ayodhya is a puranic kshetra on the bank of river Sarayu where Sri Rama incarnated, grew up, had his kingdom capital, and finally from where he returned to his divine abode. Ayodhya is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana, Skanda Purana - Ayodhya Mahatmya and other texts. Ayodhya is also mentioned in Ayodhya Mahatmya as a place where Lord Vishnu abides in different forms (Vishnuhari, Chandrahari, Dharmahari, Chakrahari and Guptahari). Ayodhya Mahatmya also mentions about Vidya Devi Kund (associated with Devi Saraswati), Ghosharka Kunda (associated with Surya deva and which is the current Surya Kund), and various other places which currently exists in Ayodhya.
◍ Sacred Geography:
River Sarayu Ghat
▬ River Sarayu flows (Aarti)
▬ River Tamasa flows
2. Presence of Lord Vishnu in Ayodhya:
(1) Vishnuhari: Brahmin Vishnu Sharma performed penance in Ayodhya. (Vishnuhari)
(2) Chandrahari: Chandradeva performed penance in Ayodhya. (Chandrahari)
(3) Dharmahari: Brahmin Dharma danced in spiritual ecstasy in Ayodhya. (Dharmahari)
(4) Chakrahari: The Chakra of Lord Vishnu fell in Ayodhya. (Chakrahari)
(5) Guptahari: Lord Vishnu performed penance secretly in Ayodhya. (Guptahari)
- Lord Brahma created a kunda and worshipped Lord Vishnu in Ayodhya (Brahma Kund).
3. Presence of Lord Shiva in Ayodhya:
• Ayodhya Mahatmya mentions about places associated with Lord Shiva in Ayodhya.
4. Presence of Devi in Ayodhya:
• Ayodhya Mahatmya mentions about places associated with Devi in Ayodhya.
• Sage Vasishtha had his ashrama in Ayodhya. (Vasishtha Kund)
• Sage Rishyashringa performed the Putrakamesthi Yagna of king Dasharatha near Ayodhya. (Makhauda Dham)
• Sage Chyavana had his ashrama in Ayodhya on the bank of river Tamasa.
• Sage Gautama had his ashrama in Ayodhya on the bank of river Tamasa.
• Sage Lomasha worshipped Lord Vishnu in Ayodhya and getting free of his debts (Rinamochana Tirtha).
• Sage Mandavya had his ashrama in Ayodhya on the bank of river Tamasa.
• Sage Parashara had his ashrama in Ayodhya on the bank of river Tamasa.
◍ Saints:
• Alvars (5th - 9th CE) visited and eulogized Ayodhya (Divya Desam).
• Sri Tulsidas (1532 - 1623 CE) started composing the Ramcharitmanas in Ayodhya. (Tulsi Udyan)
◍ Puranic References:
• Valmiki Ramayana:
- Bala Kanda - 8 to 15 (About Yagnas of king Dasharatha near Ayodhya)
- Bala Kanda - 11 to 18 (About incarnation of Sri Rama in Ayodhya)
- Yuddha Kanda - 128 (About coronation of Sri Rama in Ayodhya)
• Skanda Purana - Ayodhya Mahatmya (About the greatness of Ayodhya)
Dashrath Mahal is identified with the palace of king Dasharahtha in Ayodhya. Sri Rama grew up during childhood in this palace. There is a temple of Darshaneshwar Mahadev within this palace.
Kanak Bhavan is identified with the palace where Sita-Rama stayed after marriage in Ayodhya. This is one the main temples of Ayodhya and is quite large. There is a bigger image of Sita-Rama on the simhasan and a smaller image before it. The smaller image is said to be the ancient image. This temple was built by the king of Orchha.
► Ayodhya - Sita Rasoi (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh)
Sita Rasoi is identified with the kitchen of Devi Sita where she fed king Dashratha and the four brothers after marriage.
► Ayodhya - Choti DevKali Temple (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (close to Ram Ki Paidi series of Ghats on river Sarayu)
Choti DevKali Temple is identified with the temple where Devi Sita worshipped goddess Girija Devi. Devi Sita brought the image of Girija Devi to Ayodhya after her marriage. King Dasharatha built a temple for Girija Devi. The temple now houses the image of DevKali. The word Choti is prefixed to differentiate it from another DevKali temple in Ayodhya known as Badi DevKali.
► Ayodhya - Mani Parvat (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (around 2.5 km from Hanuman Garhi)
Mani Parvat is identified with the place where Devi Sita sported with her companions. Mani Parvat is a hill. The beautiful view of Ayodhya can be enjoyed from this hill. There is a shrine with the images of Sita-Ram. Lord Buddha is also said to have meditated in Mani Parvat. There are some remains of the ancient Buddhist monasteries here.
(5) Sri Rama departed for forest exile from Ayodhya.
(8) Sri Rama met Bharata at Nandigram after returning from forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 127)
► Ayodhya - Dashrath Samadhi (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (around 15 km from Ayodhya)
Dashrath Samadhi is identified with the place where Bharata performed the last rites of king Dasharatha (when Sri Rama was in forest exile).
► Ayodhya - Nandigram (Bharat Kund) (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (around 25 km from Ayodhya)
Nandigram is identified with Nandigrama mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana from where Bharat ruled the kingdom with the padukas of Sri Rama. There is a Bharat Kund in Nandigram.
(9) Sri Rama got coronated in Ayodhya after returning from forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 128)
Kaleram Temple is an old temple of Sri Rama containing his idol curved out of black stone (Ram Panchatayana). It is said that this idol was preserved by the pujaris when the original Ram Janambhoomi temple was destroyed by Babar.
► Ayodhya - Janaura or Janakaura (around 11 km from Ayodhya)
Janaura or Janakaura is identified with the place where king Janaka camped when he came to Ayodhya. There is a tank named Girija Kund with a temple of Lord Shiva near it.
► Ayodhya - Hanuman Garhi (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (around 1 km from the railway station and 1.5 km from Sarayu Ghat)
After the coronation of Sri Rama, Hanmanji is believed to have stayed back and guarded Ramkot (the ancient Fort of Ayodhya). Hanuman Garhi is a Fort-Temple of Sri Hanumanji on a hillock. The pilgrims need to ascend around 60 steps to reach the shrine. There is an image of Hanumanji in a sitting posture. There is another small image of Hanumanji which is only 6 inches in height and is always covered by flowers. The archway at the base of the steps is beautiful. There are houses built around four sides of the temples for sadhus. Previously many sadhus used to stay here and meditate in this place. Hanuman Garhi is a very popular temple of Ayodhya. Pilgrims often have the darshan of Hanumanji before visiting other temples of Sri Rama.
Mattagajendra or Matgajendra is identified with the place from where Matgajendra, the elder son of Vibhisana guarded Ramkot (the ancient Fort of Ayodhya). Matgajendra is considered as the Kotwal of Ayodhya. It is said that by having darshan of Matgajendra, obstacles of the devotees get removed.
► Ayodhya - Sugreev Tila (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh)
► Ayodhya - Angad Tila (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh)
Presence of Lord Vishnu in Ayodhya:
(1) Vishnuhari: Brahmin Vishnu Sharma performed penance in Ayodhya. (Skanda Purana - Ayodhya Mahatmya - 1)
The Vasudev or Vasudeo Ghat is associated with the legend of Matsya Avatara of Lord Vishnu. River Sarayu has receded and there is no Ghat at present.
Presence of Lord Shiva in Ayodhya:
► Ayodhya - Nageshwarnath Temple (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (Close to Ram Ki Paidi ghats; Kaleram Temple is behind it)
Nageshwarnath Temple is a very old temple of Lord Shiva in Ayodhya. According to legend, Kusha the son of Sri Rama himself had built the original Nageshwarnath Temple. This temple is one of the main structures which survived the ravages of time till king Vikramaditya arrived in Ayodhya. Seeing this temple and getting guidance from saints, the king rebuilt Ayodhya. (The Kaleram Temple is close to Nageshwarnath Temple. The Kaleram Temple is said to have preserved the original Ram Janambhoomi Temple Idol when the temple was destroyed by Babar)
Presence of Devi in Ayodhya:
► Ayodhya - Choti DevKali Temple (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (close to Ram Ki Paidi series of Ghats on river Sarayu)
Choti DevKali Temple is identified with the temple where Devi Sita worshipped goddess Girija Devi. Devi Sita brought the image of Girija Devi to Ayodhya after her marriage. King Dasharatha built a temple for Girija Devi. The temple now houses the image of DevKali. The word Choti is prefixed to differentiate it from another DevKali temple in Ayodhya known as Badi DevKali.
► Ayodhya - Badi DevKali Temple (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (around 5 km from Hanuman Garhi)
Badi DevKali is the Kuldevi of the ancestors of Sri Rama.
► Ayodhya - Surya Kund (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh) (around 8 km from Ayodhya)
Surya Kund is identified with Ghosharka Kunda mentioned in Ayodhya Mahatmya. There is a big Temple Tank surrounded by Ghats on all four sides. On the west is a temple of Surya Narayana. Surya deva was the kuldeva of the Ikshwaku kings.
Sonkhar is identified with Swarnakhani where Sri Kubera showered gold for king Raghi.
River Sarayu Ghats in Ayodhya:
Ram Ghat: An old ghat. River Sarayu has receded from here.
Janaki Ghat: An old ghat. River Sarayu has receded from here.
Vasudev or Vasudeo Ghat: An old ghat. River Sarayu has receded from here. Associated with the event of Vaivasvata Manu and Matsya Avatara of Lord Vishnu. The Temple of Dharmahari is in the neighbourhood of this area (Chitragupta Temple).
Naya Ghat or Dharmaraj Ghat: Sarayu Aarti is held here.
Ahilyabai Ghat: Sri Rama performed a yagna in this place. The Temple of Tretanathji (Treta Ke Thakur) is near this ghat.
Nageshwarnath Ghat: The Temple of Nageshwarnathji is near this ghat.
Swargadwara Ghat and Chandrahari Ghat: Sri Rama returned to his divine abode. Chandra deva performed penance. The Temple of Chandrahari is near this ghat.
Guptar Ghat: Lord Vishnu performed penance secretly for increasing the strength of the devas. The Temple of Chakrahari and Guptahari is near this ghat.
Nirmala Kund Ghat
Presence of Lord Varaha near Ayodhya:
► Ayodhya - Varaha Kshetra (around 40 km from Ayodhya)
Varaha Kshetra is a sacred place on the outskirts of Ayodhya at the confluence of rivers Sarayu and Ghagra. There is a temple of Lord Varaha in that place. It is said that Sri Tulsidasji heard about the deeds of Sri Rama from his gurudev in this place.
Presence of Sages in Ayodhya:
• Sage Vasishtha had his ashrama in Ayodhya. (Vasishtha Kund)
► Ram Janambhoomi: I meditate on Sri Rama incarnating in Ayodhya, growing up in Ayodhya, getting coronated in Ayodhya, ruling the kingdom from Ayodhya, and finally returning to his divine abode from Ayodhya.
(1) King Dasharatha performed the Putrakameshthi Yagna near Ayodhya.
► Ayodhya - Makhauda Dham
(2) Sri Rama incarnated in Ayodhya.
► Ayodhya - Dashrath Mahal
(4) Sri Rama stayed with Devi Sita in Ayodhya after marriage.
► Ayodhya - Kanak Bhavan
► Ayodhya - Mani Parvat
(5) Sri Rama departed for forest exile from Ayodhya.
(6) Sri Bharata ruled with padukas of Sri Rama from Nandigrama near Ayodhya.
(7) Sri Rama sent Hanuman to meet Bharata at Nandigrama while returning from forest exile.
(8) Sri Rama met Bharata at Nandigram after returning from forest exile.
► Ayodhya - Dashrath Samadhi
► Ayodhya - Nandigram (Bharat Kund)
(11) Sri Lakshmana returned to his divine abode from Ayodhya.
► Ayodhya - Sahashradhara or Lakshman Ghat
► Ayodhya - Swargadwar Ghat and Chandrahari Temple
(13) Bhakta Hanuman stayed back as per the instruction of Sri Rama.
► Ayodhya - Guptar Ghat
► Ayodhya - Kaleram Temple
► Ayodhya - Janaura or Janakaura
► 
(1) Vishnuhari: Brahmin Vishnu Sharma performed penance in Ayodhya.
► Ayodhya - Dharmahari Temple
► Ayodhya - Chakrahari and Guptahari Temple
► Ayodhya - Vasudev or Vasudeo Ghat
► Ayodhya - Badi DevKali Temple
► Ayodhya - Devi Sarayu Temple
• King Ghosha of Solar race worshipped Surya deva in Ayodhya.
• Kubera showering gold for king Raghu in Ayodhya. (Sonkhar)
► Ayodhya - Varaha Kshetra
