My visit to AYODHYA

[Guest guest]

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

 

During my recent visit to India, I had the good fortune of visiting one

of the the Saptha Mukthi Kshethrams, known as AYODHYA. I am just

venturing to write about my experience during this recent pilgrimage.

This being my maiden attempt to write in this list, I may please be

forgiven for any errors.

 

The place I stayed in Ayodhya is known as AMMAJI MANDIR or DIVYADESA

MANDIR. This Mandir is dedicated to Sri Rama and is like any other

Divyadesam in Tamilnadu. The temple structure,the Archamoorthys and

the mode of worship are all as per Bhagavad Ramanuja Sampradaya

Srivaishnava tradition.

 

I am just trying to present, in brief, the history of this temple

as given in a temple pamphlet. This temple is, to be precise, 97

years old and located close to the banks of the river Sarayu. This

temple came into existence by the efforts of a noble soul by name Yogi

Sri Parthasarathy Ayyangar. This temple exists at the very site where a

temple for Sri Ranganatha was there in the past. The main shrine

is for Sri Rama with Seetha piratti and Lakshmana on both sides.

There are separate shrines for Sri Ranganatha, Hanuman and Azhvar

Acharyas represented by Sri Satagopa, Sri Ramanuja and Sri Manavala

Mamunigal. The temple worship is according to Pancharathra Agama.

 

The founder of this temple, Sri Yogi Parthasarathy Iyyangar was known

to possess in-depth knowledge in Hindu religious scriptures,

theology, and traditions with versatility in Sanskrit, Tamil,Telugu

and Kannada languages. He was responsible for bringing out

publication of various Hindu religious texts. He was invited to

participate in the World Congress of Religions held in Chicago in

1893. His thesis, the Science of Religion, was taken up for

discussion at this Congress and received all round approbations. Yogi

Sri Parthasarathy was a Member of the Group, which was responsible

for identifying Swami Vivekananda to the whole world.

 

He created a trust by name Sri Sarasvathi Bhandar and donated all his

wealth to the Trust for the purpose of maintaining this Ram Temple in

Ayodhya. Even today, this temple is run on the income derived from

the properties left over by the Yogi.

 

There is an interesting story about the beginnings of this temple. On

one night, when Yogi Smt. Singaramma, the wife of Yogi Sri

Parathasarathy, was fast asleep, in her dream she found the Uthsava

Vigrahas of Sri Rama and Seetha buried in a dilapidated temple in the

village known as Thiruppullani(Dharbasayanam) in Ramanathapuram

District of Tamilnadu.. The couple went there looking for it. Her

dream turned out to be true as they found the dilapidated temple as

well as the Sri moorthys. With the assistance of their friends and

relatives, they met the King of Ramanathapuram and took his

permission for taking these Vigrahas with them. After that, they have

decided to shift to Ayodhya and build a temple for Sri Rama and install

the Vigrahas in that temple. With the passing away of Yogi Sri

Parthasarathy within a few years after moving into Ayodhya, his wife

took up the responsibility of completing the temple and organizing

Nithya Aradhanams, Uthsavams etc. Since she played a very

significant role in bringing up this temple, the shrine itself is

popularly known as AMMAJI MANDIR. There is also a stone inscription in

the temple proclaiming the temple as SETHU RAMA MANDIR identifying

its origins. Sri Ramanavami Uthsavam is being celebrated every year

for 5 days. A team of Archakas, Paricharakas, Adhyapaka and

Vedaparayana goshti from Triplicane goes to Ayodhya to perform this 5

day Uthsavam. The Moola and Uthsava moorthys are simply beautiful and

a treat to watch them unendingly.

 

One Sriman Srinivasa Ramanujachariar presently manages this temple.

He looks like a Sadhu himself. He is a retired person and is not in

need to earn for supporting a family. He has dedicated his time and

energy for this temple and spends all the 24 hours in the temple

itself. A very kind, hospitable and pleasant soul always ready to

welcome visitors and help them in whatever way possible to make their

stay in Ayodhya memorable. The temple has dormitory type

accommodation available for pilgrims to stay. It has all modern

facilities like tap water, toilet, bathroom, etc. One can get our own

food (the typical south Indian) in the temple as Bhagavath Prasadam if

we indicate our desire for it. Besides him, there is one more dedicated

young Kainkaryapara in this temple by name Sriman Murali. He helps

Sriman Srinivasan in all respects, right from preparing food offerings,

performing Bhagavadharadhanam, attending to lowkeeka vishayams, etc.

and more importantly to help Sriman Srinivasan in making the Sevaarthis

visiting or staying in the temple feel at home.

 

Sriman Srinivasan took us to places of importance in Ayodhya and acted

as a guide. He volunteered himself for this purpose. In a place where

we are not conversant with the language, it is like a boon to have him

for sight seeing. Both of them are absolutely selfless and are not

after seeking money for their personal use. Whatever that has been

given is again pumped into the maintenance of the temple itself.

 

Dear Bhagavathaas, if any of you are planning to visit Ayodhya, do

include this temple in your list and visit it. I am giving below the

address and location details for your information:

 

Dharbasayana Sethuramar temple

 

AMMAJI MANDIR,

5/3/59, near Nirmochan Chow Rastha,

Kolaghat Road,

AYODHYA – 224123

Telephone: +5278 33087

 

Whilst in Ayodhya, Sriman Srinivasan took us to some of the important

places.

 

MAKHOTA

 

This is a village about 15 kms from Ayodhya. This place is stated to

be the site where Dasaratha Chakravathy performed Puthrakaameshti

Yaga on the banks of the river MANORAMA. This river is now looks like

a small stream with water being absolutely pure and sweet. At this

site there is a shrine where one can find a small plaque notifying the

significance of the place.

 

GUPTHAR GHAT

 

As the very name suggests, this is on the banks of the river Sarayu

in the cantonment town of Faizabad. There is a well laid bathing

ghat. According to the legend, Rama and Lakshmana entered into the

River Sarayu at this spot to ascend to their abode, Sri Vaikuntam,

after the completion of their Avathaara Karyam.

 

At this ghat there is a temple dedicated to Guptha Hari and Chakra

Hari. The shrine of Guptha Hari is in the ground floor whereas Sri

Charka Hari is in the first floor. The deity of Guptha Hari is

identified by Thiruvadis. As per the Sthala Purana narrated by the

priest, Guptha Hari existed even prior to Threthaa Yuga, i.e., even

prior to Rama Avathara. Sri Chakra Hari is a saligrama moorthy (like

moolavar in our temples) with his Discus in Prayoga chakra form. A huge

collection of Saligramams is kept in the Chakra Hari shrine. These

shrines are of typical North Indian style. With no patronage from

devotees, these shrines are difficult to identify unless someone of a

local origin takes you there. An old sadhu has been looking after this

temple for the past 45 years, according to Sriman Srinivasan.

 

NANDHI GRAM

 

As you all know, this place has been referred to in the epic, Srimad

Ramayana, where Bharatha was doing penance, waiting for Rama, Seetha

and Lakshmana to return from their Vanavasa. According to

the epic, Rama sent Hanuman in advance to notify his arrival in order

to prevent Bharatha from performing Praayopavesa. This place is on

the outskirts of Ayodhya. There is a beautiful shrine for Bharatha

and Hanuman both embracing each other. The marble stone idol of both

Bharatha and Hanuman in embracing pose is an excellent piece of art,

even for art-lovers.

 

Besides the above three, the other popular places of importance which I

could visit in the Ayodhya town are, the (in)famous Babri Masjid/Ram

Janmabhoomi Mandir, Kanak Bhavan, known to be the royal palace of Sita

Piratti, Valmiki Bhavan, Hanuman Gaddhi etc. There are other places,

which I could not visit due to paucity of time. Hence, please do not

assume that these are the only places to be visited.

 

One great thing about Ayodhya is that the place always reverberates

with the divine bhajan SIYARAM all through 24 hours, day and night,

365 days uninterruptedly. There appears to be hundreds of temples,

mutts, etc. in Ayodhya. Every door seems to be an entrance to a Sri

Rama’s shrine. Such is the dedication of Sadhus who live there. There

is no dearth to the feeding activity of Sadhus. No one needs to skip

his/her lunch or dinner for want of food, as long as he is ready to

join the SIYARAM bhajan. A shrine just opposite to Valmiki Bhavan

houses a huge kitchen with most modern facilities to prepare food for

thousands at a time. Everyday thousands of people partake food in

that shrine after Bhajan. There are any numbers of trusts,

philanthropists who come forward to finance these activities.

 

As this write-up has already become long, I now conclude it.

 

Sri Seetha Lakshmana Bharatha Sathrughna Hanumath Sametha Sri

Ramachandra Parabhrahmane Namaha.

 

Dasan

 

I.V.K. CHARY

 

 

__________

 

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