Ram Janaki Mandir is a Hindu temple devoted to the Hindu goddess Sita in Janakpur in the Mithila district of Nepal. In 2008 the region was declared a provisional UNESCO region. The temple is a perfect example of Nepalese Hindu-Koiri architecture.
Janaki Mandir is wholly designed in bright white and constructed on an area of 4,860 sq. Ft in a blended design of Mughal and Koiri domes. It is a building built entirely of stone and marble, with three floors. Each of its 60 rooms is adorned with Nepal's flag, coloured glass, engravings and sculptures, with exquisite windows of lattice and turrets.
Legend behind Ram Janaki Temple
King Janak ruled that region (called Videha) during the Ramayana era, according to legends and epics. The Ram Janaki Temple is better known as the birthplace of Goddess Sita. Janak found Sita in a field furrow and raised her as his baby.
Ram Janaki Divine Love's Abode
While Sita (also named Janaki) was around seventeen, the King revealed she could be married to someone who could tie Shiva's sacred bow.
During her swyambar, his daughter Janaki (Sita) selected Lord Rama as her spouse and became Ayodhya's Queen. Their rite of marriage had taken place in the local temple, which is also named the vivaha mandap.
History of Janaki Mandir
The mandir is popularly known as Nau Lakha mandir(meaning "nine lakhs"). The expense to construct the temple was approximately the same sum of money: rupees nine lakhs or nine hundred thousand, thus the term.
Tikamgarh's Queen Vrisha Bhanu founded the temple in 1910 A.D.A golden image of the goddess Sita was discovered at the same place in 1657, and it is believed that she stayed there.
Janaki Temple: Sacred Serenity Captured
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The tradition has claimed it was founded on the holy place where Sannyasi Shurkishordas found Goddess Sita's images. In reality, Shurkishordas was the father of modern Janakpur and the great saint and poet who taught philosophy regarding the Sita Upasana (also known as Sita Upanishad).
Legend has emerged that the worship of Shiva-Dhanus was conducted on this site by King Janak(Seeradhwaj).
Design of Ram Janaki Mandir
In Nepal, the temple is exceptional in design. The inner sanctum includes a flower-bedded image of Sita, which was supposedly located miraculously near Ayodhya on the Saryu River. Rama's sculptures and Sita's brothers in law, Lakshman, Bharat, and Satrughna stand by.
Ram Janaki: Architectural Elegance Unveiled
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The Rama Sita Bibaha Mandir is next to the Janaki Mandir, a building indicating the location where Rama and Sita had been together.
Certain significant holy places in the town include the ceremonial swimming tanks Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar near the Janaki Mandir.
The ancient Dhanushadham spot, another important religious site for the Hindus lies near Janakpur. It is assumed that the Dhanusha pool was created from bits of arrow split in Janakpur by the Rama.
Janakpur
Janakpur city lies 135 kilometres (84 miles) southeast of Kathmandu. It is doubly recognized as the birthplace of the Hindu goddess Sita, as well as being the location where she was married to Lord Rama.
Historical records suggest that the Mithila Kingdom between the tenth and third centuries B.C. ruled a significant portion of northern India before it fell under the rule of the Mauryan Empire (321 to 185 BC).
The two great Mauryan emperors, Chandragupta and Ashoka, favoured the philosophies of Jainism and Buddhism. Both the great saints Gautama Buddha, father of Buddhism, and Vardamana Mahavira, the Jain religion's 24th and final Tirthankara (a learned sage) are said to have resided in Mithila/Janakpur.
Janakpur languished as a holy place for two centuries until the seventeenth century after the fall of the Mauryan Empire.
Visiotrs of Ram Janaki Temple
Hundreds of pilgrims from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and other countries visit the temple of Ram Janaki each year to worship Lord Ram and Sita.
Many worshippers visit the temple during the Ram Navami(March/April), Vivaha Panchami (November/December), and Dashain(October/November).
Visit of Modi In Ram Jankai Temple
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Specific times for big festivals in Janakpur are Holi, March's colour festival; Diwali, early November's lights festival; and Chhath, a four-day festival organized by the native Mithila community in May and November.
For more information on temples in Nepal, please visit hopnepal.com.