Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Asthan is temple panorama complex and an important historical monument of
Valmiki
Valmiki (; Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, ) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic ''Ramayana'', dated variously from the 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attributio ...
s located at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath road of
Amritsar city. Since 1 December 2016, it has an 8-foot-tall 800-kg
gold-plated idol of Sage
Valmiki
Valmiki (; Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, ) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic ''Ramayana'', dated variously from the 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attributio ...
in main section.
Ancient History
Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Asthan, dedicated to
Maharishi Valmiki
Valmiki (; Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, ) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic ''Ramayana'', dated variously from the 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attribution ...
ji is situated 11 km west of Amritsar on Amritsar Lopoke road. As per the mythological beliefs, The temple dates back to the period of Ramayana and the place is famous for the ashram of sage Maharishi Valmiki. It is the place where the sage gave shelter to Sita, wife of Rama when she was abandoned after the Lanka Victory. The place is birthplace of
Lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...
and
Kusha
Kusha was a Suryavansha
The Solar dynasty ( IAST: Suryavaṃśa or Ravivaṃśa in Sanskrit) or the Ikshvaku dynasty was founded by the legendary king Ikshvaku.Geography of Rigvedic India, M.L. Bhargava, Lucknow 1964, pp. 15-18, 46-49, 92-98 ...
, sons of
Ramachandra
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular ''avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being ...
, in ashrama of Saint
Balmiki
Chuhra is a Dalit caste in India and Pakistan. Populated regions include the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, as well as Uttar Pradesh in India, among other parts of the Indian subcontinent such as southern India. Their traditional occupatio ...
. The great epic
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
is also said to have been written here by Maharishi Valmiki. It is also believed that the fight between Lord Ram Chandra's forces and Lav and Kush had also taken place at Ram Tirth.
Management
Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Asthan is managed and maintained by Valmiki Tirath Development Board. There was dispute regarding the management of site between Mahant Baldev Giri and Mahant Malkeet Nath of the Bhagwan Valmiki Dhuna Sahib Management Trust. In 2013,
Punjab Police was deployed at the site, due to tension between
Mahant
Mahant () is a religious superior, in particular the chief of a temple or the head of a monastery in Indian religions.
James Mallinson, one of the few westerners to be named as a mahant, describes the position of a mahant as a combination of a ...
s and
Valmiki
Valmiki (; Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, ) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic ''Ramayana'', dated variously from the 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attributio ...
s. On 9 September 2014, Punjab government failed to restore the possession of Dhuna Sahib and two other sites at the ancient shrine to mahant Baldev Giri on court orders. On 11 September 2014, Police with the help of
Border Security Force
The Border Security Force (BSF) is India's border guarding organisation on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India, and was raised in the wake of the 1965 war on 1 December 1 ...
broker a compromise between the two parties.
Development
Foundation stone of Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Asthan was laid on 18 October 2016 and this project was designed by Department of Architecture of
Guru Nanak Dev University
The university is Entitled by University Grants Commission to offer higher studies degree courses online. Guru Nanak Dev University's campus is spread over near village of Kot Khalsa, nearly west of the Amritsar, next to Khalsa College, A ...
. It was inaugurated on 1 December 2016 by the
Chief Minister of Punjab.
The historic site was renovated with and has entrance portals at both ends, a sacred pond,
circumambulation
Circumambulation (from Latin ''circum'' around and ''ambulātus ''to walk) is the act of moving around a sacred object or idol.
Circumambulation of temples or deity images is an integral part of Hindu and Buddhist devotional practice (known in S ...
with a bridge, a devotee hall with capacity of 5000, a Sanskrit library, a museum and a multi-storey modern car parking with a capacity of 500 four-wheeler vehicles.
Gallery
File:Ramtirath.jpg, Lord Valmiki temple cum panorama complex
File:Bagwan Valmiki Tirath3.jpg, 8 feet tall gold plated idol of Lord Valmiki
Valmiki (; Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, ) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic ''Ramayana'', dated variously from the 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attributio ...
File:Bagwan Valmiki Tirath2.jpg, a view of Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal
File:Bagwan Valmiki Tirath01.jpg, Sacred pond at Temple
File:Bagwan Valmiki Tirath, Amritsar, Punjab.jpg, Chandelier inside main area of Temple
File:Bagwan Valmiki Tirath1.jpg, Hallway surrounding the Temple
File:Bagwan Valmiki Tirath4.jpg, a view of Temple tank
Temple tanks are wells or reservoirs built as part of the temple complex near Indian temples. They are called pushkarini, kalyani, kunda, sarovara, tirtha, talab, pukhuri, ambalakkuḷam, etc. in different languages and regions of India. Some t ...
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 01.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 02.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 03.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 04.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 05.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 06.jpg, Inner view of Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 07.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple-sacred Pond view
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 08.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple -sacred Pond view
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 09.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 10.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 11.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 12.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple, Statue of Valmiki imparting training to Lov Kush
File:Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal 15.jpg, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, temple, painting of Valmiki imparting education to lov Kush, Sita mother is also visible in painting
See also
*
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
*
Lord Valmiki
*
Tourism in Amritsar
Amritsar is a city situated in the state of northern Punjab, the northwestern region of India. It is 25 kilometres (15 miles) away from the Pakistan border. This important Punjab city is the main centre of commerce, culture, and transportation. ...
References
{{Reflist
Tourist attractions in Amritsar
Buildings and structures in Amritsar
Hindu pilgrimage sites in India
Organisations based in Amritsar
Religion in Punjab, India