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Sita Temples
Sita (; ), also known as Siya, Jānaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is the chief goddess of the Ramanandi Sampradaya and is the goddess of beauty and devotion. Sita's birthday is celebrated every year on the occasion of Sita Navami. Described as the daughter of Bhūmi (the earth), Sita is brought up as the adopted daughter of King Janaka of Videha. Sita, in her youth, chooses Rama, the prince of Ayodhya as her husband in a swayamvara. After the swayamvara, she accompanies her husband to his kingdom but later chooses to accompany him along with her brother-in-law Lakshmana, in his exile. While in exile, the trio settles in the Dandaka forest from where she is abducted by Ravana, the Rakshasa king of Lanka. She is imprisoned in the garden of Ashoka Vatika, in Lanka, until she is rescued by Rama, who slays her c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Avatar
Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes used to refer to any guru or revered human being. The word ''avatar'' does not appear in the Vedic literature; however, it appears in developed forms in post-Vedic literature, and as a noun particularly in the Puranic literature after the 6th century CE. Despite that, the concept of an avatar is compatible with the content of the Vedic literature like the Upanishads as it is symbolic imagery of the Saguna Brahman concept in the philosophy of Hinduism. The ''Rigveda'' describes Indra as endowed with a mysterious power of assuming any form at will. The ''Bhagavad Gita'' expounds the doctrine of Avatara but with terms other than ''avatar''. Theologically, the term is most often associated with the Hindu god Vishnu, though the idea has been ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sitamarhi District
Sitamarhi is one of the districts in the Indian state of Bihar. Dumra is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district is a part of the Tirhut Division and is located along the border of Nepal. It is the part of the Mithila region in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to be the place of manifestation of Goddess Sita in the ancient Mithila Kingdom while the legendary King Janaka in the epic Ramayana was ploughing a farm field in the present city of Sitamarhi. Presently in the city of Sitamarhi, there are two locations claimed to be the birthplace of the Goddess Sita. The two locations are Urvija Kund at Janaki Sthan and Janaki Kund at Punauradham. History This place is considered as birthplace of Sita, the main character of the epic ''Ramayana'' and a temple dedicated to Sita lies near Sitamarhi town. A Rock cut sanctuary of Mauryan period is found near Sitamarhi. In 1875, a Sitamarhi subdistrict was created within the Muzaffarpur district. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandavi
Mandavi () is a princess of Videha in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is the wife of Bharata and is considered an incarnation of the conch shell of goddess Lakshmi. Mandavi is known for her sacrifice and perseverance. Etymology The name Mandavi is of Sanskrit origin. Her name means 'fit and competent'. Legend Birth Sunayana and Chandrabhaga, the wives of Janaka and Kushadhvaja, gave birth to Urmila and Mandavi. Chandrabhaga later gave birth to her second daughter and Mandavi's younger sister, Shrutakirti. She is considered as the incarnation of Lakshmi's conch shell. Her father was the ruler of Samkasya, but Mandavi and Shrutakirti were brought up in Mithila, along with Sita and Urmila. Marriage to Bharata After Rama won the hand of Sita at her svayamvara, his father, King Dasharatha arrived in Mithila for his son's wedding. King Dasharatha noticed that Lakshmana had feelings for Urmila, but according to tradition, Bharata and Mandavi had to marry first. Ki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Urmila
Urmila (), is a Hindu goddess and the princess of Videha in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is considered to be an avatāra of Nagalakshmi, the serpent goddess. Urmila was married to Lakshmana and is known for her dedication towards her husband, for her sacrifice. Urmila was born as the daughter of King Janaka of Mithila and Queen Sunayana. Sita, the female protagonist of the epic, is her elder sister. She was married to Lakshmana, after her sister's '' svayamvara''. According to a legend, Urmila slept continuously for fourteen years, so that her husband could protect Rama and Sita during the exile. She is notable for this unparalleled sacrifice, which is called ''Urmila Nidra''. Urmila is worshipped in Hinduism, at various places in India, alongside her husband. Etymology The name Urmila is of Sanskrit origin, and could be divided into ''Ur'' meaning waves, and ''mila'', meaning to join''.'' Thus'','' her name means 'waves of passion that unite a couple'. Her name al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sunayana (Ramayana)
Sunayana (, IAST: ''Sunayanā'') is the queen of Videha in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sunayana is the queen consort of Janaka, the king of Videha, who ruled from Mithila. She is the mother of Sita, the female protagonist of the epic and Urmila. Etymology The name Sunayana is of Sanskrit origin, and could be divided into ''Su'' meaning good, and ''nayana,'' meaning eyes''.'' Thus'','' her name means 'beautiful eyes'. Legend Birth While Valmiki remains silent on her parentage and refers to her as queen consort of Seeradhwaja Janaka, the later additions of ''Ramayana'', refers to her as Sunayana and she is considered as the daughter of a serpent who was an ardent devotee of Shiva. Marriage and children Sunayana was married to King Janaka, who ruled over the Videha region from his capital Mithila. During her marriage to Janak, Shiva gifted these two jewels, one in the form of Chudamani and the other encrusted on a ring. According to ''Ramayana'', Janaka and Sunayana ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Janaka
Janaka (, IAST: ''Janaka'') is the King of Videha who ruled from Mithila (region), Mithila, in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Janaka was married to Sunayana (Ramayana), Sunayana. He is the father of Sita and Urmila in the epic. The term Janaka was also the title adopted by all the kings of Videha, who were the descendants of the Nimi (king), King Nimi and his son King Mithi. The King Mithi is considered as the first King of Videha who was titled with the term ''Janaka''. Janaka is revered as being an ideal example of non-attachment to material possessions. He was intensely interested in spiritual discourse and considered himself free from worldly illusions. His interactions with sages and seekers such as Ashtavakra and Sulabha are recorded in the ancient texts. Legend Birth and ancestry Janaka, originally named Sīradhvaja, was born to King Hrasvaroman of Mithila and his wife Keikasi. The Videha kingdom was situated historically between the Gandaki River to the east ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bhūmi
Bhumi (Sanskrit: भूमि, romanized: Bhūmi), also known as Bhudevi, Dharani, and Vasundhara, is a significant goddess in Hinduism, personifying the Earth. Her earliest form is reflected in the Vedic goddess Prithvi, though their roles and depictions are drastically different. Bhumi features prominently in the ''Mahabharata'' and various Puranas. According to Vaishnava tradition, she is the second consort of Vishnu, along with Sridevi and Niladevi. As per Hindu mythology, Varaha, the third avatar of Vishnu, saved her from the asura Hiranyaksha and later married her, making her one of his consorts. After this rescue, Varaha and Bhumi have a son named Mangala. Bhumi also bears Narakasura, an asura, due to Hiranyaksha's influence. In the epic ''Ramayana'', she is mentioned as the mother of Sita, the epic's female protagonist. Bhumi is described to be born as Satyabhama, the consort of Krishna, to assist in slaying Narakasura. The Alvar saint Andal is also considered an av ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kusha (Ramayana)
Kusha (, ) and his younger twin brother Lava were the children of Rama and Sita. Their story is recounted in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Hindu traditions claim he ruled the entire region of Kashmir, Indus River and Hindu Kush as frontier lands of India known as Hindu Kush Kshetra and founded the city of Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley and Kasur with Lavapuri of Lava in base lands, though local lore contends Kasur was founded in 1525 by Pashtun migrants. His brother Lava is traditionally believed to have founded ''Lavapuri'' (current day city of Lahore). The imperial line that ruled Kingdom of Benares-Kashi and the Maurya Empire, which ruled South Asia from 320 to 185 BCE, claimed descent from Kusha. Kusha is said to be a Raghuvamshi Ikshvaku Suryavanshi. He got two children from his wife Kumudvati: Athithi (son) and Kanikamalika (daughter, wife of Yadava descent king Mahabhoja). Birth and childhood According to the Ramayana, a pregnant queen Sita is made to leave the ki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lava (Ramayana)
Lava (, ) and his elder twin brother Kusha, are the children of Rama and Sita in Hindu texts. Their story is recounted in the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana'' and its other versions. He is said to have a whitish golden complexion like their mother, while Kusha had a blackish complexion like their father. Birth and childhood The first chapter of Ramayana, '' Balakanda,'' mentioned Valmiki narrating the Ramayana to his disciples, Lava and Kusha. But their birth and childhood story is mentioned in the last chapter '''Uttara Kanda which is not believed to be the original work of Valmiki. According to the legend, Sita banished herself from the kingdom due to the gossip of the kingdom folk about her chastity. She chose self-exile and took refuge in the ashram of Valmiki located on the banks of the Tamsa river. Lava and Kusha were born at the ashram and were educated and trained in military skills under the teachings of Sage Valmiki. During this time they had also learned the story of R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in India as well as the List of first-level administrative divisions by population, most populous country subdivision in the world – more populous than List of countries and dependencies by population, all but four other countries outside of India (China, United States, Indonesia, and Pakistan) – and accounting for 16.5 percent of the population of India or around 3 percent of the total world population. The state is bordered by Rajasthan to the west, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi to the northwest, Uttarakhand and Nepal to the north, Bihar to the east, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to the south. It is the List of states of India by area, fourth-largest Indian state by area covering , accounting for 7.3 percent of the total ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kosala
Kosala, sometimes referred to as Uttara Kosala () was one of the Mahajanapadas of ancient India. It emerged as a small state during the Late Vedic period and became (along with Magadha) one of the earliest states to transition from a lineage-based society to a monarchy. By the 6th century BCE, it had consolidated into one of the four great powers of ancient northern India, along with Magadha, Vatsa, and Avanti. Kosala belonged to the Northern Black Polished Ware culture (c. 700–300 BCE) and was culturally distinct from the Painted Grey Ware culture of the neighboring Kuru- Panchala region, following independent development toward urbanisation and the use of iron. The presence of the lineage of Ikshvaku—described as a raja in the Ṛgveda and an ancient hero in the Atharvaveda—to which Rama, Mahavira, and the Buddha are all thought to have belonged—characterized the Kosalan realm. One of India's two great epics, Ramayana is set in the "Kosala- Videha" realm i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sita Samahit Sthal
Sita Samahit Sthal (Sitamarhi), the holy place of Sitamarhi is situated between Prayagraj and Varanasi, near the national highway No. 2 and also connected with Prayagraj and Varanasi railway line with Jangiganj, the nearest railway station. It is a well known Hindu pilgrimage in the poorvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh . Mythic origins It is said that this temple is the place where Sita went into the earth when she willed it while she was living in residential hermitage of Saint Valmiki in the forest of Sitamarhi. It was Saint Valmiki who wrote Ramayana. According to Ramayana and other sacred books of Hindu dharma, when Lord Rama returned from the grand victory on Ravana the powerful king of Lanka. After becoming the king of Ayodhya a big yaga was held by Lord Rama and the horse of that grand yagya Ashvamedha was released from Ayodhya, the horse was to move in any direction or in any kingdom, the king of that kingdom should have to declare Rama as his Emperor. When the horse w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
