We are sharing here interesting excerpts from the book ‘Ramjanmabhoomi: Truth,Evidence Faith”. The book covers the entire gamut of developments from birth of Sri Ram to building of the Ram Temple that started at Ayodhya in 2020.
Here are the excerpts-
“For crores of Hindus, Ayodhya, a town situated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, has always been the place where Lord Ram was born as mentioned in Valmiki’s Ramayana. Ayodhya literally means ‘unconquerable’. Ayodhya, for Hindus is the gateway to heaven and is considered as immortal as Ram.
Ancient Indian scriptures mention the importance of Ayodhya in several texts. Garuda Purana , an ancient Indian scripture on Vaishnavism says –
Ayodhyā Mathurā Māyā Kāsi Kāñchī Avantikā I
Purī Dvārāvatī chaiva saptaitā moksadāyikāh II – Garuḍa Purāṇa I XVI .14
The Garuda Purana says in this verse that there are seven places where one can attain Moksha(salvation). They are Ayodhya, Mathura, Māyā, Kāsi, Kāñchī, Avantikā and Dvārāvatī.
In all the versions of Ramayana cutting across languages and geography, Ayodhya has been mentioned as the place where Lord Rama was born.
Ayodhya Mahatmya of Rudra-yamala
(Rudra –yamala is mentioned in a manuscript of the brahma-yamala dated 1052A.D)
सरयूतीरपूतानां जन्मभूम्या: विलोकिनाम्।
दर्शनात् पातकं तेषां कल्पकोटिशतायुतान् ।।35।।
(All sins of those persons, who after being purified on the sarayu’s bank visit the Janambhoomi, are effaced ,by its mere glimpse,for hundred, thousands and crores kalpas.)
अयोध्यानगरं पुण्यं स्मृतं वै पापनाशनम्
धान्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुण्यं पापहरं फलम्।।38।।
He, who remembers the city of Ayodhya,is blessed with wealth , reputation,long life,virtues and destruction of sins.
(quoted from the twelfth chapter of the Ayodhya –mahatmya manuscript of the rudra- yamala,dated 1801)
Vishnu Bhatt Godse Versaikar left his native village Versai near Pune on a journey to explore better earning options to northern part of India in 1857. On April 10, 1859 he managed to reach Ayodhya on the eve of Ramnavami festival. In his book ‘Majha Pravas’ (My Travels), he gave a detailed description about the place and festivities. He narrated that around seven to eight lakh pilgrims from all over the country were in Ayodhya along with a large number of sadhus(ascetics) . He wrote about significance of bathing in Sarayu river and paying homage to lord Rama ‘s birthplace on the auspicious day could wash away all sins . He wrote about devotees from other places speaking different languages and how in them he saw a strong bond of love and devotion for the Rama which tied them together. He further narrates : “After the bath the crowd left for the temple with Tulsi leaves, areca nuts and coins clutched in their hands as offerings . Offering Tulsi leaves to the lord at this spot is said to be essentially beneficial. I too arrived, like others, with my offerings at the birthspot of Lord Ram .”
(The book is available at https://www.hindueshop.com/product/ramjanmabhoomi-pb/ as well as https://www.amazon.in/Ramjanmabhoomi-Arun-Anand/dp/9390315549)
