India is a fusion of culture and modernity, which means you can see people here following new trends every minute with Desi Tadka. Similar things go with its cities. They have old historical monuments to explore but also have technology parks to learn more. And talking about Indian traditions how can we forget Lord Ram, regarded as the true idol of human values? So, this blog will take you to the Nagri of Ram, Ayodhya
Ayodhya is one of the most significant locations in India situated on the bank of the Saryu River. This is the birthplace of Lord Ram an incursion of Vishnu. It is a holy land in the Uttar Pradesh state of North India, known for its temples and traditional values. However, the city is the once-in-a-lifetime travel destination of every Indian. The city is so beautifully described in Ramayana, full of values and fraternity.
Ayodhya is famous for
Ayodhya also called Awadh one of seven sacred Puri’s in the country, i.e., Mathura, Haridwar, Ayodhya, Kanchipuram, Kashi, Ujjain, and Dwarika. It is an ancient land reserved in Hindu mythologies for its spiritual history and events. This city needs no introduction or attraction to be known as it holds a special place in the hearts of the devotees of Ram. No wonder the land is itself an attraction spot in India. Tourists from across the world visit this magnificent city to feel the religious vibe in the air.
Ayodhya is a city not only famous for its historical temples and monuments but also for its lip-smatching regional food. This city has the mixed cultures of both the Mughal and Hindu empires. That means the famous cuisines here are a combination of both. However, the major attraction of the city is the Sandalwood sculptures and handicraft items that people buy during their trip to Ayodhya. The city is on the bank of a river so listing Ghats in its attraction list is mandatory. Each ghat has its own value and religious story which makes the place more ironic and worth visiting.
Tourist locations
- Hanuman Ghari:- The most famous and very first place to visit even before Ram Mandir is Hanuman Garhi Temple. It is believed that the lord Hanuman lived here guarding the site of Ayodhya. This temple is situated on a hilltop led by 76 stairs, providing a mesmerizing view of the surrounding hills. Additionally, the main temple has a cave formation.
- Ram Janambhoomi:- This is the place where Lord Ram was believed to be born according to Ramayana. It is a very religious as well as a major thing witnessed in Ayodhya. After a long conflict finally, in August 2020 the construction of Ram Mandir has been started here. Earlier this place was known for the famous Babri Masjid which was built by the Mughals during the rule.
- Kanak Bhawan:- This palace is devoted to the wife of lord Ram, goddess Sita. They say that this place was gifted by Kaikeyi to Sita as her marriage gift. It is believed that in Dvapara Yuga lord Krishna rebuilt this temple and after that, Vikramaditya renovated this temple during his reign. The current site was restructured by the queen of Orchha, Vrishbhanu Kunwari. This is the most beautiful temple here.
- Nageshwarnath Temple:- This temple was built by Kush the son of lord Ram, located near the Theri Bazar. He built this temple for the Nag Kanya who found his armpit he lost in the river. Nageshwarnath Temple is devoted to the lord Shiva. The temple has beautiful architecture recreated by Naval Rai, the minister of Safar Jung in 1970.
Attractions of Ayodhya
- Dashrath Bhawan:- This is the palace of Raja Dashrath, father of lord Ram. It is located in the heart of Ramkot Ayodhya in Faizabad. Darshrath Bhawan is the original residence of Ram where he spent his childhood with his family. This palace is a magnificent place and a must-visit thing in the city.
- Guptar Ghat:- It is the place where lord Ram took Jal Samadhi and headed towards Baikuntha. The place is on the bank of Saryu River hosting many famous temples on the site. Ram-Sita Temple, Narshingh Temple, and Chakarhari Shrine are some of the most famous temples here.
- Moti Mahal:- This place is commonly known as Pearl Palace built in 1743. It is 8km away from the city center of Ayodhya in Faizabad. This is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture displaying the Nawabi culture of the period. The palace was the residence of Begum Unmatuzzohra Banu, wife of Shuja-ud-Daulah.
- Tulsi Bhawan Samark:- It is believed that this is the place where Goswami Tulsidas has created Ramcharitmanas. In 1969 this Smarak was built to honor the saint near the National Highway at Rajganj Crossing, Ayodhya. This place houses a research center, museum, and a huge library having a collection of the rich history and culture of the country.
Ram Mandir Dispute
The Ayodhya dispute was a socio-religious, historical, and political dispute, that revolved around the ownership of a piece of land site in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The dispute was between the Hindu and Muslim people in the region. Arguing that traditionally it is the birthplace of lord Rama and in 1528 Babari Masjid was established here after demolishing the Ram Mandir. Between the period of 1853 to 1859, many riots took place, and the British government divided the place between Hindus and Muslims. After that, in 1885 the first-ever court hearing was held in which Mahant Raghubir Das asked for building roop over the temple area.
On 23 December 1949, Hindu devotees kept the idol of Lord Rama inside the Masjid and started worshiping, this resulted in the complete ban of the area. Hence various groups were founded which field several cases in the court for removing the ban. Therefore, in 1986 Faizabad court issued an order that allowed Hindus to worship in the temple. As a result, riots began throughout the nation, and in 1991 U.P. government again took possession of the land to stop the riots. But this attempt of the government failed when on 6 December 1992 thousands of Kar Sevaks moved to Ayodhya. They demolished the Babri Masjid completely to build a temporary temple there, which again ignited the fire among the people.
Judgement of Allahabad Court
In 2002, a bench of three judges was constituted at Allahabad Court. The bench asked the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to study the area and prepare a report. According to the report earlier in the 12th century, there was a mandir, and after demolishing the temple masjid was found. Hence, after considering all the reports and evidence the Lucknow bench of Allahabad court passed a historical judgement on 30 September 2010. In this, they divided the whole area into 3 parts, the first was the Ram Murti area, Sita Rasoi, Bhandara, and Ram Chabutra in the second and third was the Masjid. However, the Supreme Court sustained the verdict on 9 May 2011.
From then till December 2017, 32 appeals were filed in the Supreme Court against the Allahabad court verdict. The case was then postponed until January 2019, and then in March 2019, the Supreme Court transferred the case to a Mediation Panel governed by the court itself. From then on, the panel issued its final report in May 2019. After that, a 40-day hearing in the Supreme Court begins on August 6 and runs through October 14. It was the second-longest hearing in the Supreme Court history. However, after 40 days of court hearings, the Supreme Court issued its verdict and requested that the petitioners file a Moulding of Relief.
Final Verdict
After hearing the petitioners’ arguments, the Supreme Court ruled on December 9, 2019, that land possession cannot be resolved based on people talking and the ASI report. For that reason, only the legal arguments and facts will be examined. As a result, all of the data and reasoning clearly establish that, despite the fact that there was a Masjid over there, Hindus were never barred from worshiping there. In addition, in commenting on the Allahabad High Court judgment, the Supreme Court stated that the verdict was unsustainable because no petitioner had requested such relief. As a result, the Supreme Court overturned this decision.
The Supreme Court then stated that the majority of the case was founded on historical facts and figures. Thus, based on the possibilities, it is determined that Hindus have been praying there since 1857, establishing their control over the property. The court further stated that the ban on Muslims performing Namaz in the area was enacted in December 1949. And it has taken away Muslims’ right to pray in their 400-year-old Masjid.
As a result, the Supreme Court, exercising its authority under Article 142 of the Indian Constitution, renders the final decision while correcting all errors made during the interim. According to the agreement, the land of the Babri Masjid, i.e. 2.77 acres, will be transferred to the Ram Lalla Virajman Trust, and the Sunni Waqf Board will be allocated 5 acres of land by the state or central government. Furthermore, both applicants will be granted land on the same day.
Conclusion
Hence, Ayodhya is a religious as well as a beautiful city to explore and experience the unity of religions. The city is full of mythological tales of Ramayana and many Buddhist and Jain texts. However, you can also witness the finest monuments carved in the Mughal and Bundela styles of architecture. This city is a developing region in Uttar Pradesh state and moving towards modernization in its lifestyle. As with the completion of Ram Mandir in 2024, tourist interaction is going to increase rapidly.
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