In the Ramayana epic, it is said that the Pinak bow was broken by Prince Ram of Ayodhya during Sita’s ‘Swayamvara’, a practice for girls of marriageable age to choose a husband from amongst a list of suitors. The bow split into three sections, one of which fell in Dhanushadham. Visitors who come to Janakpurdham do not miss visiting Dhanushadham and worshipping Dhanushkhand. Mithila philosophical texts say all of one’s sins will wash away if they visit the place.

General Belief

The piece of the long Pinak bow that fell in Dhanushadham looks like a rock. This piece grows by itself once every three to four years, and as it grows, the wall around the bow rises. Visitors come all year round to pay homage to this piece of the Pinak bow: millions of visitors and devotees come to the site on Sundays in January and pray for their wishes to be fulfilled. A load of eggplant is also offered in the temple of the Pinak bow as it is believed that offering an eggplant will fulfil one’s desires.  Subsequently, large quantities of decorated eggplants are sold during fairs and festivals.

Similarly, there is also a legend about the hole in the root of the banyan tree in the temple. It is believed that during dry seasons, residents of the region fill the hole by pouring milk to call for rain and help during the harvest; leaving it empty is believed to cause famine.

Other Temples, Establishments and Activities in Dhanushadham

Within the temple premises, there is a statue of the Hindu god Hanuman; and a little to the south of the temple, there are Ram Janaki temples. There is a hospice and nearby, a small Shiva temple and various other deities have been established.

Various flowering plants including Rudraksha can be seen around Dhanushadham. An annual fair, known as the ‘Makar Mela’ or ‘Capricorn Fair’, is also organised that attracts millions of devotees from all across the world.

Accessibility

Dhanushadham is 18 km northeast from Janakpurdham, 16 km from Muzelia, and 10 km from Dharapani on the East-West Highway. This route is suitable for those coming from the east, west, and north. Janakpur can be reached from Kathmandu by flight and from there Dhanushadham can be reached by local means of transport.