Sri Ram Janaki Mandir, Dhanusha, Janakpur


Location

Province: Province 2

Janaki Mandir is located at Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City of Dhanusha district. The temple is located in the centre of the city and holds a unique touristic significance for Janakpur. This temple has been constructed in Mughal architectural style. 

How to reach

Different modes of transportation like air and roadways are available to get to Janakpurdham from all around the country. As it is located within the sub-metropolitan city, vehicles are readily available from Janakpur airport and any bus stop in the region. 

Significance 

According to legend, the famous King Janak ruled the Mithila kingdom during the Treta yuga. His daughter was Janaki, also known as Sita. As per legend, Sita married Sri Ram. The temple was constructed in memory of Mata Janaki. 

Traditional belief holds that when priest Sukishor Das of Lohada, Madhya Pradesh, came to Mithila during the 17th century and rested under a neem tree a statue of Ram-Janaki appeared out of nowhere after which, he started worshipping the statue, and has become the core element of the temple. 

After hearing of the miraculous incident, King Mani Mukunda Sen of Makawanpur came to Mithila in 1684 B.S. (1627 A.D.) bought 1,400 bighas (1,020,600 square feet) of land, and registered it in the name of Ram-Janaki. 

It is also said that 900,000 rupees was spent to build the Janaki Mandir at that time and since then Janaki Mandir is also known as a Naulakkha Mandir.

There are three statues inside the temple of Ram Janaki. One of them is believed to have been brought from Ayodhya. Furthermore, the main prayers are held in the ‘Garbha Griha’ of the temple. 

Main Festivities and Jatras

• There is a tradition to visit Ram Janaki Temple after bathing in Ganga Sagar and Dhanush Sagar.

• Ram Navami (April)

Chaitra Shukla Navami (March/April)

Ram Janmastami (May)

Marga Shukla Panchami (December)

Marga Shukla Panchami (December) the marriage of Ram-Janaki is celebrated.

Also, every year for 15 days, Shradha Bhakti on Marga Shukla Panchami (December), of Aradhya Dev is conducted by circling all the corners of the Temple and Mithila territory. This is known as the Parikrama Ritual. This is said to purify all the gods and goddesses of the Mithila region. The Parikrama ritual has three types: Full- Brihat, Medium- Madhya, and Quick-Lagu. The 15 days Parikrama is of Medium; 35 pilgrimages should be completed within 15 days. This starts from the Sanskrit lunar day, which falls during the Mid-Fagun Shukla Pratipada-Shukla

Purnima (Feb/March) month of the Nepali calendar. It ends on the Shukla Purnima as per the lunar day of Falgun (Feb/March) Nepali month by returning to the Janakpur Dham.

Then Janakpur Dham continuously rotates, starting from the Krishna Chaturthi and ending on Shukla Purnima, where Janakpur Dham areas are visited. It begins with the worshipping of Siddheswor Mahadev. During the course, individuals following the ritual bathes in the rivers of Dhanusha Dham and other ponds and visits Kameshwor Mahadev, eventually ending in Siddheswor temple.

Devotees reach the ponds that are known as tirthas.

During this ritual, shoes or slippers are not worn, and oil or soaps are not used. Most importantly, individuals must not utter any lies. 

Itinerary

Locations on Shiv Shakti Circuit

Shiv Shakti Circuit , Nepal

Shiv Shakti Circuit , India