Ayodhya – the unconquerable
Uttar Bhārat Yātrā of H.H. Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī
March 5th to April 1st 2025
Ayodhyā Camp (22nd – 24th March 2025)Inputs by Deepā Murḍeshwar
Lucknow en route Ayodhyā
From the streets of Vrindāvan, where Shrī Kris͟hṇa's Līlā-s were demonstrated with love and joy, H.H. Swāmījī with the yātrī-s continued towards the temples of Ayodhyā, where Shrī Rāma's legend is etched in each grain of soil and every stone.
22ndMarch 2025
Pādapraks͟hālana
The journey took a brief halt at Guñjan Vasant Hosaṅgaḍī mām & Dīptimā pāchī’s home at Lucknow around 4 p.m. where they received H.H. Swāmījī with reverence, affection, respect, and attentive care. The perfect hosts that they are, they showered H.H. Swāmījī, the retinue and yātrī-s the best of everything - from a delicious meal to a comfortable seating arrangement.
Prior to the arrival of H.H. Swāmījī and the yātrī-s, there was a storm, but Guñjan mām quickly restored the settings. The nice part was, there were welcome showers just before the arrival of H.H. Swāmījī, and even a rainbow appeared in the sky, signifying auspicious ”Laks͟haṇa-s” for the commencement of this Ayodhyā lap of the yātrā.
Inseparable as they are – Shrī Rāma and Hanumān, the beauty of Hanumān’s self-identification is that He cannot think of Himself as Marutātmaja, “son of the wind God”. He can think of Himself as only the Dāsa of Shrī Rāmachandra.
23rd March 2025 - 6:00 a.m.
Hanumān Garhī (गढी) Devasthāna
It is said that before one visits Shrī Rāma Janmabhoomi, one must visit Hanumān Garhī.
H.H. Swāmījī arrived for the darshana of Shrī Hanumān at the Hanumān Garhī temple, Ayodhyā. 76 steps lead to the garbha-gṛha where a 6-inch vigraha of Hanumān, depicting Him in His shaishava (childhood) form is positioned on the lap of His mother Añjanī. Yātrī-s climbed the crowded steps with reverence, their devotion resonating with chants of “Jai Shrī Rāma” as they ascended to have darshana of the most revered Dāsa of Shrī Rāma.
23rd March 2025 - 10:30 a.m.
A very effective presentation by the extremely learned Dr. Nitin R. Gokarṇ, IAS on History and Importance of Ayodhyā for Sanātanā Dharma at Mānas Bhavan, Ayodhyā. Dr. Gokarṇ has authored seven books, in addition to holding various senior positions in the Government.
The content of the slide presentation was engaging, thought provoking with a logical flow sending compelling takeaways after an encouraging audience participation of a Q&A session.
While stating that सनातन was a way of life, Nitin mām spoke about various scriptures of our religion from पुराण-s to दर्शन-s. He likened the पुरुष and प्रकृति of the सांख्य-philosophers to Rāmaji and Sītāji respectively. He mentioned about the antiquity of Rāmāyaṇa going back to 15000 years based on the evidence from astronomy, and many more points about Rāmāyaṇa especially as in Rāmacharit Mānas which speaks extensively about the city of Ayodhyā and the “Goverenance” aspect of the rule by Rāma. He also pointed out that Rāmacharit Mānas came nearer to the common folks as it departed from Sanskrit and narrated Rāmacharit in Avadhī.
23rd March 2025 – 6:00 p.m.
River Sarayū – Nayā Ghāṭ
River Sarayū on the banks of the city of Ayodhyā is of historical significance and spiritual legacy.
As the sun set on the tranquil banks of the Nayā Ghāṭ of River Sarayū, the sky was pink as H.H. Swāmījī performed the S͟hoḍashopachāra pūjana and āratī of the revered river. The calm waters and the gentle lapping of waves against the shore synchronised with the sense of serenity amidst the yātrī-s who followed H.H. Swāmījī with the bhajana-s, ‘Jayatu Jayatu Jagajananī’ and ‘Āñjaneya Swāmī’.
23rd March 2025 - 8:30 p.m.
Informal Interaction with H.H. Swāmījī
H.H. Swāmījī while informally interacting with the yātrī-s, drew a similarity between Rāmāñjaneya protecting the precincts at Shirālī and Hanumān at Hanumān Garhī protecting Ayodhyā.
H.H. Swāmījī emphasised the need of the hour to invoke Hanumān to come out of His cave, the Guhā, and reveal Himself.
24th March 2025 – 4:00 a.m.
Shrī Rāma Janmabhoomi Tīrtha Ks͟hetra
This puṇya ks͟hetra holds immense spiritual, cultural, religious, and emotional significance for millions of devotees.
Nature awaited with bated breath in the early hours of the dawn as H. H. Swāmījī witnessed the Maṅgalāratī of ‘Rāma Lallā’, the Kris͟hṇa shīlā (black stone) vigraha, in the sanctum sanctorum of the Rāma Mandir depicting Lord Rāma as a five-year-old child.
The Logistic and the Quick response team ensured that all 180 yātrī-s had a seamless and stress-free experience with an auspicious darshana of Rāma Lallā that would be cherished forever. We remembered with awe that Rāma Lallā was restored to His rightful place after almost 500 years, immence struggle and great sacrifices.
24th March 2025 - 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The yātrī-s set out in e-rickshaws, not on foot.... only later they had to walk through the narrow lanes to visit a few places of historical significance in Ayodhyā - Dasharatha Mahal,
Kanaka Bhawan, Shrī Rāmavallabhā Kuñja and Nāgeshwar Nāth Temple.
Dasharatha Mahal
When Mātā Sītā came to offer Her praṇāma-s to King Dasharatha in his magnificent palace, the King was ready to give the newly wed young bride whatever she desired. Mātā Sītā modestly expressed that she has all she needs and requested to be regarded as a daughter from now on. From that moment onward, Mātā Sītā’s name is always mentioned before Shrī Rāma’s - Jai Siyā Rāma!
Kanaka Bhawan
It is believed that this Kanaka Bhawan was gifted to Mātā Sītā by Kaikeyī immediately after Sītā’s marriage to Lord Rāma. The main idols installed in the garbha-gṛha (sanctum sanctorum) are of Lord Rāma and Mātā Sītā.
Shrī Rāmavallabhā Kuñja
The idols of Lord Rāma and Mātā Sītā as a young bridegroom and bride are installed in the Shrī Rāmavallabhā Kuñja temple. Legend has it that Goddess Annapūrṇā, the Goddess of food and nourishment and the incarnation of Goddess Pārvatī who never lets Her devotees stay hungry, appeared before Mātā Sītā and offered Her “Chhappan Bhog!”
Nāgeshwar Nāth Temple
Legend says Kush, one of the twin sons of Rāma and Sītā once while bathing in the river Sarayū, lost his gem studded bracelet. A beautiful Nāgakanyā retrieved it for him. Kush was so completely besotted by her that he built the Nāgeshwar Nāth Temple with a Shivaliṅga for her
24th March 2025 – 6:00 p.m.
Garbā – an expression of joy, gratitude and surrender!
H.H. Swāmījī bestowed His Grace on the yātrī-s with an informal interaction.
When in His Divine Vāṇī Pūjya Swāmījī sang “Āja Sakhī suna kāhān se āyī and Ambā Tu Adhara Devī” the Purus͟ha and Mātru varga sang and danced in circles moving in rhythmic harmony of footsteps and hand claps - a spiritual expression of love, devotion, reverence joy, gratitude and surrender to Mother Divine.
Next morning we left for Vārāṇasī, the spiritual heart of Sanātana Dharma!