Janaki Mandir

Janaki Mandir
जानकी मन्दिर
Location in Nepal
Geography
Coordinates 26°43′50″N 85°55′32″E / 26.73056°N 85.92556°E / 26.73056; 85.92556Coordinates: 26°43′50″N 85°55′32″E / 26.73056°N 85.92556°E / 26.73056; 85.92556
Country Nepal
District Dhanusa District
Locale Janakpurdham
Elevation 78 m (256 ft)
Culture
Sanctum Sita (Janaki), Rama
Major festivals Vivaha Panchami, Rama Navami, Dashain, Tihar-Deepawali and Chhath
Architecture
Architecture Hindu-Kushwaha style, Mughal style
Number of temples 70
Number of monuments 27
History
Date built 1967 BS (1910 AD)

Janaki Mandir (Nepali: जानकी मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple in Janakpur in the Mithila region of Nepal, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Sita.[1]

It is an example of Hindu-Koiri Nepali architecture. It is often considered the most important model of Koiri architecture in Nepal. Fully built in bright white and constructed in an area of 4,860 sq. feet in a mixed style of Mughal and Koiri domes, the temple is 50 meters high.[2] It is a three-storied structure made entirely of stone and marble. All its 60 rooms are decorated with the flag of Nepal, colored glass, engravings and paintings, with beautiful lattice windows and turrets. According to legends and epics, King Janak ruled this area (called Videha) during the Ramayana period. His daughter Janaki (Sita), during her swyambar, had chosen Lord Rama as her husband, and become queen of Ayodhya. Their marriage ceremony had occurred in the nearby temple which is also called vivaha mandap. The site was designated as a UNESCO tentative site in 2008.[3]

History

The temple is popularly known as the Nau Lakha Mandir (meaning "nine lakhs"). The cost for the construction of the temple was about the same amount of money: rupees nine lakhs or nine hundred thousand, hence the name. Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Tikamgarh, India built the temple in 1910 AD.

In 1657, a golden statue of the Goddess Sita was found at the very spot, and Sita is said to have lived there. The legend said it that it was built on the holy site where Sannyasi Shurkishordas had found the images of Goddess Sita. In fact, Shurkishordas was the founder of modern Janakpur and the great saint and poet who preached about the Sita Upasana (also called Sita Upanishad) philosophy. Legend has claimed it that King Janak(Seeradhwaj) performed the worship of Shiva-Dhanus on this site.

As of 26 April 2015, the temple is reported to have partly collapsed from the earthquake in April 2015.[4]

Pilgrimage

Every year, thousands of pilgrims from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and other countries visit Ram Janaki Temple to worship Lord Ram and Sita. Many worshippers visit the temple during the festivals of Ram Nawami, Vivaha Panchami, Dashain and Tihar.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Janaki Temple". Janakpurdham. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Janaki Mandhir". Lonely planet. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  3. ↑ https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5261/
  4. ↑ "Nepal Earthquake Takes Heavy Toll on Temples". NDTV. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
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