Bihar to develop Sita birthplace

Subject :History

Section: Art and culture

Context: Bihar to develop Sita birthplace

More about the news:

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has launched a Rs 72-crore development plan for Goddess Sita’s birthplace at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi.

What are the mentions of present-day Bihar in the Ramayana:

The Valmiki Ramayana, the primary source book for many subsequent versions, including Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, refers to Sita using four words — Vaidehi, Janaki, Sita, and Mithilapuri. Mithilapuri, an apparent reference to Mithila, connects to Sita’s birth story, where she was found in a ploughed field by King Janak in Ramayana.
According to Valmiki, Ram and Laxman visited various sites in Bihar during their travels with Maharishi Vishwamitra, including Chitrakoot, Saran district, Siddhashram in Buxar, the confluence of Ganga and Sone near Patna, and Ahalya’s ashram (Ahirouri in Mithilapuri).
Mithila plays a significant role during Ram and Sita’s wedding in the Ramayana.
Valmiki mentions Ram visiting Mithilapuri once, while some later versions claim a visit after his coronation.

Which is the birthplace of Sita in Sitamarhi, the Janaki temple or the Punaura Dham

Contrary to the belief that Janaki Sthan in Sitamarhi was Sita’s birthplace, recent research spanning nearly a decade indicated that the Janaki temple was constructed around 200 years ago based on a sage’s dream.
The research, relying on Valmiki Ramayan and travelers’ accounts, identified Punaura Dham as Sita’s birthplace.
The site, comprising a 100-year-old temple, Sitakund, Sita Vatika, and Luv Kush Vatika, was recommended to the Bihar government and subsequently accepted by the state and central governments for development in the Ramayana Circuit.
The decision to develop Punaura Dham followed conclusive research, refuting the previous belief in Janaki Sthan.
Statistician and historian Sir William Wilson Hunter’s account in 1877 also acknowledged Punaura as a contender for Sita’s birthplace, three miles southwest of Sitamarhi.

What is the history of Janakpuri in Nepal

The modern name Janakpuri is attributed to Mithilapuri, a location mentioned in Valmiki Ramayan.
The Indian government, in collaboration with the Nepal government, has incorporated Janakpuri into the Ramayana Circuit.
Historically, Janakpur became part of Nepal through the 1816 Indo-Nepal treaty.
Notably, Francis Buchanan Hamilton, a prominent historian on Nepal, does not document ‘Janakpuri,’ but references Mithilapuri.

What are some historical references of the present-day Sitamarhi

According to the account of the renowned archaeologist Alexander Cunningham, Sita-Marhi is located slightly more than 40 miles northwest of Darbhanga, around 14 miles from the nearest point of the Nepal frontier.
The area is bounded on the east by a branch of the Sowrun Nala, and parts of the village are affected by numerous small streams that converge and flood the region.
While Sita-Marhi has some temples dedicated to Sita, Cunningham notes that the place lacks significant archaeological interest beyond these structures.

What are the Bihar government’s plans for Punaura

The Punaura Development plan, based on information from the board of religious trust, encompasses the renovation of the temple, creation of a roofed pradakshina path around it, and the development of Luv Kush Vatika, Sita Vatika, and Sita Kund.
Additionally, a meditation mandap will be established, and a 3-D film will be screened to depict Sita’s life journey.
The Mahavir Temple Trust is set to construct a Sita temple within Sitakund with a budget of Rs 100 crore, and the project will commence after the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January 2024.