Uttar Pradesh

"There is situated Saketa, the best of the cities. In that city there is an extremely beautiful village known as Ramaniya."

"Thereafter one should go to Gopratāra which is the best pilgrim place (tīrtha) on the Sarayū river where Rāma went to heaven with all his followers along with the splendour of that tirth. By the grace and efforts of Rāma, a man attains heaven by taking bath in Gopratāra and becomes pure from all sins."

"Not even a bird shall be able to enter Ayodhya."

"All sins of those persons, who after being purified by bathing on the Sarayū’s bank visit the janma-bhūmi, are effaced, by its mere glimpse, for hundreds, thousands and crores of kalpas."

"Asitamuni answered, “Those who restrain their passions and do not commit sins, gain the full advantages of the pilgrimage. He who controls the passions and gives alms in proportion to his means, obtains these benefits. He who keeps the Naumi fast, shaves at Svargadvar, bathes there, and visits the birthplace, is released from the sins of killing a cow and a brahman, of cohabiting with the wife of a spiritual guide, and from many others of the same kind, and thus obtains salvation. On that day, men, Kinnaras, Gandharvas, and the gods bathe in the Sarayù and visit the birthplace. You should also do the same; proceed and you will see great wonders.”"

"According to well researched conclusion of scholars, there existed at least five Vishnu temples in Ayodhya in the 12th century viz. (1) Harismriti (or Guptahari) at the Gopratar (goptar) ghat, (2) Chandrahari on the west side of the Swargadwar ghat, (3) Vishnuhari at the Chakratirtha ghat, (4) Dharmahari on the east side of Swargadwar ghat, and (5) Vishnu (Rama) temple on the Janmabhoomi. The last three of these have been replaced on all accounts by mosques built by Mughal emperors."

"Mardana! this Ayodhya city belongs to Sri Ramachandra Ji. So let us go for his darshan [visit with God]."

"Ayodhya is as holy to Hindus as Mecca to Muslims."

"Virtuous Avantikā, i.e. Ujjaina is the foot of Vishnu and Kāñchīpurī is His waist. Yogis consider Dvarakā His navel and Haridvāra His heart. Mathurā is considered His neck and Varanasī the tip of His nose. Ayodhyā is the head of Vishnu. Sages call all these the limbs of Vishnu."

"“By evening, we had arrived at Shri Kshetra Ayodhya and stopped at the Kale Rama temple. The festival of Ramnavami (the day Lord Rama was born) was only a few days away and so the city of Ayodhya was milling with some seven to eight lakh pilgrims and holy men. I had never seen so many sadhus and bairagis together. There were also many pilgrims from the south.” (p. 177)"

"Ayodhyā was like a divine city descended from heaven under the load of abundant pleasure. It was the best amongst all towns because of prosperity and looking like a śamī tree full of royal fire."

"The mosque of Ram Darbar was built by Fedai Khan. It has been damaged by the infidels who have torn the two minarets and the wall. During the days of Amjad Ali Shah, orders had been issued for its reconstruction. But with his sudden death, he took this wish along with him, while the Qila Masjid was given to the Mahant of the Qila as muafi. The mosque has been converted into a house. The possession of mosques under the Hindus is well-known."

"“Listen, Vibhishan, Angad, Sugriv! Pure and clean “Is my city; my land is the fairest e’er seen! “Tho’ for beauty men always of Paradise dream, “And tho’ scripture, as all know, declares it supreme, “Tho’ but few know the secret, yet this I declare- “That dear to me is Avadh beyond all compare! “Here’s my birthplace, this city delightful, secure; “On the north River Sarju flows, sacred and pure, “In which bathing, without any labours or pains, “His abiding-place with me forever man gains; “Very dear to my heart are all those who here dwell; “They attain thus my realm, there and here all is well.”"

"Ayodhyā, which was having guests and four gates in all the four directions, was shining like the body of four-faced Brahmā, expert in instant creation... Women of Sāketa saluted him with folded hands... He stayed in the sprawling garden of Sāketa... He entered into Ayodhyā full of women who had come to see Sītā... By the order of the king Kuśa guilds of artisans, with their advanced instruments, renovated Ayodhyā, as if clouds, by the order of Indra, made the hot earth green by rain-fall. Ayodhyā looked as beautiful as it was earlier. There the son of Maithilī, i.e. Kuśa attained such happiness that he had no desire left for becoming the master of the paradise and the Alakapuri."

"Emperor Aurangzeb constructed two mosques in the Svargadvara area, where had stood two Vishnu shrines built by the Gahadavala kings - the Chandra Hari by Chandradeva's and the Dharma Hari (or Treta ka Thakur) by Jayachandra. The ruins of the mosque at Chandra Hari survive and "may still hide an inscription" that commemorated Chandradeva visit, just as the ruins of the mosque built by Aurangzeb at Dharma Hari revealed an inscription of Jayachandra. Small insignificant temples were subsequently constructed to commemorate the earlier shrines; they retained the names Chandra Hari and Dharma Hari."

"This fair city opens to all Rama’s heaven, The whole world knows well here is holiness given. Beyond number souls from the four wombs are born. But the souls who in Avadh die never return. Well knowing this city the home of delight, The giver of wealth, source of all that is bright, Its history pure I’ll begin to relate; Once heard it destroys passion, envy and hate."

"Earlier under the rule of Mlechhas, the people [of Ayodhya] had to bathe secretly. Now, since Jaisinghpura has been established, all the people of Ayodhya will be coming for (the holy) bath on the auspicious day."

"“It is locally affirmed that at the Musalman conquest there were three important Hindu temples at Ayodhya: these were the Janma-sthanam, the Svargadvaram, and the Treta-ka-Thakur. On the first of these Mir Khan built a Masjid, in A.H. 930 during the reign of Babar, which still bears his name.”"

"At this Oudee or Oujea (a citty in Bengala & felicitated by Ganges) are many Antick Monuments, especially memorable is the pretty old castle Ranichand built by a Bannyan Pagod of that name about 994500 yeares ago after their accompt, from which to this the Bannyans have repayred to offer here and to wash away their sinnes in Ganges, each of which is recorded by name by the laborious Bramyns who acquaintes this Pagod with their good progressions and charitable offerings.”"

"I will ask to eat (= beg), and will sleep in the mosque."

"P. Carnegy has written that Ayodhyā is to the Hindus what Mecca is to the Mahomedon and Jerusalem to the Jews. R.T. Griffith, the celebrated translator of Vālmīki Rāmayana, was of the opinion that ‘Ajudhyā is the Jerusalem or Mecca of the Hindus’."

"[Pilgrims] resort to this vicinity, where the remains of the ancient city of Oude, and capital of the Great Rama are still to be seen. [religious mendicants] walk round the temples and idols, bathe in the holy pools, and perform the customary ceremonies""

"Tulasīdāsa says that in the hard and inappropriate age, [they, the Yāvanas] forcibly made the Hindus bereft of Śikhā (the hair tuft) and Sūtra (the sacred thread) and made them wander [as homeless people], after which they expelled them from their country (native place). The barbaric Bābar came, with a sword in his hand, and killed people after repeatedly calling out to them. Tulasīdāsa says that the time was terrible. Tulasīdāsa says that in the Saṃvat 1585 (1528 AD), sometime around the summer season, the ignorant Yavanas caused disaster and sorrow in Awadh (Ayodhyā). Destroying the temple at Rāmajanmabhūmi, they constructed a mosque. When they killed many Hindus, Tulasīdāsa cried out - Alas! Mir Baqi destroyed the temple in Awadh (Ayodhyā) and the Rāmasamāja (the idols Rāma Pañcāyatana – Rāma, Sītā, Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, Hanumān). [On thinking of this,] Tulasīdāsa cries, beating his chest, O the best of Raghus! Protect us, protect us! Tulasīdāsa says that in the midst of Awadh (Ayodhyā), where the Rāmajanmabhūmi temple was resplendent, there the wicked and vile Mir Baqi constructed a mosque. Tulasīdāsa says that where there was constant ringing of the bells and the narrations (upakhāna, from Saṃskṛta upākhyāna) of the Rāmāyaṇa, Veda and Purāṇa, the ignorant (ajāna) Yavana read (literally, ‘did’) the Quran and the Azaan (ajāna)."

"In the year sixteen hundred and thirtyone bright, With my head lowly placed at my lord’s feet I write; On Tuesday, the ninth day of Chaitra, month pleasing, In the city of Avadh my story releasing. ‘Tis the birthday of Rāma, as scriptures declare, And the day when the pilgrims are gathering there. All demons, birds, serpents, men, saints and gods too There are meeting to bring their lord homage true; On this festival day of lord Rama’s birth They all sing with acclaim his high praises and worth."

"This beautiful city is my birthplace; to the north of it flows the holy Saryu, by bathing in which men secure a home near Me without any difficulty. The dwellers here are very dear lo me; the city is not only full of bliss itself but bestows a residence in My divine Abode... Blessed indeed is Ayodhya that has evoked praise from Sri Rama Himself!"

"“Oude, a town of Hindostan, in the above prov. and kingdom of which it was the former cap; on the Gogra across which an iron bridge, the materials having been brought from England is said to have been recently thrown 74 mile E. Lucknow; Lat. 26048’ N. Long. 8204’ E. It extends a considerable distance along the banks of the river, stretching as far as Fyzabad. It is said by Hamilton to be tolerably populous; but except along the river’s brink, it consists wholly of ruins and jungle, among which are the remains of various celebrated Hindoo temples. Hindoo pilgrims still visit Oude; and did so in great numbers, until Aurangzebe demolished most of their places of resort. A mosque erected by that monarch, and 2 tombs, greatly venerated by mohammedans are now the principal and almost sole remaining public edifices. ( Mod.Trav. ix, 312-315)”"

"In Ayodhya itself, several Rama temples were destroyed by Aurangzeb (Treta-ka-Thakur and Swargdwar), a fact which even the official polemicists against the Rama-Janmabhoomi have not dared to deny."

"Guru Nanak... reached Ayodhya... He gazed at Rama for darsana and then left overjoyed and earning his merit."

"Going on from this to the south-east for three yojanas, they came to the great kingdom of Sha-che (Saketa). As you go out of the city of Sha-che by the southern gate, on the east of the road (is the place) where Buddha, after he had chewed his willow branch, stuck it in the ground, when it forthwith grew up seven cubits, (at which height it remained) neither increasing nor diminishing. The Brahmans with their contrary doctrines became angry and jealous. Sometimes they cut the tree down, sometimes they plucked it up, and cast it to a distance, but it grew again on the same spot as at first. Here also is the place where the four Buddhas walked and sat, and at which a tope was built that is still existing.”"

"There he, after having prostrated before (the idol of) Ramachandra, rendered prayers."

"If a man specially glances at the Janmasthāna, following traditions and becomes wan and cleans dust, he is liberated from the peril of rebirth after glancing at the birthplace."

"Maratha documents show that one of their main objectives was the liberation of the sacred cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi and Prayag. In the year 1751, Maratha armies led by Malhar Rao Holkar defeated the Pathan forces in Doab and immediately after victory, requested Safdarjang to handover Ayodhya, Kashi and Prayag to the Peshwa."

"At the centre is the royal palace built by Brahmā. It is called Janmasthāna and gives salvation, etc. and the mere sight of which releases a man from returning to the mother’s womb without donation, penance, pilgrimage and sacrifice."

"It contains many clusters of temples which are encircled by glittering gold pots on the front part of the top pinnacles with white boundary walls plastered by lime. There are many platforms which adorn temples of gods with jewels which appear to mock at the Śeshanāga having a thousand jewels."

"By glancing at the Janma-bhūmi, one gets the fruit of donating a thousand Kapilā cows. By a glance at the Janma-bhūmi, all the sins gathered in thousands of births are liquidated. By a glance at the Janma-bhūmi, one gets all the merits obtained by his devotion to mother, father and elderly people."

"Protector of the pilgrim places located in Kasi, Kushika, Uttar-kosala (Ayodhyā) and Indra-sthān (Indra-prastha)."

"On the bank of the Sarayū river (at Ayodhyā), the corner of the vast northern altar is situated near the Yūpa (the column for sacrifice) and there are hundreds of ‘chashala, i.e. big umbrellas to provide shade for pilgrims, and the spot of the Asvamedha sacrifice of the kings of the solar race creates impressions of wonder amongst pilgrims."

"The excavations revealed that the settlement at Ayodhya began with a phase when a very distinctive and deluxe pottery called the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) had come into being... Without any break, the settlement continued through what are known as the Sunga, Kushan and Gupta periods."

"By a glance at the Janma-bhūmi, one gets all merits of those who serve their teachers, render service in pilgrim places, tread the path of truthfulness and follow their dharma."

"Ayodhya (impregnable), the city of gods, consists of eight circles (also cycles) and nine entrances; within it there is the golden treasure –dome the celestial world, ever illuminated with light (north pole). Whoever knows it as the Creator’s city ever surrounded with nectar will have long life, fame and offspring bestowed on him by Brahma (the sun), and Brahma (the moon). Into this city ever shining, moving, and pervaded with yalas (fame and luster), the creator has ended."

"This story shed its lustre at Ayodhya. On this day of Sri Rama's birth the presiding spirits of all holy places flock there..."

"Those Kshatriyas made their abode in the same famous traditional capital (Ayodhyā) where Rāma, the husband of Jānakī, after having defeated Ravana, used to reside. One amongst those kings, intent on victory and elegant in pastime and religious rites after having vanquished all, set his feet in the south which was full of betel nut trees competing with the height of palaces."

"If Ajodhya was then little other than a wilderness, it must at least have possessed a fine temple in the Janamasthan; for many of its columns are still in existence and in good preservation, having been used by the Musalmans in the construction of the Babari Mosque. These are of strong, close- grained, darkcolored or black stone called by the natives kasauti and carved with different devices"

"By glancing at the Janma-bhūmi one gets the fruit of donating a thousand Kapilā (tawny colored) cows. By a glance at the Janma-bhūmi, all the sins gathered in thousands of births are liquidated."

"The Swargadwar mosque and the Treta ka Thakur mosque [both in Ayodhya] were built by Aurangzeb after demolishing Hindu shrines of the same name dedicated to Rama.... Two tombs attributed to Paigambars Sis and Ayub (i.e. patriarchs Seth and Job) occupy the site where the extraordinary „toothbrush‟ tree of Buddha had once stood, according to Fa Hien and Huen Tsang... The ancient Jain temple of Adinath was destroyed by Maqdoom Shah Jooran Ghori, a commander of Mohammed Ghori, who later had his own tomb built on top of the ruins of Adinath, which survives till this day as Shah Jooran ka Tila."

"He (i.e. Bilhana) composed a Kāvya on Ayodhyā which was the capital of the husband of Sītā, i.e. Rāma, the tormentor of Ravana."

"He, who fasts on the (Rāma) Navamī, takes bath and makes a donation, is liberated from all perils of birth by having a glance at the Janmasthāna."

"By a glance at the Janma-bhūmi, one gets all the merits obtained by devotion to mother, father and elderly people. By a glance at the Janma-bhūmi, one gets all merits of those who serve teachers, render service in pilgrim places, tread the path of truthfulness and follow their dharma."

"Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Haridvāra, Kāśi, Kānchī and Ujjain [are] the most sacred and foremost cities."

"After having worshipped formally, one should go to the Janma-bhūmi which is in the east from the Vighneśvara, in the north from VasishTha, in the West from Lomaśa. It is called Janmasthāna."