Just 22 Kilometers from the industrial metropolis of Kanpur on the Kannauj road, lies the quiet and beautiful township of Bithoor. Far from the hustle and bustle and madding crowds of Kanpur, Bithoor offers a tranquil spot suffused with historical and religious significance. Now let us see the places related to epic Ramayana in Bithoor.
Religious significance of Bithoor:
01. Valmiki Ashram Temple - The great epic "Sri Ramayana" was written by Sage Valmiki Maharishi at this place which consists of 24000 stanzas, 500 chapters (Sargams) and 06 Kanda's (Kanda means Stem - Main Sectors or Divisions). Pregnant Sita Matha was left by Lakshmana in the forests near this sage Valmiki's ashram after Lord Rama banishes her from the kingdom.
02. The twin sons of Sri Rama - Lava and Kusha were born here.
The birth place of Lava and Kusha, the heroic twin sons of Lord Sri Rama. This temple complex houses all the important temples related to Ramayana. Lava Kusha temple, Sita-Ram mandir, Hanuman mandir, Valmiki Rishi Ashram, Sita Rasoi, Sita Paatal Pravesh.
The main sannidhi houses the vigrahams of Sita Piratti with Luva and Kusha on either sides. On the right side, there is a sannidhi for Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. Opposite to this sannidhi is the shrine for “Bandhey Hanuman” (Tied Hanuman) facing south. Hanuman is named so because he was tied by Luva and Kusha.
In the above image you can have darshan in order of left to right from Lava & Kusa in the form of small idols, next Sita Matha, next Lord Rama in black color, next Lord Lakshmanan and Maharaja Sugriva.
Lord Hanuman had come to this place and has left his footprints in this place. Hence having darshan of Lord Hanuman here, you will get rid of all sins.
All the above temples are located in the same complex. After visiting all these temples we are moving towards Valmiki Ashram.
This is the center piece of the ashram with a large courtyard. The sage Valmiki is seen majestically in Padmasana posture writing the epic Ramayana. There is tremendous peace and tranquility on his face.
The above idol is of Sage Valmiki, prior to his transformation as Maharishi, he was an illiterate hunter who committed innumerable sins by waylaying travelers and looting their wealth. This black idol is the form of Sage Valmiki, when he was a thief.
Since, it is the birth place of Lava & Kusa, we can see the idol of Matha Sita Devi with her son's Lava and Kusa. This idol has been titled has Vana Devi Sita Devi because Sage Valmiki didn't want to reveal all, that Lord Rama had abandoned her. Hence Sage Valmiki said that, special Vana Devi had come to our ashram.
Next to it, you will find the tree in which Lord Hanuman was tied by the sons of Lord Rama - Lava & Kusa. Once upon a time Lava and Kusa (Lord Rama's Sons) tied Hanuman to the tree. After the coronation of Lord Rama, he was busy with Ashwamedha Yagna. In which according to the law, the horse should go around the Bharatha Desam and come back to the right place without any disturbance. It is considered as the yaga was purnam (complete).
Lava and Kusa tied the horse in the Valmiki Ashram. Lord Rama sent some powerful heroes to bring back the horse. Unfortunately all of them lost with powerful Lava and Kusa. Finally Hanuman came to rescue the horse. When he saw Lava and Kusa he fell in love with the sons' of Lord Rama. Both Children captured Hanuman and tied him (rather Hanuman allows himself to be tied up) to the tree so that they can play with the monkey.
Later Lava and Kusa told their mother Sita that they captured a monkey to play with. Mother Sita was upset with kids and she told Hanuman is not a monkey and without Hanuman, No Sita or Rama. She also told the whole story about Hanuman to Lava and Kusa.
This tree is there from the time of Lord Rama. It is said that this tree is of miracle, where every time new tree grows from inside and the outer bark gets peeled off automatically.
SITA PAATAL PRAVESH: As Sitadevi had handed over the sons to Sri Rama, she felt that all her duties were completed and decided to end HER incarnation. Sita Devi prayed the earth to accept HER back (as SHE was born as an ayonija from the birth). The earth quaked and Sita devi disappeared into the bowels of the earth. This place is located in the temple premises by a 1 X 1 pit named as “SITA PAATAL PRAVESH”. This historic event must have taken place in Naimisaranyam but it is still said here in the remembrance of Sita Matha.
Kujantam rama rameti madhuram madhuraaksharam
aaruhya kavitaa saakhaam vande valmiki kokilam
The darshan of Valmiki Ashram was ended with above verse. This verse is a salutation to the poet Valmiki, who like a cuckoo bird sitting on the tree of poetry, melodiously repeats the sweet name of Rama. Blessed by Brahma, Valmiki who earlier became a sage, thus became a poet too.
Religious significance of Bithoor:
01. Valmiki Ashram Temple - The great epic "Sri Ramayana" was written by Sage Valmiki Maharishi at this place which consists of 24000 stanzas, 500 chapters (Sargams) and 06 Kanda's (Kanda means Stem - Main Sectors or Divisions). Pregnant Sita Matha was left by Lakshmana in the forests near this sage Valmiki's ashram after Lord Rama banishes her from the kingdom.
02. The twin sons of Sri Rama - Lava and Kusha were born here.
Sri Lava Kusa Janma Bhoomi Mandir, Bithoor
The birth place of Lava and Kusha, the heroic twin sons of Lord Sri Rama. This temple complex houses all the important temples related to Ramayana. Lava Kusha temple, Sita-Ram mandir, Hanuman mandir, Valmiki Rishi Ashram, Sita Rasoi, Sita Paatal Pravesh.
The main sannidhi houses the vigrahams of Sita Piratti with Luva and Kusha on either sides. On the right side, there is a sannidhi for Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. Opposite to this sannidhi is the shrine for “Bandhey Hanuman” (Tied Hanuman) facing south. Hanuman is named so because he was tied by Luva and Kusha.
In the above image you can have darshan in order of left to right from Lava & Kusa in the form of small idols, next Sita Matha, next Lord Rama in black color, next Lord Lakshmanan and Maharaja Sugriva.
Lord Hanuman had come to this place and has left his footprints in this place. Hence having darshan of Lord Hanuman here, you will get rid of all sins.
Sri Valmiki Ashram Temple, Bithoor
All the above temples are located in the same complex. After visiting all these temples we are moving towards Valmiki Ashram.
This is the center piece of the ashram with a large courtyard. The sage Valmiki is seen majestically in Padmasana posture writing the epic Ramayana. There is tremendous peace and tranquility on his face.
The above idol is of Sage Valmiki, prior to his transformation as Maharishi, he was an illiterate hunter who committed innumerable sins by waylaying travelers and looting their wealth. This black idol is the form of Sage Valmiki, when he was a thief.
Since, it is the birth place of Lava & Kusa, we can see the idol of Matha Sita Devi with her son's Lava and Kusa. This idol has been titled has Vana Devi Sita Devi because Sage Valmiki didn't want to reveal all, that Lord Rama had abandoned her. Hence Sage Valmiki said that, special Vana Devi had come to our ashram.
Next to it, you will find the tree in which Lord Hanuman was tied by the sons of Lord Rama - Lava & Kusa. Once upon a time Lava and Kusa (Lord Rama's Sons) tied Hanuman to the tree. After the coronation of Lord Rama, he was busy with Ashwamedha Yagna. In which according to the law, the horse should go around the Bharatha Desam and come back to the right place without any disturbance. It is considered as the yaga was purnam (complete).
Lava and Kusa tied the horse in the Valmiki Ashram. Lord Rama sent some powerful heroes to bring back the horse. Unfortunately all of them lost with powerful Lava and Kusa. Finally Hanuman came to rescue the horse. When he saw Lava and Kusa he fell in love with the sons' of Lord Rama. Both Children captured Hanuman and tied him (rather Hanuman allows himself to be tied up) to the tree so that they can play with the monkey.
Later Lava and Kusa told their mother Sita that they captured a monkey to play with. Mother Sita was upset with kids and she told Hanuman is not a monkey and without Hanuman, No Sita or Rama. She also told the whole story about Hanuman to Lava and Kusa.
This tree is there from the time of Lord Rama. It is said that this tree is of miracle, where every time new tree grows from inside and the outer bark gets peeled off automatically.
SITA PAATAL PRAVESH: As Sitadevi had handed over the sons to Sri Rama, she felt that all her duties were completed and decided to end HER incarnation. Sita Devi prayed the earth to accept HER back (as SHE was born as an ayonija from the birth). The earth quaked and Sita devi disappeared into the bowels of the earth. This place is located in the temple premises by a 1 X 1 pit named as “SITA PAATAL PRAVESH”. This historic event must have taken place in Naimisaranyam but it is still said here in the remembrance of Sita Matha.
aaruhya kavitaa saakhaam vande valmiki kokilam
The darshan of Valmiki Ashram was ended with above verse. This verse is a salutation to the poet Valmiki, who like a cuckoo bird sitting on the tree of poetry, melodiously repeats the sweet name of Rama. Blessed by Brahma, Valmiki who earlier became a sage, thus became a poet too.
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