With reciting the below sloka Sri U. Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan Swami started to explain the significance of Ayodhya and Sarayu river.
Apadam Apa Hantharam Datharam Dana Sarva Sampadam,
Lokabhiramam Sriramam Bhooyo Bhooyo Namamyaham
Meaning: I again and again salute that Rama who is ever beautiful,
Who destroys all dangers and gives all sorts of wealth.
Ayodhya is one of the important Divya Desam among 108 Divya Desams sung by Alwar or Azhwars (Tamil poet-saints of south India). In Moksha (Mukthi) bestowing seven Kshetras(Region/field), Ayodhya is the first Kshetra. The Seven Mukthi Kshetras are Ayodhya; Mathura, Maya or Haridwar, Kasi, Kanchi, Avantika or Ujjayini and Dwaravati (Dwaraka). The city of Ayodhya is located on the right bank of the river Sarayu.
River Sarayu are known as Nethraja, Sarayu and Vaashisti. Let us see the reasons behind it. Sarayu had originated from the eyes (netram) of Lord Vishnu as tears of mercy earning the name of Nethraja. Then she got filled like a pond (Manasa Sarovar) in the heart of Brahma hence, earning the name of Sarayu. Then Sage Vashishta who was the family Guru of Ikshvaku dynasty, brought her out in the form of a river to flow on earth due to which she came to be known as Vaasishti. Since it was born from Brahma's Manasa Sarovar, it is known as Sarayu. Lord Sri Rama is said to have performed his daily rituals upon bathing in this river.
Performing any kind of Dhanam (offering or sharing) in the banks of river Sarayu will bring us prosperity. Performing Go Dhanam (Cow) is considered the highest form of charity. Doing this will help us in getting rid of Pitru Runa (debt to ones ancestors) and will please our ancestors. The same has been said in our Dharma Sastras also. Above all these gives us the significance of Sarayu River.
Flow of River Sarayu: Sarayu flows from north towards south, in west of Ayodhya she turns towards east and flows around the city of Ayodhya and continues to move with full force in east direction. While crossing the place known as Chhapra, she gets merge with the holy river Ganga. The Ashram of Gautam Rishi is located just on the bank of Ganga-Sarayu Sangam (confluence).
In our yatra we have already taken holy bath in the river Ganga located in Bithoor, Kanpur. Now, we have carried out the holy dip and other rituals in the river named Sarayu, which one the most sacred river of India. Thereby covering two most sacred holy rivers of India. All the rivers after joining Ganga, will be referred commonly as Ganga only. After visiting Sarayu, now we moving to places located inside the city of Ayodhya.
Which place to see first Kanaka Bhavan or Hanuman Gaddi or Lakshman Ghat or Guptar Ghat? We are going to visit Maharaj Dasharath Mahal or Dasharath Bhavan because King Dasaratha and Kausalya were the one who gave birth to Lord Sri Rama.
Upanyasam (interpretation of religious texts) at Dasharath Bhavan: We are in the city of Ayodhya. It is said that "yodhum nasakya ithi ayodhya" which means no one can fight against it and win over. Aparajita (unconquerable), this place is not conquered by anyone. It was ruled by the Great Kings lineage of Ikshvaku dynasty. This dynasty was founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya. Thus this holy place had been the capital of the Dynasty known as Surya Kulam (Surya Vamsam). Kannan was born in Chadra Kulam, similarly Lord Rama was born in Surya Vamsam.
Kulashekhara Alwar expresses in his pasuram as "vengathiron kulatthukkor vilakkaayth thonri vinmuzhuthum uyakkonda veeran thannai" and as "aayar kulathil thontrum Anni villakku" for Kannan and surya kulathil thontrum Ramar.
When we say Lord Rama is born, it is through mother Kousalya. Hence the sloka "Kowsalya Supraja Rama Poorva Sandhya Pravarthathe". Lord Rama is Kausalya's endearing son. Lord Rama was born after 60,000 years of Dasaratha and Kausalya's married life. A part of Vaikuntam is used to built the Ayodhya city. This palace of King Dashrath is also known as Bada Asthan or Badi Jagah. The question, whether these are the same old buildings built 10000 years ago is not important here. But the ancient place Ayodhya is important, because the same name holds good before many 1000 years ago and even today. Though the buildings and structures might have changed due many invasions.
Lord Rama chose King Dasaratha & Kousalya devi as his parents which is stated in the verse 30 of Bala Kanda - Sarga 15......
Tatah Padma Palaashaakshah Krutvaatmaanam Chaturvidham,
Pitaram ROchayaamaasa Tadhaa Dasaratham Nrupam
Meaning: Then, the Lotus Eyed Vishnu, decided with love, to select Dasaratha King as His father and to take birth as four sons to him.
It is said that, after marriage Lord Rama and Sita got down here first from the Pallakku (decorated palanquin).
Meaning of Dasharath: Dash means ten and Rath means chariots. Means who can drive ten chariots together. He could handle 10 chariots together. He had the capacity to run his chariot in ten directions in battle which is unique skill hence ge was called Dasha ratha. Dasaratha was such a great fighter that sometimes Indra would summon for him when there was a fight with the demons. In spite of such a great king, Dasharath didn't achieve Mukthi, he went to heaven. A person's biggest wealth are his children, and a man would like to have beside him his children at the time of death. Dasaratha had four sons, none of whom was beside him when he breathed his last. But Jatayu had the great good fortune of not only having Rama by his side, as he lay dying, but he also had the fortune to have his last rites performed by the Lord, a blessing Dasaratha did not have. The Lord cried over Jatayu, and by performing his last rites, became like a son to him. Thus Dasaratha, the father of Rama, did not have the good fortune that Jatayu had.
Lokabhiramam Sriramam Bhooyo Bhooyo Namamyaham
Meaning: I again and again salute that Rama who is ever beautiful,
Who destroys all dangers and gives all sorts of wealth.
Ayodhya is one of the important Divya Desam among 108 Divya Desams sung by Alwar or Azhwars (Tamil poet-saints of south India). In Moksha (Mukthi) bestowing seven Kshetras(Region/field), Ayodhya is the first Kshetra. The Seven Mukthi Kshetras are Ayodhya; Mathura, Maya or Haridwar, Kasi, Kanchi, Avantika or Ujjayini and Dwaravati (Dwaraka). The city of Ayodhya is located on the right bank of the river Sarayu.
River Sarayu are known as Nethraja, Sarayu and Vaashisti. Let us see the reasons behind it. Sarayu had originated from the eyes (netram) of Lord Vishnu as tears of mercy earning the name of Nethraja. Then she got filled like a pond (Manasa Sarovar) in the heart of Brahma hence, earning the name of Sarayu. Then Sage Vashishta who was the family Guru of Ikshvaku dynasty, brought her out in the form of a river to flow on earth due to which she came to be known as Vaasishti. Since it was born from Brahma's Manasa Sarovar, it is known as Sarayu. Lord Sri Rama is said to have performed his daily rituals upon bathing in this river.
Performing any kind of Dhanam (offering or sharing) in the banks of river Sarayu will bring us prosperity. Performing Go Dhanam (Cow) is considered the highest form of charity. Doing this will help us in getting rid of Pitru Runa (debt to ones ancestors) and will please our ancestors. The same has been said in our Dharma Sastras also. Above all these gives us the significance of Sarayu River.
Flow of River Sarayu: Sarayu flows from north towards south, in west of Ayodhya she turns towards east and flows around the city of Ayodhya and continues to move with full force in east direction. While crossing the place known as Chhapra, she gets merge with the holy river Ganga. The Ashram of Gautam Rishi is located just on the bank of Ganga-Sarayu Sangam (confluence).
In our yatra we have already taken holy bath in the river Ganga located in Bithoor, Kanpur. Now, we have carried out the holy dip and other rituals in the river named Sarayu, which one the most sacred river of India. Thereby covering two most sacred holy rivers of India. All the rivers after joining Ganga, will be referred commonly as Ganga only. After visiting Sarayu, now we moving to places located inside the city of Ayodhya.
Which place to see first Kanaka Bhavan or Hanuman Gaddi or Lakshman Ghat or Guptar Ghat? We are going to visit Maharaj Dasharath Mahal or Dasharath Bhavan because King Dasaratha and Kausalya were the one who gave birth to Lord Sri Rama.
Dasharath Bhavan:
Upanyasam (interpretation of religious texts) at Dasharath Bhavan: We are in the city of Ayodhya. It is said that "yodhum nasakya ithi ayodhya" which means no one can fight against it and win over. Aparajita (unconquerable), this place is not conquered by anyone. It was ruled by the Great Kings lineage of Ikshvaku dynasty. This dynasty was founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya. Thus this holy place had been the capital of the Dynasty known as Surya Kulam (Surya Vamsam). Kannan was born in Chadra Kulam, similarly Lord Rama was born in Surya Vamsam.
Kulashekhara Alwar expresses in his pasuram as "vengathiron kulatthukkor vilakkaayth thonri vinmuzhuthum uyakkonda veeran thannai" and as "aayar kulathil thontrum Anni villakku" for Kannan and surya kulathil thontrum Ramar.
When we say Lord Rama is born, it is through mother Kousalya. Hence the sloka "Kowsalya Supraja Rama Poorva Sandhya Pravarthathe". Lord Rama is Kausalya's endearing son. Lord Rama was born after 60,000 years of Dasaratha and Kausalya's married life. A part of Vaikuntam is used to built the Ayodhya city. This palace of King Dashrath is also known as Bada Asthan or Badi Jagah. The question, whether these are the same old buildings built 10000 years ago is not important here. But the ancient place Ayodhya is important, because the same name holds good before many 1000 years ago and even today. Though the buildings and structures might have changed due many invasions.
Lord Rama chose King Dasaratha & Kousalya devi as his parents which is stated in the verse 30 of Bala Kanda - Sarga 15......
Pitaram ROchayaamaasa Tadhaa Dasaratham Nrupam
Meaning: Then, the Lotus Eyed Vishnu, decided with love, to select Dasaratha King as His father and to take birth as four sons to him.
It is said that, after marriage Lord Rama and Sita got down here first from the Pallakku (decorated palanquin).
Meaning of Dasharath: Dash means ten and Rath means chariots. Means who can drive ten chariots together. He could handle 10 chariots together. He had the capacity to run his chariot in ten directions in battle which is unique skill hence ge was called Dasha ratha. Dasaratha was such a great fighter that sometimes Indra would summon for him when there was a fight with the demons. In spite of such a great king, Dasharath didn't achieve Mukthi, he went to heaven. A person's biggest wealth are his children, and a man would like to have beside him his children at the time of death. Dasaratha had four sons, none of whom was beside him when he breathed his last. But Jatayu had the great good fortune of not only having Rama by his side, as he lay dying, but he also had the fortune to have his last rites performed by the Lord, a blessing Dasaratha did not have. The Lord cried over Jatayu, and by performing his last rites, became like a son to him. Thus Dasaratha, the father of Rama, did not have the good fortune that Jatayu had.
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