Sita Kund
Shri Sita Kund | |
---|---|
Name | |
Other names | Maa Janki kund |
Geography | |
Country | India |
State/province | Bihar |
District | Sitamarhi |
Locale | Sitamarhi |
Culture | |
Primary deity | Sita |
Important festivals | Durgapuja |
Architecture | |
Architectural styles | Mandir architecture |
History and governance | |
Date built | Before 17th century AD |
Creator | Pragati Gaurav |
Sita-Kund is a Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitamarhi, in the Indian state of Bihar, which has an adjacent ancient Hindu temple. It is situated 5 km west of Sitamarhi town and a popular visitor's attraction.
Legend
Sitamarhi
This is the place where Sita was born, the main character of the epic Ramayana. The town is situated along the border of Nepal. The district of Sitamarhi was carved out of Muzaffarpur district on 11 December 1972. It is situated in the northern part of Bihar. Its headquarter is located at Dumra, five kilometers south of Sitamarhi. The district headquarter was shifted here after the town of Sitamarhi was devastated in one of the worst ever earthquake in January 1934.
Sitamarhi is a sacred place in Hindu mythology. Its history goes back to Treta Yuga. Sita, the wife of Rama sprang to life out of an earthern pot, when Raja Janaka was ploughing the field Punaura near Sitamarhi to impress upon Lord Indra for rain. It is said that Raja Janak excavated a tank at the place where Sita emerged and after her marriage set up the stone figures of Rama, Sita and Laxman to mark the site. This tank is known as Janaki-kund and is south of the Janaki Mandir.
In course of time, the land lapsed into a jungle until about 500 years ago, when a Hindu ascetic, named Birbal Das came to know the site by divine inspiration. He came down from Ayodhya and cleared the jungle. He found the images set up by Raja Janak, built a temple over there and commenced the worship of Janaki or Sita. The Janaki Mandir is apparently modern and is about 100 years old only. The town however contains no relics of archaeological interest.
This district is often bereaved by natural calamities. One of the most devastating is excess flooding due to mis-management of the banks by both civilians and government officials. This town was almost completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1934.
Sitamarhi is a beautiful place. Sitamarhi is far away from Patna (approximately 140 km), lies the historical and mythologically-essayed town of Sitamarhi.
See also
- Sitamarhi
- Munger Fort
- Sita Kund, a spring of Surajkund hot spring
External links
- Sitamarhi Department of Tourism, Government of Bihar website
- Religious place Sitamarhi district Official website