- Source: Janaki Sthan
Janaki Sthan ( Sanskrit: जानकी स्थान ) is a historical place related to the temple of Goddess Sita in the city of Sitamarhi. According to some scholars and Saints, Janaki Sthan is claimed to be the manifestation place of Goddess Sita in Ramayana. This is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Sita called Janaki Sthan Mandir. This temple is about 2 kilometers away from Sitamarhi Railway Station. The temple comes under Ramanuja tradition in Hinduism.
Description
The Janaki Sthan Mandir at Janaki Sthan in Sitamarhi is much older than the Janaki Temple in Janakpur. According to a court document, in 1599, land of Janaki Sthan was donated to the Janaki temple in Sitamarhi city by the King Narpati Singh of Raj Darbhanga. Its founder is believed to be Hiraram Das of Revasa Math of Rajasthan. But according to a case filed in Patna High Court in 1923 regarding this Math, the name of its first Mahant was Hiram and he was said to be a resident of Misraula village of Shahabad.
Disputes between Janaki Sthan and Punauradham
Since the British era, there has been a controversy over the manifestation ( birth ) place of Goddess Sita. Some scholars say that the birthplace of Goddess Sita is Janaki Sthan located in Sitamarhi city and some scholars say that Punauradham is the birthplace of the Goddess Sita. On the both places there are Janaki temples as well as Kunds. The Kund at Punauradham is called as Sita Kund or Janaki Kund and the Kund at Janaki Sthan is called as Urvija Kund. According to Mahant Vinod Das, Janaki Sthan is the manifestation place of the Goddess Sita. There was a tradition of Guru-Shishya at this place. After the death of Guru, Shishya was assigned as Mahant. After the death of a certain Mahant during British India, two of his disciples clashed over claiming to be the Mahant of the temple. The initiative of the local saints could not resolve the issue. It is said that the matter went to court. The Privy Council of London gave verdict in the favor of Janaki Sthan as the manifestation place of Goddess Sita. The second disciple went to Pundarik Ashram at Punauradham and built a temple there. This temple at the Pundarik Ashram later became Ram Janaki Mandir. It is said that sage Pundarik had an ashram in Punaura. He used to meditate here. In the 19th century, the Birla Group wanted to renovate the Janaki Sthan Mandir, but the then Mahant did not allow this to happen fearing that the temple would be named Birla Mandir. Then Birla's team reached Punauradham and renovated the Ram Janaki Mandir there.