SRI SITANAVAMI AT PANTH PAKAR..NEAR SITAMARHI ( THE HOLY BANYAN TREE WHERE LOKA MATHA SITA HALTED AFTER THE WEDDING) 10 th May 2022

After  the Lordships Sita Rama  wedding at Janakpur in Nepal , the royal family along with their guests were returning to Ayodhya . It was getting dark .The Royal family decided to retire for the night at this  very holy place  Punouda  which is located  near Sitamarhi in the state of bihar

The place where  Lokamatha Sita devi’s palanquin (“doli”) alighted under a banyan tree is marked by a hound covered with red cloth. Beside this  banyan tree the deities of   Lordships Sita-Ramar is  worshipped by the  local people  .

A stone inscription mentioning  Lord  Rama’s encounter  with   Parasurama and the divine incident  of   Lord Rama taking over the Vishnu dhanush is mentioned in the marble slab  . It was revealed that the  banyan tree is  very sacred.  The locals believe  all disputes of any kind  are solved at this place . A Elderly person commented , No one lies here !!  If someone dares to tell lie, he would be punished immediately.

Another strange aspect of this holy tree is that the roots of the banyan tree get coiled to the main trunk itself and they do not touch the  earth at all .

Exactly one month after Sri Rama navami festival , Seetha Navami is celebrated all over the world .And  throughout Janakpur and Sitamarhi, this festival is celebrated for 10 days culminating in Sita Navami to be celebrated on May 16th this year 2016. (in the Tamil month of Vaigasi (May-June). Everyone in this  entire belt ,  feels delighted  to be associated with Sita Devi who is eternally remembered for her “PATIVRATA DHARMAM”.( As Ayodhyavasis associate with Lord Rama the Sitamarhivasis associate with mother sita)

Sita an embodiment of purity and wifely devotion and the consort of Lord Ram.  Sita Navami is observed on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Vaishaka month (April – May). Sita Navami in Vaishaka month is more famous with Hindu communities in western and eastern parts of India.

The locals  glorify  Sita and Rama and go to the extent of declaring that Sri Rama gained so much recognition because of HIS association with  our mother SITA DEVI .

  Every evening, Sri Ram charitra Manas is recited under this tree .A dance ballad also accompanies the troupe  Nearby  this tree , there is a small tank known as “Sita Kund” . Near this kund under a tree, small utsava murthis of Sita ,Ramar, Lakshmana and Hanuman along with a doli(wooden palanquin) is  worshipped .

The priest informed that these deities belonged to Sitamarhi temple and it is customary for them to take the deities in procession to Janakpur and while returning from Janakpur, to halt at all the  holy places  sanctified by Mother Sita Devi.

The priest was  was quoting verses from the holy text written by the great saint  Tulsidas. He also referred to slokas from Valmiki Ramayanam.  He said that in that village, there was  neither a police station or  panchayat since ages . Any dispute would be solved under this tree . The offender would fear to commit any offense due to the  outcome which  he would  face internally .  A net is  tied around the tree to ensure that dried leaves do not fall on the ground and protect the  sanctity of the  place.

The priest informed that many devotees do “ Mithila Parikrama” starting from Sitamarhi , reach Janakpur and  on their return visit Panth Pakar, Punouda and other places which are on the way to Sitamarhi and end their parikrama on Sita Navami at Sitamarhi.…..

Jai Jai Sita Ram