Rama's Journey in Mithila

Rama's Journey in Mithila is the part of Ramayana from the Vishwamitra Ashram at Buxar to the Kingdom of Mithila.

Background
It is said that when Lord Rama completed his Vedic education from the Guru Vashishtha, he came to the royal palace at Ayodhya. After some time, sage Vishwamitra came to the palace and demanded the princes Rama and Lakshmana with King Dasharatha for the protection of the Yajna at his ashram. After that princes Rama and Lakshmana were sent with the Guru Vishwamitra to his ashram.

Lord Rama and Lakshman came to Vishwamitra Siddhashram to protect the Yajna of the sages. There, he killed many demons like Tadaka and Subahu during the Yajna. According to historians, Lord Rama was not brought only to protect the Yajna but they were also taught many lessons in weapons besides the Vedas in the gurukula of Maharishi Vishvamitra. It is said that after the completion of Yajnas at the Ashram, Vishwamitra received invitation from the King Shreedhwaja Janaka of Mithila Kingdom for the participation in Sita Swayamvar at the court of the King Janaka. After that Guru Vishwamitra with his disciples Rama and Lakshmana started journey towards Mithila Kingdom.

Ramchaura Mandir, Hajipur
According to legend, after crossing Ganga river by boat they first came to Ramchaura Mandir in Vaishali while going to Janakpur for Sita Swayamvar. This place is located in Hajipur in Vaishali district of the Mithila region in the present state of Bihar. It is said that they were welcomed here by King Sumati of Vishala Nagari. It is believed that Lord Rama, Lakshman and Vishvamitra rested here at a mound on the bank of the Ganga river for one night. This place is now known as Ramchaura.

Gautam Ashram, Kamtaul
Then they traveled towards Gautam Ashram at Ahiyari village in the Mithila region of the present Darbhanga district of Bihar. When they reached Gautam Ashram, Lord Rama became curious to know the deserted situation of the ashram so he asked his teacher about its history. Then Guru Vishwamitra narrated the story of the curse of Ahalya and the history of Ahalya sthan at the Ashram. It is said that Lord Rama freed Ahalya from her curse there.

Vishwamitra Ashram, Bisaul
After that they went to Bisaul village near the city Janakpur of Mithila. It is said that in Bisaul village there was a royal mango garden, where King Janaka built an ashram for the residence of the sage Vishwamitra in Mithila. This place is called as Vishwamitra Ashram, Bisaul. Lord Rama and Lakshmana with his teacher Vishwamitra stayed here.

Phulhar
Nearby the ashram there was a royal flower garden in Phulhar village, where Lord Rama and Lakshmana went to pickup some flowers for their teacher to worship. In the same garden there is Girija Devi temple, where princess Sita used to come for worshipping the goddess Girija Devi. It is believed that the first meeting of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita was witnessed in this garden of Phulhar while picking the flowers in the garden.

Janakpur (Capital of Mithila)


After resting at Bisual, Lord Rama and Lakshmana with their teacher Vishwamitra went to court of King Janaka at Janakpur where Swayamvar Sabha for the purpose of marriage of princess Sita was organised. In the competition of Swayamvar ceremony prince Rama was declared as the winner.

Manimandapa
According to legendary story in Mithila,   after winning Swayamvar Sabha at the court of Janaka, Lord Rama along with his other three  brothers were married at Manimandapa. After the prince Rama broke the bow at the court of Janaka, the procession for marriage came from Ayodhya. The place where the altar and sacrificial pavilion (Yajna Mandap) decorated with gems was built for the marriage in Janakpur is near Rani Bazar known Manimandapa. In the campus of the shrine there is a pond where the feet of the four brothers were washed at the time of the marriage.