By Pawan Tripathi New Delhi, Aug 15 : Ayodhya, one of the oldest cities of India is one of the seven holy Hindu cities -seven of them – Mathura, Haridwar, Kashi, Kanchi, Ujjain and Dwarka.
The city is described in the Artha Veda as the City of God, Ayodhya has been described as heaven in terms of its prosperity
It is situated in the middle of Sarayu river This city was established by Vaivasvata Manu Maharaj who was the his son of Vivasvan (Sun) as per Ramayana.
According to the history of Mathura, Vaivasvata Manu was born in the year 6673 BC.The son of Brahma, Marichi, Kashyap was born and From Kashyap, Vivasvan was born and Vivasvaan’s son was Vaivasvata Manu.
Vaivasvata Manu was the father of 10 sons – Ikshvaku, Kushanama, Arishta, Dhrishta, Narishyanta, Karusha, Mahabali, Sharyati and Prishadha.The Ikshvaku clan expanded even more with many great King’s.
Then, in this clan Lord Shri Ram was born.Ayodhya was under the rule of residents of this dynasty until the Mahabharata period.
According to the mythology that, when Manu wanted Brahma to construct a city for himself, he took him to Vishnu.
Vishnu said to him that Saketdham is a suitable location.
Vishnu has sent Shilpi Vishwakarma as well with Brahma and Manu to settle in this city.
In addition, Maharshi Vasishtha was also sent with him to locate the perfect location to be his Rama incarnation.
There is a belief that the Leela region of Leela was chosen by Vashistha on the banks of the river Saryu in the area which is where Vishwakarma constructed the city.
In the wake of Lord Ram, Lava settled Shravasti and its separate mention is recorded for the following 800 years.
It is believed that Kush the son of Lord Ram was the one who had the capital Ayodhya rebuilt.Then, the existence of the city continued for the following 44 generations of Suryavansh.
Ayodhya was destroyed following the battle of Mahabharata however, during that time the existence of Ram Janmabhoomi was secure, and continued until the 14th century.
After several times of Brihadratha the city was ruled by the rulers of Gupta and Kannauj together with the Mauryas of Magadha.
Later in the time, as the kingdom of the Shakas was established in Jaunpur, Ayodhya came under the rule of Sharqis particularly in 1440 AD under the rule of Shak the Shak ruler Mahmud Shah.
1526 AD, Babur established the Mughal state, and his commander invaded the city in 1528.He then constructed a mosque.The mosque was destroyed in 1992, during the Ram Janmabhoomi era because of the temple-mosque conflict.
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