Thiruvayodhi

Thiruvayodhi is traditionally enumerated as number 96 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

This is one of the divya desas in North India. Itis located on the Kasi-Varanasi-Lucknow rail route. One should alight at Faizabad station and Ayodhya is about three miles from there. The temples visited by the Alvars and the idols for which they did mangalasasanas are no longer in existence. But when one hears or reads about the names of the different idols in that town or about the important landmarks in the area, the theerthas there etc. what hits us in the eye is its close association with the great epic Ramayana. :

The moolavar in this divya desa is Sri Rama. He is seen in a Sitting posture, facing north. The consort is Sitadevi. The main theertha is Paramapada pushkarini and Sarayu river. The vimanam is known as Pushkala vimanam.

Ayodhya is one of the seven Mukthi kshetras. Itis situated on the southern bank of Sarayu river. Itis said that earlier Ayodhya had nearly 2700 temples for Sri Rama! ‘Ayodhi’ means one which cannot be conquered by enemies.

Let us now turn to the sthala purana of this divya desa. Swayambhu Manu, first son of Brahma met his father in Satyaloka, paid obeisance to him arid then asked his father as to which is the place where he should attend to the task of creation - allotted to him. Brahma and his son went to Vaikunta, met Sriman Narayana and asked Him for the necessary guidance. Sriyahpathi is reported to have taken a part of Vaikunta and through Brahma handed. it over to Manu who carried it to the earth and placed it on the southern banks of Sarayu river. That is the city of Ayodhya. That is why the alvars say “Ambuyathon Ayodhi mannarkku aliththa kovil” ie. that is the temple gifted to the rajas of Ayodhya by the lotus-eyed Lord. Thus, Ayodhya divya desa is the gift given by Sriman Narayana Himself to His grandson Manu.

As stated earlier, Ayodhya is regarded as one of the seven mukthi kshetras (i.e. holy cities which will ensure moksha). Usually these seven cities are said to represent different parts of the body.of Perumal. Avanthi represents the Divine Feet,

Kanchipuram the waist, Dwaraka the Nabhi, Maya represents the Divine Chest, Mathura represents the neck, Kasi the nose, and Ayodhya the Head. Ayodhya is therefore regarded as the most important of the mukthi kshetras.