Sahasradhara Tirtha in Ayodhya is a very holy spot where Lakshmana, the devoted brother of Lord Rama chose to wind up his earthly lilas. Hence, it remains one of the holiest tirthas of Ayodhya.
Sahasradhara Tirtha lies to the east of the Papamochana Tirtha in Ayodhya dham (Uttar Pradesh, India) within the sacred waters of the Sarayu river. The Ram Janmabhoomi is just 2.2 kms away from here. The Sahasradhara Tirtha offers unlimited merits to those human beings who worship it in the prescribed manner.
On the banks of Sahasradhara Tirtha is the ancient Lakshmana Temple which marks the spot where Lakshmana sat and meditated before return to the Saket Dham.
The origin of Sahasradhara Tirtha
Sahasra Dhara Tirtha appeared when Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Rama decided to end his earthly pastimes. The Ayodhya Mahatmya of Skanda Purana details the creation of Sahasradhara Tirtha.
Lord Rama had incarnated on earth along with Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna in order to accomplish the desire of the demigods to re-establish dharma on earth and in the universe. After killing all the demons headed by Ravana and his brothers, Lord Rama ruled from Ayodhya for 11,000 years setting the example of an ideal King for which He came to be known as Maryada Purushottama.
After having completed the mission of His very incarnation, Lord Brahma wanted to remind Lord Ramachandra to wind up His earthly lilas as the time set by the Lord Himself was over. He sent Yamaraja as a messenger instructing him to remind the Lord and at the same time inform Him that He could remain as long as He wishes.
Before the meeting could even begin, Lord Yamajara requested Lord Ramachandra for privacy and no one could hear their conversation. If anyone did, one should be punished with death sentence. Lord Rama declared that whoever sees Him meeting with Yamaraja would be punished immediately. Lakshmana was asked to guard the entrance of the meeting hall against any visitors.
Lakshmana is punished
During the course of the meeting, Sage Durvasa came to meet Lord Rama. But Lakshmana conveyed the orders of Lord Rama to Sage Durvasa. The sage, who was famished and agitated, told Lakshmana lovingly “O son of Sumitra, go quickly and report to Rama that I am here on a job. It does not behove you to disobey this (request of mine). If you do so, I shall burn the entire city of Ayodhya.”
Afraid of Sage Durvasa’s curse, Lakshmana hurried to Lord Rama and interrupted His meeting with Yamaraja. Lakshmana felt that it was better to be punished by his own brother than be cursed by Sage Durvasa. Compared to the city of Ayodhya and its citizens, his life was insignificant.
Lord Rama sent away Yamaraja and attended to Sage Durvasa whom He offered respects, fed well and sent away. As Lord Rama was known to keep His word, He disowned Lakshmana as punishment for violating His orders. Disowning was as good as death for Lakshmana.
Sahasradhara Tirtha is created
The devoted Lakshmana accepted Lord Rama’s punishment without the slightest protest. He knew that it was time to wind up his earthly pastimes now that the mission of Lord Rama on earth had been achieved. He went to the banks of the sacred Sarayu river. Lakshmana took his holy bath in the Sarayu river and started meditating deeply in a yogic trance.
Thereafter, Ananta Shesha appeared before Lakshmana from within the earth piercing it at 1000 different spots with his 1000 hoods. Indra appeared there from the world of devatas along with other immortal beings. With the devatas watching on, Lord Indra spoke the following to Lakshmana:
“O Lakshmaṇa! Get up. Quickly go up to your own position. O heroic slayer of enemies, the task of the Devas has been accomplished by you. Attain the great eternal abode of Vishnu. Your own original form, Shesha, has come with his graceful hoods.
He pierced the earth in thousand places by means of his thousand hoods. Since they have come up by piercing a thousand holes in the earth, O prince of good holy rites! Since the places were burnt (i.e. brightly lit up) by the crest jewels on the thousand hoods of Shesha, this splendid Tirtha on the banks of Sarayu shall become well-known as Sahasradhara Tirtha. There is no doubt about it.”
Very soon, Lakshmana merged with Ananta-Shesha and went back to his very own abode in Vaikuntha. This very place of Ananta-Shesha’s appearance and Lakshmana’s merger with him came to be known as the sacred Sahasradhara Tirtha. This tirtha has been very famous and worshipped ever since then.
The glories of Sahasradhara Tirtha
In the Ayodhya Mahatmya of Skanda Purana, Lord Indra speaks in detail of the glories of the Sahasradhara Tirtha.
Taking a holy bath, giving charity and performing Shraddha within this area of 25 bows (a measure of area) shall absolve a human being of all sins and award Vaikuntha. Taking a holy bath here in the prescribed way, worshipping Ananta-Shesha with great respect and adoring the tirtha shall also award one Vaikuntha. Brahmanas should be worshipped and meditated, specially as serpents in the form of Shesha.
Gold, cooked rice and clothes should be given in charity by people endowed with faith and sincerity. Holy bath, charity and worship of Lord Hari shall award infinite results. Thus, this tirtha would bestow all desired results on earth.
A grand festival to worship Ananta-Shesha should be celebrated on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Shravana by pious people. If the festival is celebrated in the tirtha along with the worship of brahmanas, the serpents become pleased and will never disturb anyone.
Sahasradhara Tirtha glories in Vaishaka Month
Those taking a holy bath here in the month of Vaishaka with mental purity never returns to earth even in hundreds and crores of kalpas. Also, charity, worship of Lord Hari and the brahmanas gives the desired results in this month.
If a milch cow and her calf along with ornaments were to be given in charity to a deserving brahmana keeping Lord Hari as the centre, one attains residence in Vaikuntha. The holy bath in this tirtha awards infinite bliss in heaven.
In the month of Vaishaka, devotees should adorn a brahmana couple with clothes and ornaments in order to please Lakshmi-Narayana and attain their blessings.
In the auspicious month of Vaishaka, all the Tirthas come together and stay in the Sahasradhara Tirtha. Hence, a devotee attains the combined result of taking a holy bath in all Tirthas separately just by a single holy dip here.
How to Reach Sahasradhara Tirtha
If you are thinking of taking a holy dip in the Sahasradhara Tirtha without the worries of planning a yatra, booking tickets, arranging accommodation, etc., the Ayodhya-Kashi Yatra conducted by Tirtha Yatra is your best bet.
You will have to reach Ayodhya dham to visit Sahasradhara Tirtha and take a holy dip there. You can check out the three modes of transportation available currently.
By Road: Ayodhya is well connected to cities in Uttar Pradesh and nearby states by road. Uttar Pradesh state buses are available from major cities in the state 24 hours.
You can even hire private taxis from these cities or from a nearby town where you may be present. Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi are the nearest cities within a distance of 200 kms.
By Rail: Ayodhya city is served by two railway stations. They are Ayodhya Junction and Ayodhya Cantt. Trains connecting major cities and towns of India stop over here.
By Air: The nearest airports are in Gorakhpur 139 kms away and Lucknow 151 kms away. You can fly in here and use the rail or road route to reach Ayodhya.
A government airstrip in Ayodhya is being upgraded to create a new airport though this may take time.
Sahasradhara Tirtha: A symbol of selfless service
The Sahasradhara Tirtha reminds us always of Lakshmana and his selfless service to Lord Rama. It is unique too that Lord Ananta-Shesha appeared here by piercing the earth at 1000 points.
Lord Ananta-Shesha has been glorifying Lord Vishnu with his 1000 mouths and serving Him since time immemorial. And yet he finds that the glories of Lord Vishnu and His services are limitless.
Similarly, throughout the pastimes of Lord Rama beginning from His appearance, Lakshmana served his dear most brother with great devotion and zero complaints. Even when he could have stayed back at his royal apartments in Ayodhya, he chose to serve his brother in the forest. He served thereafter till the time Lord Rama indicated that their mission was done through an interesting lila which led to the creation of the Sahasradhara Tirtha.
Through Lakshmana’s devotion to Lord Rama, he teaches us the importance of absolute devotion and surrender to the lotus feet of Lord Rama. Any reference to Lakshmana will always remind and inspire us of the same! The Sahasradhara Tirtha is the supreme amongst them.
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