Makhauda Dham, on the banks of the Manorama river is a holy place equal in importance to Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. This holy place is located on the northern side of River Sarayu as mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana about the location of the site of Ishti Yajna.
On the advice of Sage Vasishtha, King Dasharatha conducted the Putra-Kameshti yagna here to beget sons. Hence, Makhauda Dham set the stage for the beginning of the great history of Lord Ramachandra – The Ramayana. It was after the Putra-Kameshti yagna that Lord Rama and His brothers were born at the Ram Janmabhumi in Ayodhya. Makhauda Dham is also known as Makh Dham or Manorama Tirtha.
How did Makhauda Dham become important?
While most people are aware that Lord Rama appeared at Ayodhya along with His brothers Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna, many aren’t aware about Makhauda dham. But the fact is that King Dasharatha conducted the Putra-Kameshti yagna at Makhauda Dham which is a bit far from Ayodhya. Devotees of Rama consider Makhauda Dham on par with the birthplace of Lord Ramachandra.
The events leading to the putra-kameshti yagna at Makhauda Dham
King Dasharatha, who attained great fame in all the three worlds and enjoyed all opulence was very sad. He didn’t have sons who could inherit his kingdom and fame. He consulted his royal advisor Sage Vasishtha, who advised him to perform the putra-kameshti yagna to beget sons.
The King made all the arrangements for the yagna at the present day Makhauda Dham. Sumantra advised him that the yagna would become successful if it was performed by Sage Rishya Shringi, who brought rains to the drought-hit Angada kingdom. King Dasharatha went to Angadesha to invite Sage Rishya Shringi to Ayodhya. The Sage gladly accepted the request of King Dasharatha and reached Makhauda dham.
Rishya Shringi was the son-in-law of Maharaja Dasharatha, husband of his daughter Shanta.
Putra-Kameshti yagna performed at Makhauda Dham
The Putra-Kameshti yagna was now being performed by Sage Rishya Shringi under the supervision of Sage Vasishtha. Towards the end of the yagna, a celestial being, representing Lord Brahma arose from the yagna kunda holding a golden vessel containing kheer. Everyone attending the yagna including King Dasharatha got up and offered their respects.
The Prajapati handed over the vessel saying that this must be consumed by the three wives of the King. And doing so would give the King sons that he had long desired for. The wives did, as instructed. Queen Kaushalya consumed half of the kheer while Queen Sumitra half of the remaining half and handed over the remaining to Queen Kaikeyi, who took half and gave the remaining back to Queen Sumitra.
All of these events happened in the Makhauda dham. Thus, it attained a sacred status when members of the famed solar dynasty assembled there to perform the putra-kameshti yagna. Later in Ayodhya, on the Navami day of the Chaitra month, Queen Kaushalya gave birth to Rama, Queen Sumitra gave birth to twins i.e. Lakshmana and Shatrughna and Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata.
Makhauda Dham today
A small temple and surrounding structure represent the site of the putra-kameshti yagna, which took place in the Treta yuga. A ghee drain was laid from Ayodhya dham to Makhauda dham to bring in the huge quantities of ghee required for the yagna.
The remains of this ghee drain can be seen starting from the borders of Ayodhya at the Ghaghova bridge till Makhauda Dham. It passes through the Ridhora gram panchayat and then passes adjacent to the borders of Gonda further going on through Hyderabad, Sikandarpur, Chairi, Nandnagar, Karigehna and finally cuts through the Jhamoliya road until Makhauda dham.
The ashram location of Sage Shringi Rishi is known as Shringinari nowadays. It is located nearby. The Sarayu-Manorama sangama is also present here.
Many childless devotees come here to perform yagnas for having children and fulfilling other desires. The facility for conducting yagnas, homas, etc. is available here. These yagnas are said to have given results.
Makhauda Dham is part of 84 Kosi parikrama
In the Chauasi Kosi Ayodhya parikrama that starts on the Purnima day of Chaitra month, Makhauda dham is the starting point as well as the ending point. All saints and devotees converge here to participate in this parikrama. The 275 kms long parikrama route is being upgraded by the government with excellent roads and other facilities as part of the Ramayana circuit project.
How to Reach Makhauda Dham
If you strongly desire to visit Makhauda dham without any worries, the Ayodhya-Kashi Yatra conducted by Tirtha Yatra can’t be beaten. Just focus your attention on Lord Rama only while we make all the arrangements.
Makhauda Dham is easily accessible from Ayodhya. Hence, you will have to reach Ayodhya first. The following ways will help you:
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.
Makhauda Dham is the true beginning of the Ramayana
For many, it may come as a shock when they know that there is a holy place preceding Ayodhya in the Ramayana lila. A holy place which set the stage for the destruction of all the demons headed by Ravana and the establishment of Rama-rajya.
Devotees would naturally be blissful that they can glorify Lord Rama even more and visit this dham. Afterall, the predominance of this dham in the 84 Kosi parikrama is indicative of its sanctity.
Your respect for this holy dham should be no less than that of the Ram Janmabhumi. Even the sacred earth of Makhauda dham and the sacred waters of the Manorama river here were taken to the Ram Janmabhumi for the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Bhavya Ram Mandir.
There is no doubt that you will become part of history when you take your steps here.
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