Bhagalpur: Ahead of the 'bhumi pujan' at the Ram Temple site in Ayodhya, special emphasis has been laid on rituals for the ceremony. One such religious ritual is to source Gangajal (water from river Ganga) and soil from Bhagalpur in Bihar, which was part of the ancient Anga kingdom.
Religious Puranas show a deep connection between Lord Ram and the Anga Kingdom. The soil of the Baba Ajgaibinath and Budhanath temples located in Bhagalpur and the holy Gangajal from here have been taken to Ayodhya for the 'bhumi pujan'.
Shanta was the elder sister of Lord Rama
Speaking to ETV Bharat, the Mahant of Ajgaibinath Dham narrated the mythological connection between Ayodhya and Bhagalpur. According to Mahant Premanand Giri, legend has it that Lord Ram had three other brothers. However, according to religious texts, Kaushalya, the wife of King Dasharatha and Rani Varshini, the wife of King Romapada of Anga, were sisters. Before the birth of Lord Ram, Kaushalya had given birth to a girl whom she handed over to her sister Varshini. The name of the girl was Shanta, who later became the princess of Anga.
Daughter was given to fulfil a pledge
It is said that Kaushalya had promised her sister that she would hand over her first child to her as Varshini was childless. As soon as Shanta was born, King Dasharatha, according to the promise, handed her over to King Rompad of Anga. Shanta was being nurtured there by King Rompad when there was a famine in the kingdom.
Shanta was married to Shringi Rishi
During the time when there was a famine in Anga, King Rompad invited Shringi Rishi to come there. It was said that wherever Shringi Rishi went there, rains followed. And so it did rain when the Rishi once again came to Anga. He was attracted to Princess Shanta and married her and started living in Anga.
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How Lord Rama, Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna were born
King Dasharatha wanted his dynasty to continue, but he remained childless. He then sent an invitation to sage Shringi of Anga for Putrakameshthi Yagya. Rishi Shringi expressed his desire to participate in the yagna with his wife and princess Shanta of Anga. Sage Shringi and princess Shanta participated in the Kameshthi yagya performed by King Dasharatha. After this yagya, Ram, Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna were born in Ayodhya.
Hence, Anga played an extremely important role in Lord Ram's birth. Therefore, soil and water of the Ganga from Ajgaibinath Dham located in Anga region is extremely important for the 'bhumi pujan'.
The Ajgaibinath Temple
The Ajgaibinath temple is situated on a huge granite rock on the banks of the Uttaravahini (north-flowing) Ganga in Sultanganj, 26 kilometres west of Bhagalpur. According to Ananda Ramayana, the temple was earlier called Vilveshwar Mahadev. After his coronation, King Ram went there with Sita and Laxman for a pilgrimage.
According to popular legend, the Ajgaibinath temple was founded by sage Muni Jahnavi. Lord Shiva's bow 'Ajgar' was kept here, due to which the name of this temple became Ajgaibinath.
