Phulher
The Girija Temple at Phulher has a background, which needs a mention. Ancient Mithila,
the Core of which is the district of Darbhanga, has had her distinct individuality and an eclectic culture. This is the land of King Janaka, whose capital was at Janakpur, about 18 miles from
alnagar in Darbhanga district.
The land is also known as a part of Videha and that is why Sita, the daughter of Janaka, is
also known as Vaidehi. Intersected by rivers and streams, the area is also known from the
ancient days as Tirabhukti, the land of the river banks, by which name she has been famous
Orat leastthe last 1,500 years.
Surrounded on three sides by three great rivers - the Gandak, the Ganga and the Kosi and on the north by the Himalayas, Mithila has had the geographical advantage of seclusion where learning and culture could flourish. No wonder the people of Mithila are insular and
exclusive in their attitude and have an almost child like faith in their traditions and culture.
Videha or Mithila or Tirabhukti was famous for scholarship. In the epics and the puranas
as well as in Buddhist and Jain literature, we find frequent references to Mithila, which Was
both the capital city of the region and also a kingdom.
The Ramayana immortalises the name of Mithila. Rama and Sita are house hold names
throughout India. The lore of Rama and Sita has imbued the length and breadth of Mithila. The
place where Sita is supposed to have come out from the bowels of the earth is Sitamarhi.
Though a separate district now, Sitamarhi is a part of the Mithila of yore.
The cult of Sri Ramachandra and Sita has taken a concrete shape in numerous temples
throughout the area. A large fair celebrating Ramanavami is held at Sitamarhi, which lasts for a
fortnight and is attended by about a lakh people. Sitamarhi has a tank known as Janaki Kund
from where Sita is said to have emerged.
There is a modern temple of Janaki at Sitamarhi. Apparently a very old site, it was covered
up with jungle in course of time. About 500 years ago, it is said, a Hindu ascetic Birbal Da
came to know about the site because of his devotion and intuition. He came down from
Ayodhya and cleared the jungle. He found the idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshman and built a
temple at the site. Janakpur, which is at a distance of 18 miles from Jainagar and 24 miles from
Sitamarhi, has a number of big temples with idols of Rama, Sita, Janaka etc.
The Puranas tell us the story of Yajnavalkya, his guru Vaisampayana and their great contribution as philosophers and thinkers. But the popular mind of Hindu India does not worry about
the Adhyatma Vidya of Yajnavalkya and King Janaka. It instead thinks of Mithila as the land
where the sublime Sita, the idol of Indian womanhood, was born.
The Ramayana shall remain immortal. describing the life of Rama and Sita, who was the
daughter of the King of Mithila, also known as Janaka. As mentioned, the Ramayana, the
Mahabharata and the Puranas have all immortalised Mithila.
Mithila's contribution to philosophy, poetry and arts has been unique. Vidyapati, the
immortal bard, was a Maithil born at Bisfi in Madhubani district.
Ahiari village in Darbhanga district, about two miles from Kamtaul railway station, has a
temple of Rama and Sita. The temple commemorates the story of Ahalya, wife of Gautama, a
sage. It is said that when Gautama Rishi was away for a while, LordJndra assumed the Rishi'
form and visited Ahalya. On his return, Gautama learnt from his wife of the trick played by Lord
Indra.
The Rishi then cursed Ahalya to turn into a stone statue. She remained like that till Sri
Rama's visit to the ashram of Gautama, while on his way to Janakpur. Rama removed the spell
and Ahalya was revived.
Maharaja Chhatra Singh Bahadur of Darbhanga built the present temple of Ahiari in 1817.
A fair is held there every year in the month of Chaitra on Ramanavami day. The fair lasts for several days and is very popular. |
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