KANAK BHAVAN TEMPLE
AYODHYA  (INDIA)
IMPORTANT NOTICE

 It has been brought to the notice of the Temple that some unscrupulous people and organisations are exploiting the name of “Kanak Bhavan Temple” to fraudulently collect DONATIONS and sell PRASAD on-line through internet and specialised applications or portals. 

 This notice is to warn all patrons of the temple and public in general that Kanak Bhavan Temple of Ayodhya does NOT sell Prasad on-line or collect Donations on-line.  We are a reputed Temple and do not indulge in such practices that violate our age-old traditions.

 Remember: When a food offering is placed before the Deity (known as Kanak Bihari) installed in the temple, only then it is regarded as being sanctified food that is commonly known as PRASAD, and not before it.

 Besides this, once a food offering has become a ‘PRASAD’ as mentioned above, it CANNOT BE SOLD. Prasad is given to devotees free of charge without any monetary consideration whatsoever. Otherwise its sanctity is lost. 

 No one is authorised to either sell Prasad or collect Donations on behalf of the Kanak Bhavan Temple, Ayodhya, or the Trust that manages its affairs. So all concerned should beware.

 If you wish to contribute to temple fund or make donations etc. of any kind, please contact the undersigned directly by email or phone. Do not be misled by fraudulent offers on internet.

 Contact person: Ajai Kumar Chhawchharia

Designation: Manager of the Kanak Bhavan Temple, Ayodhya, pin 224123 (India)

Phone: +919451290400; +919935613060

Email: ajaichhawchharia@gmail.com 

 Date: 24-5-15

About the Kanak Bhavan Temple: The ‘Kanak Bhawan’ is the biggest, religiously one of the most important and architecturally an aesthetically built temple dedicated to Lord Ram and his divine consort Sita. It is located in the pilgrim holy town of Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh of India. This shrine is a marvelous sample of temple architecture and design, and is the most beautiful and attractive structure in Ayodhya. Its magnificence and charm is not only restricted to its external façade, but the deities installed in the sanctum are so beautiful and captivating to behold that one is left dumbfounded and spell-bound once one sees them. The enchantment of the divine view of the consecrated deities and their magnetic pull is of such intensity that the eyes of the beholder are riveted by their beauty, and he finds it difficult to move his eyes away from them. It is something to be experienced and not simply told and read, because the words have their own limitations, and something that has an ethereal and divine dimension cannot be put in shackles by the limitations of words.  It becomes a sort of love at first sight when the visitor is compelled in his heart to make a promise to himself that he would come over and over again to experience and soak in this divine glory of the Lord as much as he can.

            When the rays of the rising sun as well as that of the setting sun fall on the building, it looks fabulous, it presents a view that is exceptionally captivating and enchanting. The view of the face of the main structure of the temple that faces the sun, i.e. the wall of the main shrine that faces eastward towards the rising sun as seen from the inner courtyard, simply looks wonderful and out of the world as the first rays of the morning sun sprays it with its light. The same thing is experienced during the afternoon hours when the rays of the setting sun light up the walls of the building facing westwards as seen from the same inner courtyard. It’s a paradise of sorts for photo opportunity.

Conceived more as a sprawling palace rather than as a shrine, the Kanak Bhavan Temple resembles magnificent palaces of Bundelkhand and Rajasthan region of India. Its history dates back to Treta Yug when it was gifted by Ram’s step-mother Kaikeyi to him and his consort Sita as a marriage gift. With the passage of time it fell to ruin, and was reconstructed and renovated many times. The first reconstruction was done by Ram’s son Kusha in the beginning of Dwapar Yug, again by King Rishabdeo in middle of Dwapar, and Lord Krishna is said to have visited the ancient site in pre-Kali Yug era 614.

            In the current Yug called the ‘Kali Yug’, it was first built by Chandra Gupta Vikramaditya in Yudisthir era 2431, repaired & renovated by Samudra Gupta in 387 A.D. (V.S. 444), destroyed by Nawab S. Salarjung II Gazi in 1027 A.D. (V.S. 1084) and then finally reconstructed on the ruins & renovated in the present shape by H.H. Maharaja Sri Pratap Singh Ju Deo, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E. of Orchha and Tikamgarh (Bundelkhand) and his Queen Maharani Vrisbhan Kunwari, and consecrated in 1891 A.D. (V.S. 1948) Vaishkh Shukl 6th, Guru Pushya (roughly the month of May).

            There are three pairs of consecrated idols—and all of them are those of Lord Ram and Sita. The largest pair is the one installed by Rani Sri Vrishbhan Kunwari who was the moving force in the construction and establishment of this temple. The pair to its right is of a medium height and is said to be those which were established by King Vikramaaditya and were salvaged from destruction when that ancient temple was destroyed by invaders. The third pair is the smallest and is traditionally believed be the one that was given by Lord Krishna to a woman hermit who was meditating on Lord Ram at this site. Krishna instructed her to bury the idols in the ground when she leaves her mortal coil (body) so that later on they would be discovered and act as a mark to identify the sacred place when a king (who later turned out to be King Vikramaaditya) would set out to resurrect this holy place during Kali Yug. It so happened by providence that when Vikramaaditya was digging the foundation of his temple, this ancient pair emerged, and this helped this great king of India to locate the exact spot to establish the sanctum of his own grand temple.

            When the current temple was built, all these three pairs were installed in its sanctum sanctorum. All the three pairs are seen now. Due obeisance and worship are offered regularly to all of them daily in the temple.    

            The temple is being looked after and managed by a Trust named “Sri Vrisbhan Dharm Setu Pvt. Trust” which was established by HH Maharaja Saheb Sri Pratap Singh Ju Deo of Orcha and Tikamgarh, who was its first president.

            After him, his son HH Maharaja Saheb Sri Virendra Singh ju Deo became the second president of this Trust. He was followed by HH Maharaja Saheb Sri Devendra Singh Ju Deo who became the third president of the aforesaid Trust.

The fourth and the current president of the Trust is HH Maharaja Saheb Sri Madhukar Shah Ju Deo of Orcha and Tikamgarh.

Location: The temple is situated in the heart of the town of Ayodhya which lies in Uttar Pradesh state of Northern India. It is well connected by theNational Highway and Railway Network to major cities e.g. Lucknow (135 Km.), Gorakhpur (145 Km.), Varanasi (210 Km.) which themselves serve as major intersection for trans-country air, rail and road network.

Timings for opening of the temple and performance of worship: Open on all days of the year.

(i) During Summer—
Morning: 8 am-11.30 am. Evening: 4.30 pm-9.30 pm.
                                      Arti-8 am, 11.30 am, 7pm, 9.30pm.

(ii) Winter:
Morning: 9.00 am-12 pm, 4 pm-9 pm
                                      Arti-8.30 am, 12 noon, 6.30 pm, 9 pm.

 Main Festivals: Though ceremonies and festivals keep on going throughout the year on various auspicious occasions according to the Hindu calendar, but some of them are special. All these occasions are marked by festivities and ceremonies as well as pomp and pageantry. Music and devotional songs reverberate in the temple. These special occasions are the following—

(i) ‘Ram Navmi’ marking the birth day of Lord Ram. It falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra which is roughly late March and early April.

(ii) ‘Janki Navmi’ marking the birth day of Sita. It falls exactly one month after Ram Navmi, i.e. in late April or early May.

(iii) ‘Phool Bangla’—this is an occasion when the deity and the temple are decorated with flowers. It presents a fabulous sight.

(iv) ‘Jhula’ or the Swing Festival—it is organized during the onset of the rainy season roughly in August. A silver Swing is installed in the main hall of the temple and the deity is brought out from the sanctum to enjoy the Swing. The festival lasts for about fifteen days continuously. On the first day of this festival, the third pair of deities is taken out in a procession in the evening from the temple compound, winds its way through the streets of Ayodhya to reach a place called Mani Parvat. It is a place where the deities of all other temples of Ayodhya too assemble. After return to the temple premises, Darshan (viewing) of the deity is held on the silver Swing already installed in the hall.

(v) ‘Vijaya Dashmi’—this is the Dusshera festival just prior to the well-known Indian cultural extravaganza and the festival of lights known as Divali/Dipawali. It marks the victory of Lord Ram over the demon king Ravana. A special Darshan (view of the deity) is held in the outer hall of the temple.

 (vi) ‘Sharad Purnima’—this is the full moon night of Fall when it is believed that the Gods rain nectar on the earth from the heavens. On this occasion, a special Darshan (view of the deity) is organized in the open inner courtyard of the temple, directly under the beautiful light of the full moon shining overhead in the sky.

(vii) ‘Sita-Ram Vivaaha’—this celebration marks the marriage of the divine couple Lord Ram and Sita. It is done in the traditional method when all the steps of the actual marriage ceremony are performed. A marriage procession is taken out in the evening from the temple premises, goes round the town, and comes back. The actual marriage rituals are done during the late evening hours on a stage erected in the main hall of the temple. Thousand witness this ceremony personally. This festival falls in late November or early December.  

(viii) ‘Gauna’—this is the time when the wife leaved her parental home for the home of her in-laws and husband. It is celebrated about a fortnight from the marriage festival.

(ix) ‘Holi’—this is the fabled festival of colours in India. A Darshan of the deity is organized in the main hall of the temple, and devotees offer dry coloured powder to their Lord.

 Donations/Contributions: You are welcome to donate or contribute or make charity to the temple fund according to your free will. All remittances should be made in the name of ‘Sri Brishbhan Dharm Setu Pvt. Trust’ by Cheque or bank Demand Draft payable at any bank in Ayodhya (Faizabad-UP).

It must be sent by registered post or courier to the following address—The Manager, Sri Brishbhan Dharm Setu Pvt. Trust, Kanak Bhavan Temple, Ram Kot, P.O.—Ayodhya, Pin—224123, Distt—Faizabad, U.P., India.

If you wish to donate or contribute by cash, then there is a counter in the main hall of the temple where you are welcomed to do so. Please take a receipt for your donation.

If you wish to send by Money Order through the post office, then the address is the same as that for the cheque or the demand draft.

Contact :           Manager, Sri Kanak Bhawan

                                    P.O.-Ayodhya

                                    District-Faizabad

                                    Uttar Pradesh (India) Pin-224123

             For more details, please contact: Ajai Kumar Chhawchharia.

            Email: < ajaichhawchharia@gmail.com ; kanak.bhavan.temple@gmail.com>

            Phone: 09451290400; 09935613060.]

——******——–
कनक भवन मंदिर

भगवान श्रीराम परम दिव्यता, शक्ति  और सौन्दर्य के प्रतीक हैं। जन-जन के मन में रमण करने वाले आराध्य भगवान श्री राम की लीला भूमि श्री अयोध्या समस्त देवपुरियों में अति विशिष्ठ व धन्य है जहाँ श्रीराम का लीला-निकेतन श्रीकनक भवन विश्व के समस्त देव-भवनों में अपूर्व और आनन्ददायी है।

श्री कनक भवन का निर्माण महारानी कैकेयी के अनुरोध पर महाराज दशरथ द्वारा विश्वकर्मा की देखरेख में श्रेष्ठ शिल्पकारों के हाथों से कलात्मक रूप में करवाया गया, जिसे महारानी कैकेयी ने श्रीराम सीता के विवाह के अवसर पर मुँह दिखाई में अपनी बड़ी बहू सीताजी को भेंट कर दिया। यह कनक भवन भगवान श्रीराम और जगतमाता सीताजी का आवास बना जो आज तक जन-मानस का आराध्य केन्द्र बना हुआ है।

त्रेता में भगवान श्रीराम के बाद उनके सुपुत्र कुश ने कनक भवन में श्रीराम और सीताजी की लघु आकार की मूर्तियाँ प्रतिष्ठापित की। किन्तु कालान्तर में अयोध्या के राजवंश के पराभाव के बाद अयोध्या उजड़ी और कनक भवन भी जर्जर होकर ढह गया। कनक भवन से प्राप्त हुए विक्रमादित्यकालीन एक शिलालेख के अनुसार द्वापर में जब श्री कृष्ण जरासंध का वध कर प्रमुख तीर्थों की यात्रा करते हुए अयोध्या आए तो कनक भवन के टीले पर एक पद्मासना देवी को तपस्या करते हुए देखा और टीले का जीर्णोद्धार करवाकर वे मूर्तियाँ पुनस्थापित की।

विक्रमादित्याकालीन शिलालेख में ही आगे वर्णन है कि महाराज विक्रमादित्य ने धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर के संवत् 2431 की पौष कृष्णा द्वितीया मंगलवार (आज से लगभग 2070 वर्ष पूर्व) को समुद्रगुप्त ने भी इस देवालय को जीर्णोद्धार करवाया। सन् 1761 ई. में भक्त कवि रसिक अलि ने दस हजार रूपये से कनक भवन के अष्टकुंज का निर्माण शुरू किया अर्थाभाव के कारण वह पूरा नहीं हो सका।

वर्तमान कनक भवन का निर्माण ओरछा राज्य के पूर्व नरेश सवाई महेन्द्र श्री प्रताप सिंह की धर्मपत्नी महारानी वृषभानु कुंवरि की देखरेख में हुआ। वैशाख शुक्ला षष्टमी सं. 1948 (सन् 1891 ई.) को उन्होंने प्राचीन मूर्तियों की पुनस्र्थापना के साथ ही श्री सीताराम जी की दो नवीन वृहदाकार मूर्तियों की भी प्राण प्रतिष्ठा करवाई और कनक भवन के ऊपर अष्ट कुंजों का भी निर्माण करवाया जिनमें सेविकाओं के आठ अतिस्मरणीय चित्र बने हुए हैं। 

अब श्री कनक भवन में अष्टप्रहर आरतियों में श्रीरामसीता की विभिन्न झांकियों के मनोरम दर्शन होते हैं और विभिन्न अवसरों पर उत्सवों की सुन्दर श्रृंखला आयोजित होती हैं।

महारानी वृषभानु कुंवरि द्वारा वर्तमान कनक भवन की विग्रह स्थापना को लगभग सवा शताब्दी हो रही है। श्रीसीतारामजी का यह लीला-निकेतन और उन्हीं का विग्रह रूप यह कनक भवन कोटि-कोटि जनता का आराधना स्थल है जो दीर्घकाल से धर्म और संस्कृति के उच्च शिखर पर प्रतिष्ठित रहा है। हम वहाँ दर्शन कर मनोमालिन्य से मुक्त होते हैं, जीवन में नई चेतना और ऊर्जा का संचार पाते हैं, आनन्द विभोर हो जीवन मुक्त होते हैं। इसलिए हरेक व्यक्ति ही यह मनोकामना रहती है कि वह अपने इस दुर्लभ मनुष्य जीवन में कम से कम एक बार अयोध्या के कनक भवन में साक्षात् श्रीसीतारामजी के दर्शन कर अपना जीवन धन्य करें।

श्री कनक भवन मंदिर का संचालन महाराजा साहब टिकमगढ़ नरेश श्री प्रताप सिंह जूदेव के द्वारा स्थापित एक ट्रस्ट जिसका नाम ‘श्री वृषभान धर्म सेतु प्रा0 ट्रस्ट’ है, के द्वारा होता है। श्री महाराज साहब श्री प्रताप सिंह जू देव इसके प्रथम अध्यक्ष थे। उनके बाद उनके सुपुत्र श्री महाराज वीर सिंह जू देव उपरोक्त मंदिर के ट्रस्ट के दूसरे अध्यक्ष हुए। उनके बाद उनके सुपुत्र श्री महाराजा देवेन्द्र सिंह जू देव तीसरे अध्यक्ष हुए।

उनके बाद से वर्तमान में उनके सुपुत्र श्री महाराज श्री मधुकर शाह जू देव, महाराज टीकमगढ़ इस ट्रस्ट के चतुर्थ अध्यक्ष हैं।

उनका पता- B/8/26, बसन्त विहार, नई दिल्ली, 110057,
फोन नं0- 011-26142963, 011-26147862 ।