Guptar or Gopratar Ghat

In the Skand Puran, specifically within the Ayodhya Mahatmya section, Gopratar (popularly known today as Guptar Ghat) in Ayodhya is celebrated as one of the holiest tirths (तीर्थ -pilgrimage sites). The name comes from gupt (गुप्त - hidden or disappeared). It is here that Ramchandra ji is believed to have entered the waters of the Sarayu and vanished, concealing his earthly form and returning to Vaikunth. The older name Gopratar Ghat (गौप्रतार घाट), carries the same sense of a crossing point between worlds. It is the natural closing chapter of an Ayodhya pilgrimage — you begin at the birthplace of Ram and end where he departed.

Ram ji and his brothers had two sons each. Each of the sons was given his own kingdom and the desolate Ayodhya was handed over to Hanuman as guardian of Ayodhya - it was only much later that Ram’s son Kush re-established it. After handing over the kingdoms, Ramchandra ji left for Guptar Ghat and the entire living beings of Ayodhya followed him.

The Skand Puran describes Gopratar as the location where Lord Ram concluded his earthly pastimes (lila) and took jal samadhi. Sage Agastya recounts how Lord Ram, alongwith his brothers Bharat. Lakshman and Shatrughna, all the citizens of Ayodhya, and even the local animals, walked into the sacred waters of the Sarayu River. Through this ritual immersion (Jal Samadhi), they cast off their mortal forms to return to the eternal divine abode of Vaikunth.

Ram darbar at Guptar Ghat

A snan or holy dip in the Sarayu river is considered very auspicious. The banks of the river are protected for bathers

The Saryu river here is really wide

Boats at Guptar Ghat

The river span is really huge

Feeding corn to a calf

The banks of the Sarayu also has a big walkway, a garden with multiple statues. 

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Previous: Panchmukhi Shiv Mandir, Guptar Ghat

Panchmukhi Shiv Mandir, Guptar Ghat

Panchmukhi Shiv ji (five faced Shivji) mandir is situated near Gopratar Ghat on the banks of the Sarayu River. This temple of Shiv ji is known as Anadi Panchmukhi Mahadev Temple. Tradition holds that Ram ji worshipped here before proceeding to Vaikunth – his eternal abode.

 

Entrance to the temple

Panchmukhi shivling

A closer look

On the walls is Sri Ram Vandana by Tulsi Das - took me back to my younger days and my grandfather - Babaji - who helped me memorise it.

Ram ji and his brothers had two sons each. Each of the sons was given his own kingdom and the desolate Ayodhya was handed over to Hanuman as guardian of Ayodhya, till Ram ‘s son Kush re-established it.

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Previous : Sunil’s Ramayan Wax Museum 

Sunil’s Ramayan Wax Museum

Sunil’s Wax Museum in Ayodhya has lifelike images of the Ramayan. In my opinion, a must visit Museum. The owner Sunil Kandalloor alongwith his brother’s family, has also set up other museums in the country

Ram Lalla’s replica

Ram Lalla’s replica

Valmiki who wrote the Ramayan

Ramchandraji with his brothers at Maharishi Vashisth’s ashram

Ram ji with bow

Ram ji

King Dasrath and his three wives

Ram, Lakshman and Sita

Sita ji

Ram, Lakshman and Sita leaving for exile

Lakshman swore he would not close his eyes

Ram in meditation

Jatayu who fought Ravant to save Sita, and sacrificed his life

Sita in Ashok vatika

Hanuman

Ravan did tapasya and prayed to Shiv and Brahma for his great powers

Hanuman

Contribution in the construction of Ram Setu - the small squirrel dipped itself in the sea, rolled in the sand, and shook off the grains and tiny pebbles to fill the gaps between the rocks. Ram stroked the back of the squirrel which give it the three stripes

Ram with his bow and arrow

Luv and Kush in the background with the Ashwamedh horse

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Previous : Bharat Mandir/ Bharat Kund, Nandigram, Ayodhya

Bharat Mandir/ Bharat Kund, Nandigram, Ayodhya

During Lord Ram's 14-year exile, his devoted brother Bharat refused to claim the throne. Instead, he placed Ramchandra ji's wooden sandals (Charan Paduka) on the royal seat and governed the kingdom as an ascetic from Nandigram. 

The temple

Bharat’s living stay is shown in a floor below the temple

The entrance to the area

A rare Hanuman with a dhanush

Bharat

Ram ji’s charan padukas

A closer look at the padukas

While carrying the Dronagiri mountain with the Sanjeevani booti (herbs) to save Lakshman, Hanuman flew over Nandigram near Ayodhya. Bharat saw a giant figure in the sky, mistook him for a demon and shot an arrow. Hanuman fell to the ground chanting "Ram, Ram". Hearing the divine name, Bharat rushed to him, and learned about Ram's victory in Lanka and the condition of Lakshman. This historic meeting is commemorated at the Hanuman Bharat Milan Mandir located in Bharatkund,

Bharat and Hanuman Milap

The depiction of Luv and Kush with the Ashwamed ghoda

Bharat performed his daily ritual baths and austere penance at the large sacred pond known as Bharat Kund.

Bharat Kund

The location also houses temples commemorating the emotional reunion of Ram, Bharat, and Hanuman upon Ram's return from exile. 

There are several of such quotes all over

A great katha on Bharat can be heard here Bharat Katha Prasang : (प्रसंग)

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Previous : Ashrams we visited

Ashrams we visited

It was our fortune to meet Jagatguru Ramdineshacharya ji Maharaj and Mahant Girish Das ji in our flight to Ayodhya who, and without any request from us, were good enough to immediately get us VIP passes for Ram Mandir. The in-flight interaction was insightful, so much so that we subsequently went to their Ashrams.

Jagatguru Ramdineshacharya ji Maharaj of Hari Dham Peeth shared some of his photos with Yogi ji. His Ashram has about 20 students living there who are being trained in our texts, our mantra and Puja Vidhi. There is also a Gaushala with about 10 cows. He conducts Shri Ram Katha, Shrimad Bhagwat Katha, Krishna Katha, and bhajans in various places and has his own YouTube channel: Jagatguru Ramdineshacharya Ji Maharaj Official Channel  

I asked him about the ten Avatars of Vishnu, more specifically the ninth avatar since many consider this to be Gautam Buddha while others believe it is Balram. However, he reminded us that as per Bhagwat Puran, there are 24 avtars of Vishnu. Amongst the Dasavtars, the Buddha referred to is not Gautam Buddha whose teachings differ considerably from Hinduism. A little research showed that in Hindu scriptures like the Srimad Bhagvat, Vishnu ji’s avatar of Buddha is described as the son of Anjana, born in the region of Gaya (Kikaṭ) and that this incarnation appeared at the beginning of the Kaliyug (3102 BCE) to preach non-violence and reform materialistic practices.

Jagatguru ji Maharaj was pleased to honour us.

  

We then went to the ashram of Mahant Mahamandaleshwar Shri Girish Das ji Maharaj, Head Priest of Dadiya Mandir (डाड़िया मंदिर के पीठाधिपति महामंडलेश्वर महंत गिरीश दास महाराज ) He too has students there – all boys of course. The centre of the hall has a beautiful temple. Mahant ji plans to further renovate the temple in the next few months. 

The little saint

There are about 10 boys living in the ashram. Mahant ji narrated the story of this little saint. On the death of his father, his mother sought support for her son and her daughters. Since the ashram does not keep girls there, the boy was taken into the ashram where all his expenses are taken care of, also his education in school and teachings in our rituals are taught.

Shri Girish Das ji Maharaj  was also pleased to honour us

Next : Bharat Mandir/ Bharat Kund, Nandigram, Ayodhya

Previous : Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Ayodhya