Nepal Pilgrimage

Janakpur close to the border of Nepal and India (Bihar) is the center of the Maithili culture and the birthplace of Sita, the daughter of king Janak and husband of Ram in the famous Ramayana story.

_{How Sita came to Janakpur}

In the Ramayana writen by the sage Valmiki. Sita / Seetha (also known as Janaki) was found by King Janak when she was a baby in one of the fields arround Janakpur while he was ploughing the land. There are several stories how Sita came there. One is that in a previous live as Padmavati live her father organised a contest for who clould mary her. He came up with such a difficult idea (bring a vessel down from the heavens) that the princes where so furious they set the city on fire. While the city was on fire demon Ravan came blushed the fire by and took the girl to Lanka who changed into a box. Ravan presented the gift to his wife and the the girl popped out of box swearing she would kill Ravan in her next life. Ravan wants to kill her but his wife Mandodari stops hims and says he should get rid of the box. Ravana listens and the box is dropped by his servents in the field arround Janakpur where the modest king Janak finds it while he ploughs the land.
Grown up Sita became Ram's wife after king Janak organised a contest where potential husbands had to prove their strenght by stringing the Bow of Shiva. No kings, princes and warriors were able to string Shiva's bow but Ram and so Sita and Ram got married.

During the festival that celebrates the wedding between Sita and Ram in november / december Bibah Panchami more than hunderd thousend pilgrims come to Janakpur.

Sources:

The Legends of Nepal - Jnan Kaji Manadhar (2002)

Links:

Ancient Vastu Texts