Patna: The Punaura Dham temple in Sitamarhi, the birthplace of legendary Goddesss Sita, is poised for a transformative redevelopment with the finalization of its comprehensive design. As per the cabinet note of the Bihar government, this ambitious project has been entrusted to the same esteemed consultant responsible for designing the iconic Ram Temple in Ayodhya, ensuring a blend of architectural grandeur and cultural reverence.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday announced that the designs for the holistic development of the Jagat Janani Maa Janki temple in at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi have been finalised and that a dedicated trust has also been formed to expedite the construction work for the development of the temple.
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Bihar CM announces this on ‘X’
On the social media platform ‘X’, the CM posted: “I am very happy to inform you that the design of the grand temple and other structures for the holistic development of Jagat Janani Maa Janaki’s birthplace, Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi, is now ready, which is being shared with you. A trust has also been formed for this so that the construction work can be expedited.” He also posted pictures of the design concepts of the temple and its surroundings.
Punaura Dham is believed to be birthplace of Goddess Sita
The Punauradham temple holds immense religious and cultural significance as it is widely believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, also known as Janaki, a central figure in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The temple, often referred to as Janaki Janmasthan temple, is a sacred site for Hindus, attracting devotees who revere Sita as an embodiment of purity, devotion and strength. The site is being developed to enhance its status as a religious tourism hub, with plans for a grand temple modeled after the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, emphasizing its national and spiritual prominence.
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Proposed temple to showcase Maa Sita’s stages of life
The new design plans include a 151-foot-tall structure, wide walkways, and ample green cover, making it ideal for devotees to visit and pay homage to Goddess Sita. Reports have it that the first floor of the temple is dedicated to depicting Sita’s emergence from the earth, while the devotees can have the glimpse of Sita in her childhood. The third floor would portray Sita with her sisters.
Bihar cabinet sanctioned ₹120-cr for land acquisition
On December 24 last year, the state cabinet had sanctioned a sum of ₹120.58 crore for acquisition of over 50 acre land around the existing temple at Punaura Dham for building the grand temple and developing it as a major tourist destination. According to tourism department officials, the temple would also contain other attractions, like a lake which is believed to help with pregnancy, and Panth Pakar, which is associated with Sita’s marriage.
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The road construction department has already undertaken a project to establish a road connection between Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir and Maa Janaki temple, known as Ram-Janaki Marg. In September last year, the Bihar CM had urged PM Modi to expedite the construction of the connection. The CM also asked for a Vande Bharat connection to be started between the two cities.
Temple is a symbol of Bihar’s cultural and spiritual heritage
The temple is a symbol of Bihar’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage, connecting devotees to the Ramayana narrative. It is seen as a tribute to Sita’s virtues and her role as an ideal daughter, wife, and mother.
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The construction of the Punauradham temple, officials said, is being supervised by the Mahavir Mandir Trust, based in Patna. The architectural design for the comprehensive development of Punaura Dham has been assigned to M/s Design Associates INC., Noida, which serves as the design consultant for the project. The temple has been explicitly inspired by and modeled after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya, which oversees the construction and management of the Ram Mandir.
