130 [>'o. 2, 



Translation of the Ayodhya Mahatmya, or l Pilgrimage to Ayodhya '. — By 

 Ea'm Na'ra'yan, Bareli College. 



The Ayodhya Mahatmya, according to Maharaja Man Sinb, professes to 

 be the work of Iksvaku, of the solar race. Ayodhya and Sarayu are 

 said to own their existence to Vas'ishtha Muni, their spiritual guide, from 

 whom are descended the Vas'ishtha Brahmans of Ayodhya. It is said to 

 have been created in the Treta Yuga, and stands on the Sudarsana Chakra, 

 or war-wheel of Bamachandra. But according to Umadat Pandit, the 

 Ayodhj T a Mahatmya is a mere transcript from the Skanda and Padrna 

 Puranas, and is not the composition of a Raja of Audh. 



Ayodhya, the most ancient sacred city of the Hindus, and for many 

 centuries the seat of the kings of the solar race, is situated upon the 

 river Sarjayu, which unites with the Ghaghra at Sehorghat, 30 miles west 

 of Faizabad, where a fair is held at the full moon of Paus. 



The word ' Ayodhya' is derived from the Sanskrit prefix a, not, and 

 yodh, battle. It means ' not to be fought against'. 



The origin of the city, according to the Hindus, was this. The eldest 

 son of Brahma, the Deity's creative energy, named Sayambhuva Manu, 

 once went to his father's dwelling and said to him, " Please give me a 

 fine place to live in." Brahma took him to Vishnu, who bestowed on him 

 the wonderful and splendid Ayodhya. The site was selected and the city 

 was built upon it. 



Translation. 



Chapter I. 



Once Parvati said to Mahadeva — " You are omniscient and have related 

 several religious stories ; I tiow wish to hear some account of Ayodhya, and 

 especially its Mahatmya. It is an ancient city and dear to Eamachan- 

 dra. They say that it stands first among all other holy places, and is the 

 bestower of mulcti (salvation) ; describe therefore its extent ; the great 

 kings that have ruled in it ; the number of sacred spots ; their advan- 

 tages ; the good attending residence in it ; the river that flows there ; and the 

 benefits arising from bathing in it at the different ghats on peculiar days ; 

 with the things that should be given on those occasions." Mahadeva, hav- 

 ing saluted Ayodhya and Eamachandra, answered, — " It has the great river 

 Ghaghra on the west and the old Saravu flowing near ; it is the goddess of 

 learning ; and the abode of Vishnu and Hari is here. Hear the Mahatmya 

 of Ayodhya, which is the source of great happiness, and gives absolution of 

 sins. This city was built by God in the beginning of the creation, and is 

 well-known in all the three parts of the world. Its origin was this. The 



