| Janaki Janmasthali Mandir | |
| District: | Sitamarhi district |
| State: | Bihar |
| Country: | India |
| Location: | Punauradham, Sitamarhi, Mithila |
| Native Name: | Janaki Dham |
| Deity: | Sita |
| Tradition: | Sanatana |
| Festival: | Janaki Navami |
Maa Janaki Janmbhoomi Mandir or Punaura Dham is a proposed grand temple of princess Sita in Mithila at her birthplace. The site is located at the Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district of Bihar in India. The site is considered as the appearance place from where Sita was found closed in a box from a farm field while the King Janaka was ploughing the farm field.[1] Ramayana Research Council has proposed the construction of the world's tallest 251-feet statue of Mother Sita at Sitamarhi.[2] [3] There is a plan to build Janaki Dham in Sitamarhi on the lines of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. A grand campus known as Janaki Dham will be built on 57 acres of land near Punauradham.[4] It is expected that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will laid the foundation stone of the Janaki Dham before upcoming Lok Sabha Election 2024. The foundation stone of the Janaki Janmasthali Mandir was laid by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of Bihar on 13 December 2023 at Punauradham in Sitamarhi, the place of manifestation of Goddess Janaki.[5] [6]
The grand Janaki Janmasthali Mandir will be constructed at Sitakund of Punauradham in Sitamarhi. The construction of this temple will be done by the Mahavir Mandir Trust of Patna. The temple has been designed by architect Piyush Sompura. The permission of construction of the proposed temple has been received from the Bihar State Religious Trust Board. Excellent Makrana stone will be used in the construction of the proposed divine temple.[7] [8] On 13 December 2023, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of Bihar laid the foundation stone for the construction of the grand temple of Mother Sita at Punauradham in Sitamarhi. Many facilities like huge gate, Parikrama Path, Sita Vatika, Luv Kush Vatika, pavilion and parking will also be constructed in the Punauradham.[9] [10] The Government of Bihar has decided to acquire 50 acres of land around the existing temple for construction of a new grand temple at Sitamarhi. According to the Principal Secretary Siddharth, the site would be developed like Tirupati. Similarly according to Kameshwar Chaupal, the present temple was built around 100 years ago which is not in very good condition now. The new grand temple will be built in the line of Ayodhya.[11]
According to Ramayana Research Council Trustee Rajiv Kumar Singh, the lower part of the grand temple will be circular. Around the circular lower part, 108 idols (forms) of the Mother Janaki will be displayed. According to Mahamandaleshwar Swami Chitprakashanandji Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara, Soil will come from 51 Shakti Peethas for the construction of the temple. The work of construction of the temple will start after the Lok Sabha election 2024.[12] According to national president Swami Sandipendra of Ramayan Research Council, soil and water from all 51 Shaktipeeths including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bali, where Lord Rama and Mother Janaki have had a connection, would be brought. Similarly the flame (Jyot) of Maa Pitambara from Nalkheda would be brought.
The Mahant of Bakhari Mutt has donated 14 acres of land for the construction of the 251 feet tall statue of Mother Sita. This statue of Mother Sita will be the tallest in the world. Vishwa Hindu Parishad President Alok Kumar has promised all possible cooperation in the construction of the grand temple. Similarly Shreebhagwati Sita Tirtha Kshetra Samiti