Punaura Dham
| Maa Janaki Janmabhoomi Temple or Punaura Dham | |
|---|---|
पुनौरा धाम | |
The ancient temple of Janaki Janmabhoomi at Punaura Dham in the Sitamarhi district of the Mithila region | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Sitamarhi district |
| Deity | Sita |
| Festivals | Janaki Navami, Vivaha Panchami, Ram Navami |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Mithila region |
| State | Bihar |
| Country | India |
Interactive map of Maa Janaki Janmabhoomi Temple or Punaura Dham | |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | King Janaka, Pundrik Rishi |
| Established | Treta Yuga |
| Birth place of Goddess Sita in Hinduism | |
Punaura Dham, entailing Janaki Janmasthali Mandir (lit. Janaki Birthplace Temple), revered as the birth place of Mata Sita, the consort of Lord Rama, in Punaura village 5 km southwest of Sitamarhi city of Sitamarhi district in north Bihar near India–Nepal border. Since this temple has immense religious and spiritual significance for Hindus, a large number of pilgrims from all over the world visit here every day. It has been included as a cultural heritage site by the Government of India under the scheme for protection of cultural heritage in the country. The Punaura Dham is one of the major destination in the ambitious Ramayana circuit developed by the Government of India. A new city named Sitapuram around the legendary shrine Punaura Dham has been proposed.
In the Indian subcontinent, Goddess Sita is generally worshiped as the part of the divine couple with Lord Rama in Hinduism. But Punaura Dham is one of the few temples in the subcontinent dedicated to Goddess Sita, where she is worshipped independently.