On
the right bank of the river Ghaghra or Saryu, as it is called within sacred
precincts, stands the holy city of Ayodhya, believed to be the birth place
of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The ancient city
of Ayodhya, according to the Ramayana, was founded by Manu, the law-giver
of the Hindus. For centuries it was the capital of the decendants of the Surya Vansh of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king. Ayodhya during ancient times was known as Kosaldesha.
The Atharvaveda describes it as "a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself". The illustrious ruling dynasty of this region were the lkshvakus of the Surya Vash. Accoridng to tradition lkshvaku was the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu, who established himself at Ayodhya. The earth is said to have derived its name 'Prithvi' from Prithu, the 6th king of the line.
A few generations later came Masndhatri, in whose line the 31st king was Harishchandra, known idely for him live for truith. Raja Sagar of the same clan performed the ashvamedha yajna and his great grandson bhagirath is reputed to have brought ganga on earth by virtue of his penances. later in the time came the great raghu after whome the family came to be called as raghu vansh.
His grandson was Raja Dasharatha the illustrious father of lord rama with whome the glory of the dynasty reached its zenith.
According to pauranic belief in the 93rd generation from Ikshvaku the 30th from lord rama was vrihadbala the last famous king of the ikshvaku dynasty of ayodhya who was killed during the Mahabharata war.
The kingdom of kosala again rose to prominence in the time of the Buddha, i.e. 6th century B.C. Ayodhya is pri-eminently a city of temples. At Ayodhya several religions have grown and prospered simultaneously and also at different periods of time in the past.
Remnants of Hinduism, Budhism , Jainism, Sikhism can still be found in Ayodhya. According to Jain tradition, Ayodhya was the seat of five Tirthankaras, including the first Tirthankar Adinath (Rishabhadeva).
