Punaura Dham Maa Janaki Hanuman Mandir Sitamarhi,Bihar

Punaura Dham Maa Janaki & Hanuman Mandir is situated in Punaura village, near Sitamarhi town in northern Bihar.The main deities worshipped here are Lord Hanuman and Goddess Sita (Janaki). The temple is located within the broader Punaura Dham complex, which is believed to be the birthplace of Sita Devi. The Hanuman shrine is built near the sacred Janaki Kund and is a place of deep reverence for Lord Hanuman, who is believed to be ever-present at Janaki’s service. Lord Hanuman here is worshipped as a powerful guardian and protector.

Temple Architecture

The Hanuman Mandir is built in traditional North Indian temple style, featuring a small sanctum (garbhagriha), pillared mandap, and a tall shikhara (tower) with red and white paint, symbolizing strength and purity. The temple is surrounded by open space, trees, and the holy Janaki Kund (pond), giving a calm and spiritual atmosphere. The temple premises also include shrines of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Janaki, making it a spiritually complete place.

Sthalapurana

Long ago, in the ancient land of Mithila, King Janaka, a noble and spiritual ruler, was performing a special yajna to bring prosperity and rainfall to his kingdom. As part of the ritual, he was plowing the land himself in Punaura village near present-day Sitamarhi. While plowing the sacred land, his plough struck something hard. Curious and surprised, he dug the earth further and discovered a baby girl lying in a golden casket. This miraculous child was none other than Janaki, or Sita Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Since she was found in the furrow of the earth (Bhumi), she came to be known as Sita, the daughter of Mother Earth.

King Janaka accepted the divine child as his own daughter and raised her in Mithila. As Sita was born without a womb and emerged from the Earth, this site came to be revered as Janaki Janmabhoomi – the birthplace of Goddess Sita. Over the ages, the land around this place was sanctified, and a pond formed at the same spot, known as Janaki Kund. It is believed that bathing in this kund washes away sins and blesses childless couples.

According to local belief, Lord Hanuman, the eternal devotee of Rama and Sita, came here during the Ramayana era and chose to remain here in invisible form to protect the sacred birthplace of Mata Janaki. He is believed to watch over the temple and its devotees to this day. As a mark of devotion, a temple for Lord Hanuman was built near Janaki Kund. The powerful presence of Hanuman is said to be felt especially during early morning prayers and Hanuman Chalisa recitations.

This place is visited by thousands of devotees who believe that their prayers for strength, family welfare, and protection are quickly answered here. Punaura Dham thus stands as a unique confluence of Sita’s divine birth and Hanuman’s eternal guardianship.

Festivals

The temple celebrates several Hindu festivals with great devotion. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated with special pujas, bhajans, and reading of Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand. Other important festivals include Ram Navami (birth of Lord Rama), Vivah Panchami (wedding day of Rama and Sita), and Navratri. On these days, the temple is beautifully decorated, and thousands of devotees participate in processions and cultural events. Janki Mahotsav, a festival dedicated to Sita Devi, is also celebrated with devotion at the same temple complex.