How big was the ancient city of Ayodhya?
Why is this city so significant for Hindus?
Who established the city and what did it look like?
What did Lord Rama and Devi Sita’s palace look like?
What sort of animals were found in this ancient land?
No one grows up in India untouched by the beautiful story of Lord Rama and Devi Sita. Every Dussehra we celebrate the victory of Rama over Ravana, the victory of good over evil. Every Deepavali, we commemorate the return of Rama and Sita to Ayodhya and hear the tale of how the entire city was lit up to receive their beloved king and queen. But is the magnificent capital of Ayodhya just limited to this?
Ayodhya was a renowned pilgrimage destination since the dawn of mankind, and after the birth of Lord Rama, it became a place of supreme importance for Hindus. Amazing Ayodhya is an attempt in gaining knowledge about this ancient city—its architecture, its design, its buildings and all the splendid details during the era when Lord Rama walked this earth. This splendidly researched book, replete with shlokas from the Valmiki Ramayana, offers authentic information about the city which will not only help understand the life and times of ancient Hindus but also the revered figures of Rama and Sita.
Replete with descriptions, author Neena Rai draws out comparisons of an earlier era with our current life and culture, thus connecting the past with the present. She further compares Ayodhya with the cultures of other ancient civilisations so that the reader feels ‘connected’ to the past and the content of the book appears ‘contemporary’.
A fascinating account of an ancient city with significant contemporary relevance, Amazing Ayodhya is a must-read for a better understanding of history, scriptures and Hindu civilisation.Neena Rai was born in Pune, India. She is an alumna of the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Neena is passionate about writing and understanding the wisdom contained in the Hindu scriptures. She has been studying Sanskrit for years to understand dharmic texts. She is also fluent in English, Hindi, Bhojpuri and has learnt Spanish, Arabic and Urdu.
Neena is an accomplished abstract artist. In the past, apart from working in media, she has also worked as a fashion model and an international flight attendant.