Sitakund and Sitabinj in Odisha share unique connection with Lord Ram

Emotions are running high across the country as the date for the consecration of Ram Lalla’s idol and the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is nearing. Devotees in Odisha are even more ecstatic as the State shares a unique connection with Lord Ram. Sitakunda and Sitabinj are two unknown and remote places in Odisha that share a link with ‘Tretaya Yuga’.

Sitakund is a mountain cave with a stream of water. The ancient holy place is situated on a remote hill deep in the forest of Malkangiri district. As per the legend, Sitakund exists in Malyabanta (the old name of Malkangiri) from ‘Tretaya Yuga’. Goddess Sita used to take a bath in Sitakunda on her way to Dandakaranya with Lord Ram and his younger brother Laxman.

The scenic beauty of the place is very attractive. The holy place located at Bonda Ghat in Khairaput has a deep relationship with the lifestyles of ancient Bonda tribes. Legend has it that some local Bonda tribes laughed while Goddess Sita was taking a bath in the stream. Subsequently, she got angry and cursed them to remain naked throughout their lives. Perhaps, Bonda women are living naked from that day.

As per reports, water from Sitakunda has been taken for the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. 

“Bonda women are still not combing their hair and using a small piece of cloth as per the curse of Goddess Sita,” said Keshab Naik, a resident of Malkangiri.

“The legend of Sitakunda is still alive and people in the area come here with deep devotion towards Lord Ram and Goddess Sita,” said Ratnakar Das, another resident of Malkangiri.

Another place linked with Lord Ram’s wife, Goddess Sita is Sitabinj in Keonjhar district. As per the legend, Sita’s two sons, Lava and Kusha, had spent their childhood at this place. People still believe that sage Valmiki’s ashram was located near a huge hill in the deep forest near Danguapasi village which is situated six km away from Ghatagaon.

As the education of Lava and Kusha was completed in Valmiki’s ashram, the name of the nearby school has been kept in the memory of the two princes as Lava-Kusha School.

Tourists soak in devotion while visiting the place and feel the spiritual connection.

“Goddess Sita used to explain about her husband and others to the members of the ashram through paintings inscribed on the hill,” said Prachiprabha Das, a tourist. 

“People in the area still believe that the education of Lava and Kusha was completed at sage Valmiki’s ashram here. Tourists and local people feel a deep spiritual connection in this place,” said Manoj Kumar Naik, a local resident.