Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Ayodhya
Ayodhya is introduced as a beautiful city in Koshala, its name explained as Unconquerable. The opening portrait stresses truthful, restrained and contented inhabitants under Dasharatha’s rule. At Rama’s return Bharata prepares roads, flags, worship and a public welcome. The reunion brings the absent prince back into the civic world that waited through the exile.
Also known as Ayodhyā · Rama’s city
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalAyodhya is introduced as a beautiful city in Koshala, its name explained as Unconquerable. The opening portrait stresses truthful, restrained and contented inhabitants under Dasharatha’s rule.
Further detail
TraditionalAt Rama’s return Bharata prepares roads, flags, worship and a public welcome. The reunion brings the absent prince back into the civic world that waited through the exile.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the literary portrait of Ayodhya in the collection’s Ramayana retelling. It distinguishes that ideal city and its narrated ceremonies from a complete archaeological or contemporary account of the earthly city of the same name.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
a great and beautiful city called AyodhyaOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 47
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0047
- Original scan leaf
- 47
- Recorded leaf number
- 47
- Current Reader position
- 38
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
The roads were watered and the flags hoistedOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 136
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0136
- Original scan leaf
- 136
- Recorded leaf number
- 136
- Current Reader position
- 127
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
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Sacred & Legendary Locations ↗
Dasharatha
Ayodhya’s king, caught between his love for Rama and promises already made.
Shared illustrationPushpaka
The self-moving aerial car that carries Rama and his company towards Ayodhya.
Same subject and traditionChidambaram
The sacred city associated in the collection with Shiva’s dance and the Golden Court.
Same subject and traditionKailasa
Shiva’s Himalayan abode, where divine household and ascetic withdrawal coexist.