Ayodhya (Ramayana)

Ayodhya is a legendary city mentioned in the ancient Sanskrit-language texts, including the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These texts describe it as the capital of the Ikshvaku kings, including Rama.^[1]

The historicity of this legendary city is of concern to the Ayodhya dispute. According to one theory, it is same as the present-day Ayodhya city. According to another theory, it is a fictional city, and the present-day Ayodhya (originally called Saketa) was renamed after it around the 4th or 5th century, during the Gupta period.^[2]^[3]

^ Hans T. Bakker 1984, p. 7.
^ Sarvepalli Gopal et al. 1995, p. 76.
^ Hans T. Bakker 1982, p. 103–126.

[FOOTNOTEHans_T._Bakker19847-1] Hans T. Bakker 1984, p. 7.

[FOOTNOTESarvepalli_Gopal_et_al.199576-2] Sarvepalli Gopal et al. 1995, p. 76.

[FOOTNOTEHans_T._Bakker1982103–126-3] Hans T. Bakker 1982, p. 103–126.

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