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TL;DR — Ayodhya is counted in the Sapta Puri, the seven cities the Garuda Purana names as granting liberation, and is the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram in the Ramayana. Divine Hindu offers nine sevas performed in Ayodhya — Rudra Abhishek, Vishesh Surya, Shree Swaminarayan, Shani, Shri Sukt and Durga Chalisa, Ram Raksha Stotra, Ganesh, Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand, and the Putrakameshti Yagna — through Divine Hindu × Ayodhyatra, under a signed exclusive authorisation. Each is performed by pandits there in your name and gotra for sankalp. Package tiers run Individual ₹851 · Partner ₹1,201 · Family 3–4 ₹1,901 · Family 5–6 ₹2,801. Priority Ram Mandir darshan and guided Ayodhya yatras are offered separately. Each seva is an act of faith and prayer; no particular outcome is promised.
Of all the places a Hindu family might commission a puja, Ayodhya has become, in the last few years, the one most people ask about first. Some of that is the new temple. Most of it is much older than that. This guide sets out what Ayodhya means in tradition, which nine sevas we are able to offer there, what each one traditionally marks, and how the packages work — so that if you do book one, you know what you are booking and why.
Why Ayodhya
Ayodhya sits on the Sarayu in what is today eastern Uttar Pradesh, and in the Hindu imagination it is not simply a town with temples in it. It is one of the Sapta Puri — the seven cities that a well-known verse of the Garuda Purana lists as mokshadayika, granting liberation: Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridwar), Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika (Ujjain) and Dvaravati (Dwarka). Ayodhya is named first in the verse.
In the Ramayana it is the capital of Kosala and the seat of the Ikshvaku line, the Suryavansha or solar dynasty that traced its descent from Surya himself. Bhagwan Ram is born into that line, in that city, and the entire first book of Valmiki's poem — the Bala Kanda — is set there. When a family commissions a seva in Ayodhya they are, in the traditional understanding, offering it in the city where the Ramayana begins.
The modern Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple was consecrated in January 2024, and it has changed the practical experience of the city enormously: more pilgrims, longer queues, a working infrastructure of darshan slots and crowd management. It has not changed the tirtha. The shrines that made Ayodhya what it is were there long before.
The city's shrines, in brief
- Shri Ram Janmabhoomi — the site venerated as the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram, and the focal point of the city.
- Hanuman Garhi — the hilltop Hanuman temple, traditionally dated to around the tenth century. Local custom is firm that one visits Hanuman Garhi before going to the Ram temple, on the understanding that Hanuman Ji guards Ramkot. Our Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand seva is recited here.
- Nageshwarnath — the Shiva temple at Ram ki Paidi, which local tradition associates with Kush, Ram's son, and with a Shiva linga said to have been installed by Ram himself.
- Suryakund — the Surya site where our Vishesh Surya Puja is offered, and the natural home in the city for an observance to the deity of the dynasty Ram was born into.
- Ram ki Paidi and the Sarayu ghats — the river frontage where snan, deep daan and much of the city's public devotional life happen.
These are traditional accounts as they are held and told in Ayodhya rather than settled history, and we present them as such. What is not in dispute is that they are the places where the sevas below are actually performed.
Divine Hindu × Ayodhyatra
These sevas are offered as Divine Hindu × Ayodhyatra. Ayodhyatra is our partner on the ground in Ayodhya, and Divine Hindu holds a signed exclusive authorisation to offer this set of Ayodhya sevas.
The reason we mention a commercial arrangement in an article about tirthas is that in this category it is the single thing most worth checking before you pay anyone. A seva booked online is only as real as the people at the other end. An exclusive, signed authorisation with a named Ayodhya partner means there is an accountable organisation responsible for who performs your seva, on what muhurat, with what samagri, and for the photographs and video that come back to you. It is the difference between a service and a listing.
How the process works end to end — what you provide, what the pandit does, what reaches you afterwards — is set out in full in How Online Puja Works: Sankalp, Vidhi, Video and Prasad. In short: you give the names and gotra, the pandit takes the sankalp in those names before beginning, the vidhi is performed on an auspicious muhurat, photos and video reach you on WhatsApp, and prasad is shipped where applicable, followed by post-puja guidance.
The nine sevas
1. Rudra Abhishek
Rudra Abhishek Puja — Ayodhya is an offering to Lord Shiva, and the oldest form of Shiva worship still in continuous household use. An abhishek is a bathing of the linga — with water, milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar in the traditional panchamrita, along with bilva leaves, bhasma and flowers — performed while the Rudri, the Sri Rudram from the Yajurveda, is recited. The seva includes sacred offerings during the abhishek and Rudri mantra recitation in the name and gotra provided.
What it traditionally marks: Mondays, the month of Shravan, Mahashivratri, and Pradosh. Families also take it at the start of a difficult stretch or on a milestone. The devotional intention stated on the product page is prayer for peace, steadiness and blessings through devotion to Shiva. If you would like to understand the rite before commissioning it, our guide to Rudrabhishek at home walks through the vidhi and samagri.
2. Vishesh Surya Puja
Vishesh Surya Puja — Ayodhya is offered to Surya Dev at Suryakund in Ayodhya, with the devotee details provided for sankalp. There is a particular fitness to a Surya observance in this city: Ram belongs to the Suryavansha, the line that traces itself to Surya, and Ayodhya is its capital in the Ramayana.
What it traditionally marks: Sundays, Ratha Saptami, Makar Sankranti, and the Chhath season, when Surya worship is at its most visible in this part of India. Families also take it for a student or for someone stepping into a public role. The devotional intention stated on the product page is prayer for confidence, inner strength and gratitude.
3. Shree Swaminarayan Puja
Shree Swaminarayan Puja — Ayodhya is offered in Ayodhya with the devotee name and gotra provided, and gives families in the Swaminarayan tradition a way to express their devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The connection to this city is direct: Bhagwan Swaminarayan was born as Ghanshyam Pande at Chhapaiya, in the Ayodhya region, and the area is a place of pilgrimage in the sampradaya for exactly that reason.
What it traditionally marks: Ram Navami, which the sampradaya observes as Swaminarayan Jayanti, and family occasions in Swaminarayan households. The devotional intention stated on the product page is prayer for dharma, peace and togetherness in the household.
4. Shani Puja
Shani Puja — Ayodhya is a devotional offering to Shani Dev, performed by pandits in Ayodhya. Devotees may choose this puja while observing the traditional Sade Sati or Dhaiya framework — the periods during which Shani is said to transit in relation to the natal moon, which classical astrology treats as demanding rather than simply unlucky.
What it traditionally marks: Saturdays, Shani Amavasya, Shani Jayanti, and the opening or turning of a Sade Sati or Dhaiya period. The devotional intention stated on the product page is prayer for patience, discipline and strength during demanding periods, which is the register in which classical texts themselves speak about Shani. We would put it no more strongly than that, and we make no claim that any observance removes or shortens a planetary period.
5. Shri Sukt and Durga Chalisa Puja
Shri Sukt & Durga Chalisa Puja — Ayodhya brings together two recitations. The Shri Sukta is an ancient hymn to Shri or Lakshmi, traditionally counted among the khila or supplementary hymns attached to the Rigveda, and is the standard Vedic text for Lakshmi worship. The Durga Chalisa is a forty-verse devotional hymn to Maa Durga in the vernacular chalisa form, of much later date and enormously widespread household use. The seva is offered with the devotee details provided for sankalp.
What it traditionally marks: Navratri in both its spring and autumn forms, Fridays, Diwali and the Lakshmi Puja evening, and household occasions where a family wishes to invoke both Lakshmi and Durga together. The devotional intention stated on the product page is prayer for grace, strength and peace in family life.
6. Ram Raksha Stotra Path
Ram Raksha Stotra Path — Ayodhya is a recitation of the Ram Raksha Stotra as a devotional offering to Bhagwan Ram, with the name and gotra supplied for the booking forming part of the sankalp. The stotra is traditionally attributed to the sage Budha Kaushika, and it is a raksha or protection hymn: verse by verse it invokes Ram's protection over the parts of the body and the course of a life. It is among the most widely memorised Sanskrit texts in Maharashtra and north India, and reciting it in Ram's own city is, for most devotees, the point of taking this particular seva.
What it traditionally marks: Ram Navami, the Chaitra Navratri days that lead to it, Tuesdays, and occasions when a family wants an offering made for someone travelling, unwell or facing something difficult. The devotional intention stated on the product page is prayer for courage, reassurance and the wellbeing of loved ones.
7. Ganesh Puja
Ganesh Puja — Ayodhya is a devotional puja dedicated to Shri Ganesha, offered before a new beginning, with pandits performing the observance in Ayodhya in the name and gotra provided. There is a structural reason Ganesh Puja exists as a standalone seva as well as the opening of every other rite: in Hindu practice Ganesha is invoked first, always, and a family starting something significant will often want that invocation made properly rather than in passing.
What it traditionally marks: Ganesh Chaturthi, the monthly Sankashti and Vinayaka Chaturthi, and above all beginnings — a new house, a new business, a wedding season, an examination, a venture. The devotional intention stated on the product page is prayer for an auspicious beginning, clarity and steadiness.
8. Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand Path
Hanuman Chalisa & Sundarkand Puja — Ayodhya is recited at Hanuman Garhi, with the devotee details supplied for the booking. Two texts are involved. The Hanuman Chalisa is Tulsidas's forty-verse hymn, almost certainly the most recited devotional text in north India. The Sundarkand is the fifth book of the Ramayana — in this recitation, the Sundarkand of Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas — which narrates Hanuman's leap to Lanka, his finding of Sita in the Ashoka grove and his burning of the city. It is the one book of the Ramayana in which everything goes right, which is the traditional reason families read it when they want an undertaking to go well.
What it traditionally marks: Tuesdays and Saturdays, Hanuman Jayanti, and occasions of difficulty, travel, illness or a long-running obstacle. The devotional intention stated on the product page is prayer for courage, devotion and reassurance in the tradition of Hanuman Ji. That the path is recited at Hanuman Garhi, the shrine Ayodhya itself visits first, is the particular value of this seva.
9. Putrakameshti Yagna
Putrakameshti Yagna — Ayodhya is the one seva on the list that is a full Vedic fire ritual rather than a puja or a path, and the one with the deepest connection to Ayodhya specifically: in the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana, it is the yagna King Dasharatha commissions at Ayodhya under the direction of Rishyasringa. It is offered in the name and gotra provided.
We treat this seva with particular care. The product page states plainly that it makes no promise about fertility, pregnancy or a child's health, and we repeat that here without softening it. It is offered as a personal act of faith and prayer, in the way that couples in devotional tradition have long chosen to make an offering, and as nothing more than that. The scriptural background, the structure of the ritual and what each package contains are set out separately in Putrakameshti Yagna: The Ramayana Context and What the Ritual Involves.
Because it is a fire ritual of scale rather than a headcount-based puja, its packages are priced by the size of the yagna: ₹7,051 for 2,100 aahutis over about four hours, ₹9,551 for 5,100 aahutis over about five hours, ₹13,401 for a three-priest, one-day observance, and ₹15,051 for the Grand Vidhi.
The package tiers
Every seva except the Putrakameshti Yagna is offered in four tiers. The tier does not change the vidhi. It sets how many people are named in the sankalp.
| Tier | Named in the sankalp | Price | Who usually takes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | 1 person | ₹851 | A seva for one named person — a student, someone unwell, yourself on a birthday. |
| Partner | 2 persons | ₹1,201 | A married couple, or two people taking the seva jointly. |
| Family | 3–4 persons | ₹1,901 | A nuclear household. |
| Family | 5–6 persons | ₹2,801 | A joint household, or a family including parents and grandparents. |
Prices quoted here are current at the time of writing. Check the live price on the seva's own page before booking, and give the full list of names and the gotra at the time of booking, because a name cannot be added once the sankalp has been spoken.
Choosing a seva for an occasion
People often arrive knowing the occasion but not the seva. This table is a starting point, not a prescription — a family's own kul devata and household custom come first.
| Occasion | Sevas families most often choose |
|---|---|
| A new house, shop or venture | Ganesh Puja; Shri Sukt and Durga Chalisa |
| Shravan, Mahashivratri or a Monday observance | Rudra Abhishek |
| Ram Navami and Chaitra Navratri | Ram Raksha Stotra Path; Shree Swaminarayan Puja |
| Navratri or Diwali | Shri Sukt and Durga Chalisa |
| A Sade Sati or Dhaiya period | Shani Puja |
| Hanuman Jayanti, a Tuesday, or a long-running difficulty | Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand Path |
| An exam, an interview, a public role | Vishesh Surya Puja; Ganesh Puja |
| A birthday or wedding anniversary in the family | Any seva, taken at the Partner or Family tier |
Priority darshan and guided yatras
Two things sit alongside the sevas for families who can travel. Divine Hindu also offers priority Ram Mandir darshan and guided Ayodhya yatras through the same partnership. Ayodhya's footfall since the 2024 consecration has made darshan planning a real logistical question rather than an afterthought, and a guided yatra covers the circuit — Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi, Nageshwarnath, Ram ki Paidi and the Sarayu ghats — with someone who knows the timings.
A commissioned seva and a visit are not alternatives. Many families do both: a seva now, a yatra when the year allows. Details and current availability are on the Online Puja page, or write to our team.
Nine Ayodhya Sevas — In Your Name and Gotra
Performed at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi and Ayodhya's shrines through Divine Hindu × Ayodhyatra. Video on WhatsApp, prasad shipped where applicable.
Browse the Online Puja collection →Before you book
Four things are worth getting right.
- Read the seva's own page. Inclusions differ. A path is a recitation; an abhishek is a bathing rite; a yagna is a fire ritual. The product page states what is included, and it is written to be accurate rather than impressive.
- Have the names and gotra ready before you start the form, spelled as the family actually uses them. If the gotra is not known, ask the eldest person in the family, and if it truly cannot be traced, the conventional fallback is Kashyap gotra.
- Say if a date matters. The booking form collects your preferred schedule along with participant details and your WhatsApp number. A muhurat is chosen from the panchang, but a birthday or anniversary can usually be worked around.
- Understand what is being offered. A seva is an act of faith and prayer. No particular life outcome is promised, by us or by the tradition.
The wider question of whether a ritual performed at a distance is a real ritual — the scriptural basis, the role of sankalp, and the honest counter-argument — is taken up in Can a Puja Be Performed on Your Behalf? What Tradition Says About Sankalp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ayodhya considered an important place to have a puja performed?
Ayodhya is counted among the Sapta Puri, the seven cities a verse of the Garuda Purana names as granting liberation, and it is listed first in that verse. In the Ramayana it is the capital of Kosala and the seat of the Ikshvaku or solar dynasty, and the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple was consecrated in January 2024. For devotees, commissioning a seva in Ayodhya means offering it in the city where the Ramayana begins.
Which sevas does Divine Hindu offer in Ayodhya?
Nine sevas are offered: Rudra Abhishek, Vishesh Surya Puja, Shree Swaminarayan Puja, Shani Puja, Shri Sukt and Durga Chalisa Puja, Ram Raksha Stotra Path, Ganesh Puja, Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand Path, and the Putrakameshti Yagna. Each is performed in Ayodhya by pandits there, in the devotee's name and gotra for sankalp, on an auspicious muhurat.
What is the Divine Hindu and Ayodhyatra partnership?
These Ayodhya sevas are offered as Divine Hindu x Ayodhyatra. Ayodhyatra is our partner on the ground in Ayodhya, and Divine Hindu holds a signed exclusive authorisation to offer this set of Ayodhya sevas. It means there is a named, accountable organisation responsible for the pandits, the muhurat, the samagri and the photographs and video that come back to you.
How much does an Ayodhya online puja cost?
Every seva except the Putrakameshti Yagna is offered in four tiers priced by how many people are named in the sankalp: Individual for one person at ₹851, Partner for two at ₹1,201, Family for three or four at ₹1,901, and Family for five or six at ₹2,801. The Putrakameshti Yagna is priced by the scale of the yagna instead, from ₹7,051 to ₹15,051. Check the live price on the seva's own page before booking.
Where in Ayodhya are these pujas performed?
The sevas are performed at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi and at Ayodhya's shrines, and the location depends on the seva. The Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand path is recited at Hanuman Garhi, the hilltop Hanuman temple that Ayodhya custom says one visits before the Ram temple. The Vishesh Surya Puja is offered to Surya Dev at Suryakund. The seva's own product page states where it is performed.
Which Ayodhya seva should I choose for a new business or a new house?
Families most often choose the Ganesh Puja, since Ganesha is invoked at the start of every Hindu rite and before any new beginning, and the Shri Sukt and Durga Chalisa Puja, which combines a Lakshmi hymn with a Durga hymn. The devotional intention stated for Ganesh Puja is prayer for an auspicious beginning, clarity and steadiness. Your own family's kul devata and household custom should come first.
What is the Shri Sukt and Durga Chalisa seva?
It brings together two recitations in one seva. The Shri Sukta is an ancient hymn to Shri or Lakshmi, traditionally counted among the khila or supplementary hymns attached to the Rigveda. The Durga Chalisa is a forty-verse devotional hymn to Maa Durga in the vernacular chalisa form. Families take it during Navratri, on Fridays, at Diwali, and when they wish to invoke Lakshmi and Durga together. The stated intention is prayer for grace, strength and peace in family life.
Does Divine Hindu also arrange Ram Mandir darshan or an Ayodhya yatra?
Yes. Priority Ram Mandir darshan and guided Ayodhya yatras are offered alongside the sevas through the same partnership. A guided yatra covers the circuit of Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi, Nageshwarnath, Ram ki Paidi and the Sarayu ghats. A commissioned seva and a visit are not alternatives, and many families do both. Current availability is on the Online Puja page or through our team.
Is any result promised from an Ayodhya seva?
No. Each seva is offered as an act of faith and devotion, and no particular life outcome is promised. This applies to every seva on the list, including the Putrakameshti Yagna, whose product page states that it makes no promise about fertility, pregnancy or a child's health. Divine Hindu makes no claim that a puja removes a dosha, cures an illness or secures any specific outcome.
