Ayodhya - Chakrahari and Guptahari

Ayodhya - Chakrahari and Guptahari: (Chakrahari is west of Vishnuhari) (Harismriti or Guptahari is west of Chakrahari)

(Skanda Purana - Ayodhya Mahatmya - 6)

• I meditate on Lord Vishnu who came to the bank of river Sarayu to perform penance secretly for increasing the strength of the devas.

• Once in a battle between the asuras and the devas, the asuras defeated the devas. The devas started fleeing. Hara stopped the devas and took them to Lord Vishnu in the milky ocean along with Brahma deva. There, Hara started eulogizing the Lord. Lord Vishnu became pleased and said that he will perform penance secretly to increase the strength of the devas. Thereafter the Lord came to the bank of river Sarayu to perform his penance. The place where the Chakra of the Lord fell became known as Chakrahari. The place where the Lord performed his penance secretly became known as Guptahari. Due to the penance of the Lord, the devas gained strength and defeated the asuras. Thereafter, the devas came to Guptahari and worshipped the Lord. Lord Vishnu granted them the boon of protection and narrated the glory of that place.

• Annual festival of Guptahari: Kathika (Poornima)

• Annual festival of Chakrahari: Margashirsha Shukla Ekadasi