Īccording to the Jain tradition, five tirthankaras were born at Ayodhya, including Rishabhanatha, Ajitanatha, Abhinandananatha, Sumatinatha, and Anantanatha. These include the Abhisheka and Pratimanataka by the poet Bhāsa (dated 2nd century CE or earlier), and the Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa (c. Several other literary works based on the story of Rama also mention Ayodhya. Ayodhya was subsequently repopulated by king Rishabha.
The location where they ascended is Gopratara Tirtha, according to the Mahabharata. Rama himself entered the waters of the Sarayu river, along with all the inhabitants of the city, and ascended to heaven. According to Uttara Kanda, a later addition to the Ramayana, Rama divided the kingdom into North and South Kosala at the end of his reign, with respective capitals at Shravasti and Kusavati, and installed his two sons (Lava and Kusa) to rule them. His son Rama was exiled to the forest, and returned to the city after several travails, establishing an ideal rule in the kingdom. The Ramayana states that the city was ruled by king Dasaratha, a descendant of king Ikshvaku. The Purana-pancha-lakshana also describes the city as the capital of Ikshvaku kings, including Harishchandra. Both Ramayana and Mahabharata describe Ayodhya as the capital of the Ikshvaku dynasty of Kosala, including Rama and Dasharatha. 2.2.7 Taittiriya Aranyaka and Atharvaveda descriptionĪccording to the Ramayana, Ayodhya was founded by Manu, the progenitor of mankind, and measured 12x3 yojanas in area.2.2.6 Location on the banks of the Ganges.2.2.4 Relatively recent association with Rama.2.2.2 Lack of ancient literary evidence.2.1 Identification with present-day Ayodhya.