The town of Punyabhumi is located on the banks of the river Sarayu. The origin of this town dates back to the time when the continent was under one ruler and before mann split into the tribes. Long ago, the Emperors of old were just and lawful, they created a codex of law called smriti and this was followed by every mann on the great continent. The mann lived by the smriti and the land grew prosperous. But as time progressed, the ruling class felt they were above the law, leading to decadence. They rewrote the smriti which enabled the powerful to abuse the powerless. The cries of the common people reached the heavens and the gods of old decided they had to do something.
On an auspicious night during the period of the longest night, the mayor of Parkbattle by the name of Jamadagni, heard a feeble cry of a desperate woman along the banks of the river. Unable to see her, he lit a diya (clay lamp) and set it afloat on the water to provide assistance. He saw the most beautiful woman entangled in the local fisherman’s net and was struggling to escape, she was carrying a new born child in her arms and was struggling to keep the child from drowning. He quickly ran towards the woman and the child, disentangling them. As soon as the last of the net fell, the woman placed the child in his arms and vanished in a flash. He heard a voice that announced that this child will deliver mann from the clutches of evil plaguing the land.
Jamadagni named the boy Rama, raising him by the smriti. Rama was a natural leader, he assisted Jamadagni in his daily duties. Rama’s martial prowess kept the seedier elements from invading the settlement and the people started feeling safe under the mayor’s rule. This encouraged people to immigrate to Parkbattle. The little hamlet quickly grew into a large town. The fame of Jamadagni & Rama spread to the far corners of the empire and people started to see this town as a place of light in a land of eternal darkness. Word eventually reached the Emperor about the famous mayor, the Emperor in a fit of rage, ordered that the town of Parkbattle burnt to the ground. The lackeys of the Emperor rushed to fulfil his wishes and lead their army towards Parkbattle.
Rama was returning home after assisting a far away town in resolving their dispute with a neighbour. As he approached, he saw a strange blacksmoke filling the sky above Parkbattle. He pushed his horse faster towards home and was devastated that his home was reduced to a pile of ashes. He quickly ran towards the town searching for any survivors, he found his father gasping for air. Jamadagni with his last breath told Rama the story of his divine birth and the reason for his being. Rama felt an uncontrollable rage burning in his heart, launched a campaign against the unjust rulers on the continent. He became the leader that the oppressed were waiting for. So terrible was the wrath of Rama that he eliminated every corrupt ruler across the continent including the Emperor.
After his campaign, Rama returned home and rebuilt the town. The people renamed the town as Punyabhumi (Sacred ground), consecrating the birthplace of Rama. Fulfilling his duties, Rama told the denizens that he will leave his mortal form. He prophesized that he will return if ever the suffering of mann became intolerable.
Punyabhumi is ruled by the descendants of Jamadagni, they rule under the edicts of the smriti. There is a statue of Rama in the middle of the town commemorating the divine being, while serving as a reminder to his prophecy. The town is surrounded by lush green fields, large parcels of grassland for the livestock, abundant wildlife, and bountiful river. It is said that a citizen of Punyabhumi has never known hunger because the land is blessed. Some even say that they could hear the word “Rama” sung by the birds, and in the wind. The land is so unique that its the only town in the entire county that boasts a well operated smithy. Famous Armorsmiths and Martialsmiths arrive in the town to work on the metal of this land. The martial school train students in the art of war, they train to serve as the lieutenants of Rama when is reborn.
There is a tradition among the citizens of placing diyas in the river during the period of longest night, to guide Rama back to this realm. It is said that if ever the light from the diyas grow so bright that it can be seen from heaven, Rama will return.
