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Posted by admin on 2024-01-08 |

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The construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya marks a significant milestone in India's cultural history. The forthcoming consecration ceremony on January 22, akin to the revival of the Somnath temple in the 1950s, holds immense importance. During his brief visit to Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the nation to light a lamp on this day, symbolizing the enduring relevance of Ram's life and mission. With the completion of the grand temple in sight, and the scheduled consecration of Lord Ram's idol at the sanctum sanctorum on January 22, let's delve into the temple's journey.

Construction and Design of the Temple

The foundation of the temple is constructed using over two lakh bricks, each bearing the inscription 'Sri Rama' in various languages. These bricks, sourced from different parts of the country three decades ago, contribute a unique and symbolic dimension to the construction process.

A significant portion of the Ram temple compound is dedicated as a green area, adorned with hundreds of trees, underscoring a commitment to environmental sustainability.

The temple itself will have each floor standing at a height of 20 feet, boasting a total of 392 pillars and 44 gates. A distinctive feature is the rectangular periphery known as 'percota,' a characteristic more commonly associated with South Indian temples rather than those in the north, imparting a unique aspect to the grand design.

The four corners of this 'percota' will be devoted to the Sun God, Maa Bhagwati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Shiva. Furthermore, a shrine dedicated to Maa Annapurna will be erected on the northern side, while the southern side will house a shrine for Lord Hanuman.

The renowned chief architect Chandrakant Bhai Sompura, whose grandfather Prabhakarji Sompura collaborated on designing the Somnath Temple along with his son Ashish Sompura, is the creative mind behind the temple's design.

The Hands behind the idol

Arun Yogiraj, a renowned sculptor hailing from Karnataka, is recognized for crafting the final idol of Ram Lalla intended for the Ayodhya Ram Temple. His creation was selected from three shortlisted designs and is set to be installed during the grand consecration ceremony scheduled for January 22, 2024.

The other two sculptors involved in creating the idol are GL Bhat from Bengaluru and Satyanarayana Pandey from Rajasthan. The Trust plans to place one of these three idols inside the sanctum, while the remaining two will find a place within the temple premises.

Yogiraj shared that the Trust provided guidance to the three sculptors, specifying that the idol should resemble a five-year-old and measure 51 inches (4.25 feet) in length.

Consecration Ceremony

As per Temple officials, the inauguration ceremony for the Ram Temple is set to commence on January 16, 2024. The Temple trust has outlined a seven-day schedule for the rituals:

January 16: The appointed host by the Temple trust will lead the atonement ceremony, with a 'Dashvidh' bath taking place on the banks of the River Saryu. The rituals will include Vishnu worship and Godan.

January 17: A procession will carry the idol of Lord Ram in his child-like form (Ram Lalla), accompanied by devotees carrying Saryu water in Mangal Kalash.

January 18: Rituals such as Ganesh Ambika Puja, Varun Puja, Matrika Puja, Brahmin Varan, and Vastu Puja will be conducted.

January 19: Agni Sthapana, Navagraha Sthapana, and Havan will be performed.

January 20: The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple will be cleansed with holy water from the Saryu, followed by rituals including Vaastu Shanti and Annadhivas.

January 21: The deity of Ram Lalla will undergo a divine bath with 125 urns, and the ritual of Shayadhivas will take place.

January 22: The morning will witness the worship of the deity of Ram Lalla, followed by its consecration in the afternoon during the Mrigashira Nakshatra.

The Invitees

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has extended invitations to Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the upcoming Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, according to sources. Additionally, former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda have also been invited to the event.

Beyond political figures, the ceremony will host distinguished guests such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, as well as Amitabh Bachchan, Mukesh Ambani, and Gautam Adani. Notable invitees also include actors Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia, renowned for their roles as Ram and Sita in the TV series Ramayan. The guest list further extends to 3,000 VVIPs, encompassing RSS Head Mohan Bhagwat, Baba Ramdev, and Ratan Tata.

The diverse group of attendees will include judges, scientists, writers, poets, saints, priests, Shankaracharyas, religious leaders, former civil servants, retired Army officers, lawyers, musicians, and recipients of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards. Approximately 4,000 saints from different sects have also been invited to partake in the ceremony.

In a gesture of appreciation, all distinguished guests participating in the "pran pratishtha" or the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22 will receive special gifts, as announced by the temple trust. Attendees will be presented with sacred prasad and copies of the 'Ayodhya Darshan' book from Gita Press.

More Gifts to Ayodhya

During his one-day visit to Ayodhya, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 46 projects with a combined value of approximately ?15,700 crore. Among these initiatives were the inauguration of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport and the revamped Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station.

Additionally, Mr. Modi flagged off six new Vande Bharat trains: Amritsar-Delhi Junction Vande Bharat Express, Coimbatore-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Vande Bharat Express, Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, and Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express. Two Amrit Bharat trains were also inaugurated: the Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and the Malda Town-Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express.