Ayodhya Ram Mandir

People across India celebrate the Diwali festival with great enthusiasm because it is also the symbolic homecoming of Lord Ram. It is a touching moment, marking Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile and after defeating the Lanka king Ravana. But soon the ancient city of Ayodhya will celebrate and chant with unparalleled joy as it witnesses its mighty homecoming – the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, also respectfully known as Ram Janmabhoomi. The journey to this moment has been filled with a mixture of hope, faith, and controversy. Also, the history of  Ram Mandir is entwined with heated debates with a series of events that have carved deep impressions on the socio-political landscape of India.

Tales of the Temple – Ayodhya Ram Mandir Legends

Ayodhya, commonly referred to as Saket, holds an important place in the hearts of millions of Indians. It is also known as the birthplace of Lord Rama as it symbolizes the convergence of Ancient narratives within real Indian history. Numerous places across contemporary India bear The Legacy of Lord Rama throughout the Ramayana written by Valmiki.

A Testament of Resilience 

The story of every Ram Mandir in India showcases the unyielding determination of Civilization. History indicates that  Lord Rama’s father, father King Dashrath originally founded the temple. Despite facing countless challenges, including the invasion of Muslim kings and socio-political changes, the Ram Mandir has seen repeated reconstructions.

Ayodhya’s regal past

In religion Ayodhya is considered a sacred place, Its importance stretches beyond divinity significance. Ayodhya was once a quarter ancient Kingdom of Kosala The city has been home to extraordinary rulers known for their ethics and valor from Harishchandra to Raghu, Ikshvaku, and Dashrath. Their legendary tales are filled with justice challenges owner and deep commitment. 

The Manu connection

Legendary tales infuse with history creating a sense of wonder and Ayodhya is an example of this. According to the Legend, Ramayana Manu is seen as the initial human in Vedas, Which later became the foundation of Ayodhya. But, these simple interconnected dots amplify the importance of Ayodhya which not only makes Ayodhya Aisa’s historical site but also a focal point of traditions and spiritual beliefs.

Ayodhya’s Jain mosaic

Ayodhya’s spiritual importance extends to various religions. Jain religion also honors the city, it also identifies as the birthplace of five admired Tirthankaras. During, such a mix of Faith highlights signifies India’s rich cultural and spiritual diversity. There is a legend known as Mokshdayini Sapt Puris – the seven cities believed to provide salvation in Hinduism by granting the bath of the holy river.

The Genesis of Babri Masjid 

The “Babri Masjid” gets its name from the Mughal emperor Babur, Who initiated the construction of Babri Masjid. At the request of Indian governor Babar came to India in 1526 to defeat Ibrahim Lodhi. During the conquest of northeast India, one of Babar’s generals visited Ayodhya and constructed a mosque (There are still debates on the construction of whether it was built after the demolition of the Ram Mandir Temple or was built on the demolished site of the temple) and named the masjid as Babri-Masjid to give homage to the Babar. 

Before Babri Masjid stood

Before the establishment of the Masjid-i Janmasthan. The site is revere by Hindus as Lord Rama’s birthplace which holds an interesting legend. Jai Singh II, a Mughal court’s Rajput noble, wrote in their document a mosque was a sacred location. In 1717, he founded Jaisinghpura in the vicinity of the masjid. At the City Palace Museum of Jaipur, There is a preserved document from his tenancy,  in the document there is a detailed sketch of Babri Masjid’s vicinity.  Interestingly the sketch includes an open Courtyard marked called Ram chabutra as ‘janmasthan’. The central structure in the sketch is mark as ‘chhathi’ – indicating birthplace, The Fascinatingly present day Babri Masjid with its three domes resembles the ‘Janmashtami’ in the sketch.

A long time ago, there was a man name Joseph Tiefenthaler who travel from Europe to India and lived there for many years. In 1767, he visited Ayodhya and visited the rich fort called Ramkot which was destroy by the ruler Aurangzeb. In its place, a mosque with three domes was built.  Tiefenthaler wrote about this in his document How people have different opinions about who construct it some said it was create by Babar and others believe that it was construct by Aurangzeb. Despite knowing many languages, Tiefenthaler didn’t find any scripts or handwriting in the mosque supporting the idea that Babur built it. 

The Demolition of Babri Masjid, Context and Escalating Sentiments 

The demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 mark a crucial moment that significantly divided India’s socio-political landscape, and the aftershocks of the traumatic event are still felt today. 

In 1980 a political party Started the cause of Reconstructing a temple at a Ram Janmabhoomi site. This objective arises from the long-held belief that the Babri Masjid was establish over the temple that marked the Lord Ram’s birthplace. The matter took an important turn when Indian courts allowed Hindus to resume worship at the place after nearly half a century.

Political Undercurrents & Escalating Tensions 

In 1990, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) escalated its push for the temple’s construction. This sacred site is now a Battleground for the political parties Overflowing with tension. One of the significant confrontations between Temple supporters and state forces happened in 1990 which set the stage for the event to follow.

The Day of the Demolition 

December 6’ 1992 started as a day for a symbolic rally near the Babri Masjid driven by the political parties.  As the rally progressed participants increased to over 150 thousand and as the day passed it took a volatile turn. Anticipating unrest the state authorities had stationed police around the Babri Masjid. However, by the mid-day, the magnitude of the crowd outnumbered the security measures. The police retreated. The rally took matters into their hand by the evening the Babri Masjid lay in ruins.

Consequences and Extensive Impact

The destruction of the Babri Masjid did not bring an end instead it triggered the beginning of the much larger tragedy. In the months that followed India experienced severe communal clashes Leading to the tragic death of thousands of lives.  This incident also gave extremists a reason to carry out terrorist attacks in India in the name of their god. The aftermath of this incident resulted in several months of violent conflict between Hindu and Muslim communities, causing the tragic death of at least 2,000 people. There were also retaliatory acts of violence against Hindus who live in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Additionally, the International demolition of the Babri Masjid leads to attacks on Hindu temples in neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

A New Chapter – Reconciliation and Cultural Renaissance 

The city of Ayodhya, where the initial turmoil unfolded, emerged as the central hub of this cultural revival. Here it is propose that the sacre site was not just a place of worship. It was set to be an important reminder of the country’s architectural magnificence. However, this very important project was not realize overnight. It took decades To plan and design Ram Mandir. It reflects the careful thought and ingenious detailing that was invest in bringing the Ram Mandir to life. 

Architectural Excellence of the Ram Mandir

The architectural design of the Ram Mandir is create by the skilled Sompura family from Ahmedabad. Also, this family, known for constructing over 100 temples globally and spanning 15 generations, has a notable legacy, which includes the renowned Somnath temple.  Whenever, the chief architect of the Ram Mandir is Chandrakant Sompura, he receive support from his sons, Nikhil and Ashish Sompura, who are accomplish architects themselves.

Evolution of the design

In 2020, the Sompura family went back to the initial 1988 design and made certain modifications. The temple design is Inspire by Hindu scriptures and follows principles from Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastras. The temple is vast, measuring 235 feet in width, 360 feet in length, and towering at 161 feet tall. This makes this temple to become the world’s third-largest Hindu shrine. Also, the overall aesthetic is heavily influence by the North Indian Gujara-Chaulukya architectural style.

Main temple structure

The Ram Mandir is built on an elevate platform and consists of three levels. The temple includes five mandapas, located between the sacred garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) and the main entrance. On one side of the temple are three mandapas – Kudu, Nritya, and Rang while on the opposite side of the temple, there are Kirtan and Prarthana mandapas. Following ancient tradition, the temple will be built in nagara style, and these mandapas will be decorate with spires or shikhara. And the tall shikhara or spire will be directly above the Garbhagriha.

Columns and deities

A noteworthy aspect of the temple is its 366 columns, Each is adorn with detail carvings of 16 Hindu idols. These carvings showcase divine figures, including the 12 forms of goddess Saraswati, various avatars of Shiva, the 64 Chausath Yoginis, and the 10 Dashavataras. Also, the sanctum sanctorum is design to be octagonal, by following the ancient traditional design of Vishnu temples. 

Construction Progress and projections

The leaders of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust shared updates on the temple’s construction on the internet and media. Therefore, the Trust mentions that the work for the temple is done well with more than 40% of the temple building structure complete and 80% of the foundation of structure work finish. The current progress suggests that the ground floor of the Ram Mandir temple should be ready by December 2023.  Also, there is optimism among trust officials and Hindu devotes that the idol of Lord Ram will be place in the temple by 2024.

Overwhelming Support from Devotees 

The massive backing through financial contributions for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has been a Touching moment. The trust overseeing the temple’s construction to date has obtained donations amounting to Rs 5,500 crore. Interestingly this massive amount of donations is almost half of the Central government’s yearly budget for the school’s midday meal initiative. For the temple core’s construction, a budget of Rs 1,100 crore is use. Whenever, the remaining funds are earmark for the museum, conference hall, lodging for pilgrims, and ancillary structures. The Central government has set aside a Rs 10,234 crore budget for 2022-2023 to provide a perspective that represents a 60% share, for the school midday meal initiative. 

Protectors of the Temple building 

To build the important religious structure important trust was create by the government. The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board formed a 15-member trust to supervise the mosque’s construction. On the other hand, the ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’ trust was establish by the government to handle the construction matters of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. With an estimated budget of around Rs 1,800 crore passed by the committee.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Opening Date

The construction of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir is almost finish, with just a few months which is worth waiting for. The temple inauguration is expect on January 24, 2024, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent political figures leading the ceremonies. The temple’s design includes specially designed bricks engraved with the words ‘Jai Shree Ram.’

To book your visit to the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on opening, please follow these simple steps:

• Go the google 
• Visit the official Ram Mandir website.
• Go to the Darshan Booking section on the website.
• Select your desired date of booking, specify the number of attendees, and secure a token.
• Make sure to bring your token with you when you visit the temple.
• The portal also allows bookings for Jagran and other offerings.

News about the Ayodhya Ram Mandir dedication ceremony

The Ayodhya Ram Mandir Shines at Night. The Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has uploaded stunning pictures of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, beautifully lit up. Additionally, This recent news offers a glimpse of the temple’s grandeur and spiritual importance as it prepares for the consecration ceremony.

Get Ready for the Special Day

The Ayodhya Ram Mandir Consecration is on January 22, 2024, this important ceremony where PM Modi, influential politicians, celebrities, famous cricketers, and international figures are expect to join this India’s historic event. 

A Sacred Moment

Lord Ram’s Idol Installation. Also, here on the special ceremony where Lord Ram’s idol. In his childlike form, will be enthrone at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s sanctum sanctorum. It is set to be celebrate on January 22, marking a crucial milestone in the Ayodhya temple’s history.

Seven Days of Sacred Rituals

The Ayodhya Ram Mandir will be a special hub of spiritual activity in the future for devotes starting January 16, leading up to the main event. Also, these rituals, orchestrated by the temple trust will appoint a trusted host. And will also include Vishnu worship,  a havan, traditional practices a procession with Lord Ram’s idol, and the the grand ceremony.

Celebrating the Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s consecration

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra plays a key role in building and overseeing the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Whatever, they have unveiled the magnificent Sinh Dwar of the shrine, adding extra excitement to the upcoming event.

PM Modi suggests celebrating the Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s consecration like Diwali by lighting diyas at home on January 22 making it a historical moment. Therefore, to avoid crowds, PM Modi advises against visiting Ayodhya on the opening day.

Enhanced Security with CCTV and AI Surveillance

To enhance security for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration. Additionally, the government sets an extra budget for providing advanced AI-powered CCTV surveillance to guarantee a secure safe, and well-organized event.

Ready to welcome the faithful devotees

The Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust is gearing up to host 10,000-15,000 devotees for the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. To create a memorable experience for everyone. In a gesture of goodwill and celebration on the faithful day. One lakh Tirupati laddus will be distribute to the devotees in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir event. Additionally, local hospitals in Ayodhya are experiencing an unusual rise in requests for cesarean deliveries on the day of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration. Reflecting the importance and deep cultural significance of the event.

Summary

The Ayodhya Ram Mandir, a symbol of cultural revival, marks a significant milestone in India’s history. The journey to this moment has been fill with hope and faith. The temple has faced challenges and witnessed reconstructions throughout history. The genesis of Babri Masjid was initiate by the Mughal emperor Babur. The demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 intensified political tensions. Which led to far-reaching consequences and legal proceedings. Despite political undercurrents and escalating tension. A new chapter of reconciliation and cultural resurgence began in Ayodhya. Also, the Ram Mandir temple project was meticulously plan and design to reflect India’s cultural heritage. The upcoming inauguration on January 24, 2024. Is an important occasion support by millions of devotees showcasing a deep emotional connection to the temple The supervising trust. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust provided updates on the progress of the construction of the temple and plays a crucial role in ensuring the the successful construction of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

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