Ram Mandir Reconstruction: An epoch-making event

The glorious day, for which the Hindus worldwide eagerly awaited, fought countless battles, and sacrificed numerous lives, has finally come after 492 years. The reconstruction of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple is going to begin on August 5, 2020. Prime Minister of Bharat Shri Narendra Modi will formally start the work amidst Vedic rituals beginning from August 3. On August 3, the rituals will begin with Maha-Ganesh Pujan and Panchang Pujan. On August 4, the Navgraha puja will be performed. On August 5, first, the puja of Varun, Indra, and other Gods will be performed and then the reconstruction of the temple will formally begin.

Selected 21 Vedic scholars and Acharyas from Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kashi will perform the rituals. The ceremony will be led by Acharya Lakshmikant Dixit of Banaras. Out of 21 Vedic scholars, only five Acharys will be from Ayodhya rest will be from other parts of the country. Soil and water especially collected from all pilgrimage places, holy cities, and the four Dhams of the country will be used for the rituals.

Noted saint Pujya Shri Govinddev Giri Maharaj, who is also Treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is the convener of this ceremony. “It is not an event for publicity. It is a great opportunity for starting reconstruction of the grand Janmabhoomi Temple of the ‘Brahmand Nayak’ Prabhu Shri Ram. The whole ceremony is being performed by following Vedic rituals,” added Shri Govind dev Giri Maharaj.

Even after the Supreme Court of Bharat allowing reconstruction of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in its historic verdict delivered on November 9, 2019, some elements who opposed the entire temple liberation movement are still active. They are questioning the ‘muhurat’ of the ceremony in a bid to again delay the reconstruction process. Citing noted scholar and astronomer Pandit Gangadhar Pathak, Shri Govinddev Giri says: “There is nothing wrong in the ‘muhurat’ on August 5.”

General Secretary of the Trust Shri Champat Rai makes it further clearer: “Those who are raising questions over the ‘muhurat’ do not have proper information. Scholars from Kashi and the Vidwat Parishad have finalised it. Prime Minister represents the popular support of the country since he is the democratically elected Prime Minister. The day he starts reconstruction of the temple is the auspicious day for the whole nation. ‘Pradhanmantri ka agman shubh din hai’. In a democracy, such a popular Prime Minister has never been.” Trust member Shri Kameshwar Chaupal, who had laid the foundation stone for the Temple on November 10, 1989 says: “Shri Ram is revered as the ‘Rashtra Purush’. His Mandir is basically the ‘Rashtra Mandir’. Hence, the most suitable man for this auspicious task is undisputedly the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.”

Though it is a historic moment, only select guests have been invited for the ceremony following COVID-19 guidelines. Apart from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, senior BJP leaders Shri LK Advani, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Pujya, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara, Sadhvi Uma Bharati, former Chief Minister of UP Kalyan Singh, former MP Shri Vinay Katiyar, etc. will also participate. “It is surely a glorious moment and lakhs of people want to be a witness to it. But we have to follow the guidelines of the Government on COVID-19. Though we have invited heads of all the sects and prominent Acharyas, we feel only the select guests of about 50 from Ayodhya and about 50 from other parts of the country will come. Since Chaturmas is going on, the air and train connectivity is not proper during this corona crisis, most of the saints are expected to send their messages. We have invited all the Acharyas for their blessings,” Shri Champat Rai told ‘Organiser’ on phone.

“The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh played a key role in restoring this national pride. Those who have been in the forefront of the whole Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement will join the ceremony. Since the people are not able to directly be witness to this ceremony, they are advised to perform bhajan-keertan and worship their respective deities from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm on August 5. In the evening, they are advised to light a lamp outside their homes. It is an advice to all the Hindus living in any part of the world,” Shri Champat Rai added.

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and head of Maniram Das Chhavani, will offer a 40 kg silver Shri Ram Shila, which will be worshiped by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi before placing it in the foundation. The Shila has been offered by Maniram Das Chhavani. “The reconstruction of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya is no less than a ‘Mahayajna’. Shri Ram Shila is a minor contribution to this ‘Mahayajna’ from Maniram Das Chhavani,” said Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, senior Mahant of the Chhavani. It is to be recalled that Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das of the Maniram Das Chhavani fought for Shri Ram Janmabhoomi liberation for about five decades.

After becoming Prime Minister, it will be the first visit of Shri Modi to Ayodhya. The rituals will begin at 8.00 am and the Prime Minister will join it from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm. The whole plan for the ceremony was finalised in the Trust meeting on July 18. During the ceremony, Shri Modi will also place a copper Kalash in the foundation. The ‘kalash’ will have waters filled from various pilgrimage places, herbs and five precious stones—diamond, emerald, ruby, gold and brass. Silver snakes and tortoise will also be placed. The five bricks—Nanda, Bhadra, Jaya, Rikta and Poorna will also be placed. The whole ceremony will be performed with Vedic rituals.

August 5 is again going to become a historic day in Bharat. On August 5, 2019, Article 370, which was blocking the complete integration of Jammu & Kashmir for decades, was amended. Now on August 5, 2020 reconstruction of Shri Ram Temple is beginning. Reconstruction of Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya and abrogation of Article 370 were some of the key points in the agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party also and now both these promises have been fulfilled. Reconstruction of Shri Ram Temple is the issue, which had been agitating the Hindus world over for about five centuries.

Shri Ram Temple will be built only at about one-acre land. Hence, the development of the rest 70 acre land is also a big issue. The Trust is having a discussion with the state government on this issue. The Trust has decided to approach about ten crore people of the country for contribution in the temple reconstruction. The temple will be ready in about three and a half years.

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, in a meeting held in Ayodhya on July 18, has decided to raise the height of the temple. Originally, the temple was 128 feet high. But now its height will be 161 feet. Similarly, the number of domes has also been increased from three to five. Apart from one main dome, there will be four sub domes. Earlier, the temple was to be two-storied, but it will now be three-storied. The first floor will have the idol of Shri Ramlala, while the second floor will have Shri Ram Darbar. The details about the third floor are awaited. The change in the previous design has been done in consultation with the main architect of the temple Shri Chandrakant Sompura. The blueprint presented by Shri Sompura was approved by the Trust in its meeting. Now, the ‘Parkota’ of the temple will be developed in five acres. The total pillars to be used in the temple now will be 318. Each pillar will have idols especially carved on them.

With the historic moment of temple reconstruction coming nearer, the demand to acquit all the people who have been framed in the disputed structure demolition case in 1992, is getting momentum. The demand has been raised by the senior saint of Ayodhya, Mahant Nritya Goal Das. He argues that now since the grand temple of Shri Ram is going to be built on the same place, it is time the CBI Court should acquit all the people framed in the case of demolition. This matter is being heard in the CBI Court of Lucknow every day. The statements of all the accused persons are being recorded in this case. A total of 49 FIRs were registered. Out of a total of 49 persons, 17 persons have passed away and 32 are now facing the case.

The Hindus have eagerly waited for this momentous day for about 500 years. Though everybody wants to be a witness to it, the corona crisis has spoiled the dream. Since nobody knows when the crisis will be over, it is better not to wait and commence the reconstruction. The Hindus want to have ‘darshan’ of the Ramlala in a grand temple and it is a good beginning in that direction.