Exile Ends

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the much-awaited reconstruction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on August 6, in an epoch-making ceremony. The wait of centuries has ended and India is creating a golden chapter in Ayodhya, the Prime Minister said in his speech following the ceremony.

“The whole country is ecstatic and each heart is illuminated. Entire country is emotional and overwhelmed to be a part of history and witness this long awaited historic moment. The centuries of wait is getting over today. Crores of Indians, I am sure are unable to believe that they could be a part of such a momentous occasion in their lifetimes,” Shri Narendra Modi said.

RSS Sarsahnghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, participated in the landmark ceremony, which was guided by the priests chanting Sanskrit Shlokas and Vedic Mantras. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Chairman Nritya Gopal Das Maharaj and Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel were also present on the occasion.

Shri Narendra Modi also unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone and also released commemorative postal stamp on Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. 175 guests including 135 Saints belonging to 135 spiritual traditions were also present in the programme. Some eminent citizens of Ayodhya have also been invited by the Shri Ram Janm Bhumi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Shri Modi first took Darshan at Shri Hanumangarhi Mandir, after which he performed puja of Bhagwan Shri Ramlalla at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. Heavy security arrangements were in place in view of the Prime Minister’s visit.

Responding to call of the Chief Minister and the Trust, people in the state lighted earthen lamps at their houses and a special deepotsav was organised in Ayodhya. The lanes of Ayodhya and Ghats of holy Saryu River were illuminated with thousands of earthen lamps. People across the country celebrated the event with nationalistic fervour.

Shri Narendra Modi opened his address at Ayodhya with chants of “Siyavar Ramchandra ki jai”. He congratulated devotees of Ram and said that he was honoured to be invited to Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the process of Ram temple’s construction is an attempt to connect the nation. It will be a modern symbol of our culture, eternal faith and national spirit, he added.

“India is witnessing a golden historic moment with the blessings of the mighty Lord Bhaskara on the banks of the auspicious river Saryu. Across the length and breadth of India, from Kanyakumari to KsheerBhawani, from Koteshwar to Kamakhya, from Jagannath to Kedarnath, from Somnath to Kashi Vishwanath, SametShikhar to ShrawanBelagola, from Bodhgaya to Sarnath, from Amritsar to Patna Sahib, from Andaman to Ajmer, from Lakshadweep to Leh, the entire country is encompassed by and for Lord Rama!,” PM Modi said in his address.

“A grand temple will now be built for our Ram Lalla. Today, Ram Janmabhoomi has broken free from the cycle of being demolished and built again which had been going on for centuries,” he said.

“Lord Buddha was also connected to Lord Ram. At the same time, this city of Ayodhya has also been the center of Jain religion for centuries. This is the ubiquity of Ram, it reflects the unity in diversity that is of India!,” the Prime Minister said.

Elaborating on the popularity of Sri Ram cult and Ramayana across the country, the Prime Minister said, “In Tamil, we have Kamb Ramayana while in Telugu we have Raghunath and Ranganath Ramayana. We have Ruipad-KaterpadiRamayan in Odiya, while there is Kumudendu Ramayana in Kannada. In Kashmir, you will find Ramavatar Charit while Ramacharitam in Malayalam. In Bangla, we have Krittibas Ramayana while Guru Gobind Singh has himself written Gobind Ramayana.”

“You will find Rama in different forms, in the different Ramayanas, but Ram is present everywhere, Rama is for all. That is why, Rama is the connecting link in India’s ‘unity in diversity’,” Shri Narendra Modi added.

“We had taken a resolution. I remember the then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras telling us that we will have to struggle for 20 to 30 years, only then will this be fulfilled. We struggled and at the beginning of the 30th year, we have attained the joy of fulfilling our resolution,” RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said after the ceremony. He said that India believes in ‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’ i.e world is our guest and that Indians believe in taking everyone along. “Today is a new beginning of a new India,” he added.

Remembering Ashok Singhal and Paramhans Das, Shri Mohan Bhagwat said that (the beginning of temple constructions) proves ‘we can do what we want to do’. “There is a wave of joy in the whole country today. It is a pleasure that the national urge of centuries is getting fulfilled. The greatest joy is that the monument that can make India self-reliant, based on self-confidence and self-realisation is being established today,” Shri Mohan Bhagwat added. He also gave a call to prepare the Ayodhya within for the larger cause by the time temple construction is completed.

There are some people who should have come but couldn not be invited because of the Covid-19 situation, he said. “Advani ji must be at his home watching this”, said the Sarsanghchalak at the Ram temple ceremony in Ayodhya.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister welcomed all the dignitaries and Saints and presented the outline for developing Ayodhya as the global tourist destination. President of Shri Ram Janma Bhoomi Teertha Kshetra Nyas, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das also blessed with his elederly words on the occassion. General Secretary of the Trust Shri Champat Rai conducted the proceedings of ceremony.

A day before the commencement of Reconstruction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, senior BJP leader L K Advani released a video in which he said it is a historic and emotional day for him and all Indians, as he recalled the “pivotal duty” he performed in carrying out the Ram Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya in 1990.

L K Advani, the leading face of Ram Mandir movement, said the dream of life comes true, the wait has been worthwhile. He called Ram Mandir construction as the mission of BJP. In the video, he said, he believes that the Shri Ram Mandir will represent India as a strong, prosperous, peaceful and harmonious nation with justice for all and exclusion of none to truly usher in “Ram Rajya, the epitome of good governance”.

“Shri Ram is the embodiment of grace, dignity and decorum. My belief is that this temple will inspire all Indians to imbibe his virtues. I am humbled that in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, destiny made me perform a pivotal duty in the form of Ram Rath Yatra in 1990 which helped galvanise the aspirations, energies and passions of its countless participants,” L.K Advani added.

L.K Advani said the construction of the temple was like a dream come true for him. “Sometimes, significant dreams in one’s life take a long time to fruition, but when they are finally realised, the wait becomes very worthwhile. One such dream close to my heart is getting fulfilled,” he said.

“I am also very happy that due to the decisive verdict of the Supreme Court in November 2019, the construction of Shri Ram Mandir is getting started in an environment of tranquillity. This will go a long way in strengthening the bond between Indians. May Shri Ram bless India and her people always. JAI SHRI RAM,” he added. Due to Corona crises, several leaders like Shri L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi could not attend the Commencement of Reconstruction ceremony.

The Central Working President a the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Advocate Shri Alok Kumar has extended heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the countrymen and Ram Bhakts spread around the globe on the auspicious occasion of beginning of construction of the glorious grand temple on the birthplace of Bhagwan Shri Ram.

In his message, Shri Alok Kumar said that after almost five centuries of continuous struggle, countless sacrifices and seven decades of legal battle, we are all feeling emotional and fortunate today by seeing it with our own eyes. All of this has been possible due to the painstaking efforts of the millions of Ram devotees from all over the world, Bhagavat Krupa and the blessings of the Sant Fraternity & the leading figures of Hindu society. Now we have to bring the ideals and teachings of Bhagwan Sri Ram to the people. Shri Alok Kumar said that today the scene of collective Darshan of leading saints, heads of various religious-spiritual schools and social workers of the world gathered in this historic Mahaparva held on the birthplace of Shri Ram was unique and unforgettable.

The VHP Working President also said that now we have to move towards the establishment of Ramatva (Ramahood) on earth and eradicate poverty, malaise, inequality, illiteracy and unemployment from the country. All should come together to ensure education and employment, food, clothing and shelter for all.

According to Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the sacred soil for the rituals was brought from over 2000 pilgrimage sites across India, while the water came from more than 100 rivers. “Pious Soil and water from all the major religious sites, places of national importance and sacred rivers of the nation are reaching Ayodhya for the construction of the grand temple at Shri Ramjanmbhoomi,” Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra had said in a tweet. These included water and soil from Shri Badrinath Dham, Raigad Fort, Shri Ranganathswami Mandir, Shri Mahakaleshwar Mandir, birthplaces of Hutatma Chandrashekar Azad and Birsa Munda and many other places of religious and national significance.

On August 6, lanes of Ayodhya were decorated with flowers and saffron flags as residents celebrated the beginning of the reconstruction of a grand Ram temple. Roads leading to Ayodhya were adorned with hoardings and posters of the proposed grand temple and of Ram Lalla. The Doordarshan’s live telecast of the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan ceremony in Ayodhya had recorded massive viewership as more than 160 million people watched the live broadcast of the historic moment.