In a heartwarming tale of devotion and sacrifice, Saraswati Devi Agarwal, an 85-year-old resident of Karamtand in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, is set to break her 30-year vow of silence during the Pran Prathishtha ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024. This poignant moment marks the fulfilment of her spiritual journey, which began in May 1992 and has been intricately intertwined with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Saraswati Devi’s remarkable commitment to her vow of silence, known as Maun Vrat, serves as a testament to her unwavering faith in the construction of the Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Her journey was not merely an individual pursuit but a reflection of the collective sacrifices made by countless individuals over 500 years for the Ram Mandir movement.
Having received an invitation from the Shri Ram Temple Trust to participate in the Pran Prathishtha event, Saraswati Devi’s joy knows no bounds. She will break her decades-long silence by seeking the blessings of Ram Lalla, with the first words she utters being “Ram…Siyaram.”
Saraswati Devi’s spiritual odyssey began in 1992 when she visited Ayodhya and met Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. Under his guidance, she undertook a pilgrimage, circumambulating the Kamtanath Mountain in Chitrakoot for seven and a half months. Her spiritual discipline involved subsisting on a glass of milk per day and daily circumambulation of the 14-kilometer path around Kamtanath mountain.
On December 6, 1992, the fateful day of the Babri Masjid demolition, Swami Nritya Gopal Das motivated Saraswati Devi to observe Maun Vrat. She pledged to break her silence only when the Ram Mandir was consecrated. Her son, Hariram Agarwal, shared that Saraswati Devi’s journey included challenges, but her family supported her spiritual commitment.
Married to Devkinandan Agarwal for 65 years, Saraswati Devi’s simple life revolves around Satvik food, and she reads religious texts like the Ram Charit Manas regularly. Despite the passing of her husband and three children, her family embraced and encouraged her spiritual endeavours.
Expressing her gratitude for the consecration ceremony invitation, Saraswati Devi, who communicates through writing, penned, “My life is complete. Ram Lalla called me for the pran pratishtha ceremony. My prayers and meditation have proved fruitful. After thirty years, I shall break my maun vrat with Ram Naam.”
She drew parallels between PM Narendra Modi and Raja Dashrath, and Yogi Adityanath with Swami Vashishtha, showcasing her deep-rooted connection to the Hindu mythology.
Saraswati Devi’s journey exemplifies the profound emotions and personal sacrifices embedded in the collective dream of witnessing the historic return of Shri Ram to his birthplace in Ayodhya.
