Descendants of former kings from Tamil Nadu joined 16 couples from across Bharat as Yajamans in the historic Prana Prastishtha ceremony for the installation of the Ram murti in Ayodhya. Adalarasan and his wife, Lalitha Pankajavalli, a descendant of Ramanathapuram king Baskara Sethupathi, expressed their overwhelming joy and gratitude for the opportunity to witness and actively participate in the monumental event.
They remarked, “We have no words to describe our joy, and the opportunity given to witness and participate in the historical and grand event of installing the Ram murti at his birthplace, Ayodhya. We will cherish our memory till we live as a memorable one. It has fulfilled the purpose of the janam (birth) of our life.”
Invited by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, these couples, hailing from various backgrounds including Dalits, tribals, OBCs (including Yadav), and other castes, actively participated in the rituals as hosts during the historic Ram temple consecration ceremony.
The list of 16 couples featured a diverse representation, including Ramchandra Kharadi, President of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, an affiliate of RSS. Kharadi, hailing from a tribal community in Udaipur, expressed his role as a yajman during the consecration ceremony. Notably, three yajmans originated from Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of PM Narendra Modi. Anil Chaudhary, dom raja of Kashi, represented the Doms who have traditionally been responsible for cremation rituals at Varanasi’s Manikarnika and Harishachandra Ghats. Kailash Yadav and Kaveendra Pratap Singh were the other two yajmans from Varanasi.
The diverse list included participants from various regions, such as Ram Kui Jemi from Assam, Sardar Guru Charan Singh Gill from Jaipur, Krishna Mohan from Hardoi (Ravidasi samaj), Ramesh Jain from Multani, Adalarasan from Tamil Nadu, Shivaji Rajah Bhonsle Chattrapathi – the current head of the Maratha royal family of Thanjavur, Vitthalrao Kamble from Mumbai, Mahadev Rao Gaikwad from Latur (Ghumantu samaj trustee), Lingraj Vasavaraj Appa from Kalaburagi in Karnataka, Dilip Valmiki from Lucknow, and Arun Chaudhary from Palwal in Haryana.
Among the participants, Anil Mishra, an RSS leader and member of the organisation’s Awadh wing, along with his wife Usha, were designated as the “pradhan yajmans” (main hosts) responsible for performing the rituals leading up to the consecration event. Anil Mishra is also one of the 15 trustees of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra formed in 2020 to oversee the construction.
Tamil Nadu was represented by Adalarasan, the Dakshin Tamil Nadu RSS Chairman, who shared his sentiments after the ceremony. A great-grandson of Ramanathapuram king Baskara Sethupathi, Adalarasan expressed profound joy and gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the historic event. He described the experience as divine and a proud moment, stating, “The day will be etched in our memories forever. We can’t stop the tears that rolled down from our eyes during the ceremony; it was such a divine experience. Nothing can be bigger than attending such a historic event as a ‘yajman.’ It’s a larger-than-life experience for me. We feel we have attained the purpose of our birth on this earth. We must thank all who made this possible. It is a recognition of our forefathers.”
The event witnessed the presence of notable personalities from Tamil Nadu, including Rajnikhant, actor Dhanush, VIT vice-chairman Selvam, Tirupur Exporters’ Association former head Raja Shanmugam, and Chennai Silks group director NK Nandagopal, along with other kar sevaks.
Invited by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the couple, along with others, had the privilege of performing crucial rituals in the presence of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagawat ji, UP Governor Ananthi Ben Patel, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
Recalling the special invitation received 20 days prior, Adalarasan expressed the honour of being part of the Sankalp Puja, where 16 couples were divided into two groups on both sides of the karba Girha. Positioned at the center, PM Modi, Dr Mohan Bhagawat ji, UP Governor Ananthi Ben Patel, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath conducted important rituals. Adalarasan and his wife had the unique privilege of participating in the initial poojas to Ram Lalla and joining PM Modi and other dignitaries in performing the Aarthi.
Highlighting the historical connection between Bhagwan Ram and the Ramanathapuram kings, Adalarasan spoke of the kings’ role in protecting the Ram Sethu due to its significance. He expressed deep gratitude for the divine opportunity, stating, “The participation in the grand event, which many could not get the opportunity to attend, made us realise how lucky we were. It is a divine gift. The emotion that poured into our hearts and joy had no words to describe. We have received the benefit of being born on this earth. My wife and I are blessed couples, and it is not for us alone. It is a proud and blessed moment, not just for us but for the entire Ramanathapuram and Tamil Nadu. We will reach home after praying in the Ram temple at the palace.”
Adalarasan emphasised that the dream of the Ram temple was made possible through mass awakening and support. The invitations extended to 16 couples from different regions and backgrounds showcased the diversity and unity of the country. Adalarasan dedicated the honour to the people of Tamil Nadu and Sri Ramanathaswamy of Rameswaram. Reflecting on the global impact of the event, he remarked on the smooth organisational skills and recognition of Tamilians’ spirituality and contributions to temple architecture.
Adalarasan, who arrived two days before the event, commended Ayodhya’s infrastructure, noting the cleanliness of roads, absence of potholes, and the world-class standards of the airport, railway station, and bus stand. He shared that the locals expressed special respect for Tamilians, recognising their contributions to spirituality and scriptural knowledge. The event saw the participation of nearly 7,000 VIPs, including film stars, sports personalities, educationists, judicial officers, politicians, sadhus, sanyasins, seers, and others.
Raja Babaji Bhosle, the 13th-generation descendant and current Maratha king of Thanjavur, played a significant role as the representative of the Thanjavur Maratha Kingdom during the historic Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. As the administrator of Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam, trustee of Thanjavur Big Temple, and overseeing the management of over a hundred temples, Raja Babaji Bhosle shared his emotional reflections on the warm reception and hospitality they received upon reaching Ayodhya.
Raja Babaji Bhosle expressed his overwhelming joy, describing the royal treatment they received from the karsevaks. He recounted how they were not allowed to leave their footwear, with the kar sevaks graciously taking care of it and providing them with water, tea, and meals tailored to their preferences. The royal gesture and hospitality left a lasting impression on the delegation.
During the Pran Prathistha, Raja Babaji Bhosle conveyed the profound and emotional trance-like atmosphere that enveloped the entire area. He described the powerful resonance of the “Jai Shri Ram” chants reaching the sky, creating an everlasting cacophony. Ayodhya locals, according to Raja Babaji Bhosle, expressed their belief that with the arrival of Ram, all auspiciousness, prosperity, and wealth would follow in Ayodhya.
The Thanjavur Maratha King’s reflections capture the spiritual and emotional significance of the Ram temple consecration, highlighting the unity, warmth, and divine ambiance experienced by the delegates from Thanjavur during this historic event in Ayodhya.
