Ram Temple to Be Guided by Nine Sants Inspired by Navadha Bhakti, CEO Decision Deferred
AYODHYA: The meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, concluded on Wednesday, clearly signaled that the management of the grand Ram Lalla temple is a matter governed by Sanatan traditions, scriptural norms and the guidance of the saint community. Consequently, while the final decision regarding the appointment of the temple’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was postponed for a month, a religious committee comprising nine eminent saints was reconstituted, placing the highest priority on the temple’s religious administration.
It is also noteworthy that the meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (Trust) was held under the chairmanship of the Trust’s President, the revered Nritya Gopal Das Ji Maharaj. A statement issued after the meeting revealed that nine saints have been included in the committee; they are regarded as symbols of the nine forms of devotion (Navadha Bhakti) that Bhagwan Shri Ram described to Mata Shabari in the Ramcharitmanas. This decision conveys the message that the administration of Shri Ram’s temple will be guided by devotion, service, dedication and the tradition of religious preceptors.
In the Ramcharitmanas, authored by Goswami Tulsidas, Bhagwan Shri Ram explains nine forms of devotion to Mata Shabari, collectively known as ‘Navadha Bhakti’. These represent nine paths of spiritual practice, considered the foundation for conducting one’s life, society and religious (Dharmik)observance. The first is ‘Shravan’- listening with reverence to ‘Satsang’ (spiritual discourse) and the stories of the Bhagwan. The second is ‘Kirtan’- singing the praises of the Bhagvat name and attributes. The third is ‘Smaran’- contemplating the Bhagwan at every moment. The fourth is ‘Padasevan’- serving the Bhagwan feet and surrendering oneself to Him.
The fifth is ‘Archan’- worshipping according to prescribed rituals. The sixth is ‘Vandan’- offering salutations to the Bhagwan with humility. The seventh is ‘Dasya’- serving the Bhagwan selflessly while regarding oneself as His humble servant. The eighth is ‘Sakhya’ (friendship), where the devotee regards God as their closest friend and finally ‘Atmanivedan’ (self-surrender), in which the devotee surrenders their entire being at the Bhagwan feet; this represents the supreme state of devotion. Now, the nine-member religious committee constituted by the Trust is being viewed as a living embodiment of this very spiritual tradition.
The Trust has reconstituted a religious committee to ensure the scriptural purity of worship methods, rituals and religious traditions within the temple complex. The committee will be chaired by the Trust’s Treasurer, Swami Govind Dev Giri. Its members include Jagadguru Shankaracharya Jyotishpeethadhipati Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, Madhvapithadhipati Swami Vishwaprasannatirtha, Swami Yugpurush Parmanand, Swami Dinendradas (Nirmohi Akhara), Swami Kamalnayandas (Maniram Chhavani), Mahant Rajkumar Das (Ramavallabh Kunj), Swami Ramanand Das (Ramkatha Kunj) and Swami Mithileshnandini Sharan.
Five of these saints are from Ayodhya, while the other four represent prominent religious seats across the country. The committee will be responsible for upholding the sanctity of the temple’s worship protocols, religious rituals, festivals and Vedic traditions.
The process of selecting a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was also reviewed during the meeting. The selection committee reported that, due to the large volume of applications received, a thorough evaluation of all candidates is taking longer than anticipated. The committee requested an additional month, a request the Trust accepted. Meanwhile, approval has been granted to appoint a secretary to ensure that the temple’s administrative operations remain uninterrupted. The current interim arrangement will continue until a regular CEO is appointed. A final decision on this matter is likely to be taken at the next Trust meeting scheduled for September 2.
The Trust also deliberated on the ongoing investigation regarding the counting of offerings made at the Ram Temple. As the final report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has not yet been received, no final decision was taken on this issue. However, the Board of Trustees expressed satisfaction that security officials have direct access to the CCTV cameras installed throughout the temple complex, including the room where offerings are counted. This has made the monitoring system more transparent and secure than before.
It was also decided at the meeting that the verification of the quantity and purity of gold and silver offered by devotees would continue as before, utilizing the mint facilities of a Reserve Bank of India subsidiary. The Trust believes that transparent and scientific testing of every offering made out of faith further strengthens the devotees’ trust.
A detailed review was conducted regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Bank of India concerning the counting of offerings and the banking system. The Board of Trustees expressed dissatisfaction over the bank’s failure to address the errors and irregularities in its operations with the requisite seriousness. The Finance Committee has been directed to review future relations and standard operating procedures with the bank and take necessary decisions. This is also being viewed as a signal that the Trust is no longer willing to tolerate any laxity regarding financial transparency and accountability.
It was felt during the meeting that an authorized spokesperson is essential to convey authentic information regarding the temple to the public. With this objective, the Trust has decided to appoint a spokesperson soon. This will help mitigate the impact of rumors, misleading information and malicious propaganda in the future.
The trustees expressed particular satisfaction that, despite recent allegations and malicious propaganda concerning offerings and management, there has been no decline in the number of devotees visiting the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple for ‘darshan’. Citing this as a testament to the unwavering faith and belief of crores of Ram devotees, the Trust expressed its gratitude to the devotees arriving from within the country and abroad, the community of saints and the residents of Awadh.
Separately, it was stated that until a suitable Chief Executive Officer is selected, a committee of nine saints will remain the focal point for the temple’s spiritual and religious activities. Symbolically, this represents the very ‘Navadha Bhakti’ that Bhagwan Shri Ram himself described as the supreme path of devotion. In this context, the message emanating from Ayodhya today signifies that while systems and office-bearers within India’s ‘Sanatan’ tradition may change, the consciousness of ‘Dharma’ remains eternally alive through the guidance of saints and the power of devotion.
