The Ram Mandir, dedicated to Lord Rama, has been a significant religious and political issue in India for several decades.The temple’s story revolves around Lord Rama, a significant god in Hinduism, and the epic Ramayana tale. This story, rich in mythical themes and cultural significance, has shaped the beliefs and sentiments of millions of Hindus throughout the years.
RAMA refers to the world’s most powerful entity, ‘Ra’ represents the sun, ‘A’ represents Agni or fire, and ‘Ma’ represents the moon. Because the sun, fire, and moon are the three sources of light on Earth, chanting Rama’s name is a technique of calling light, the absolute light of God. Of course, God is frequently referred to as light.The Ram Mandir’s history is linked with the Ayodhya controversy, an important and strong issue concerning the Babri Masjid.
About Ayodhya
Ayodhya is a city on the banks of the holy river Saryu. It is the administrative center of Ayodhya District and Ayodhya Division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya, also known as Saket, is an ancient Indian city and the birthplace of Bhagwan Shri Ram, as well as the backdrop for the renowned epic Ramayana. Ayodhya (Awadhpuri) is regarded as the first of the seven most important holy places (Mokshdayini Sapt Puris) for Hindus due to the belief that it is the birthplace of Bhagwan Shri Ram.
History of Ram Mandir
It is said to be Kusha, the son of Rama, who built a temple for Rama in the Janmabhumi. After Rama, he was the ruler of Ayodhya. There were 3000 temples in Sitaram. Ayodhya city was destroyed in the 5th century BC after King Brihadval, a descendant of Shri Rama, was killed in the Mahabharata battle.
King Vikramaditya’s Visit
He reconstructed Ayodhya by recognizing essential sites and surveying them to discover them. According to legend, King Vikramaditya rebuilt 360 temples at important places. King Vikramaditya built the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on its current site. Since then, the temple has been a popular pilgrimage destination. King Samudragupta renovated the temple 500 years later.
Babri Masjid Construction (1528)
During the reign of Mughal Emperor Babur, the Babri Masjid was built in Ayodhya. The debate revolves around the construction of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. Mir Baqi, a general under Mughal Emperor Babur, is said to have built the mosque in the 16th century. Local Hindu mythology, based on the Ramayana, holds that the mosque was built on the site of Lord Rama’s birthplace. Hindus fought ten wars to recover the temple site around 1530 AD. However, they were unable to hold the site and were defeated by the Mughal army, but the Hindus kept fighting.
Ram Janmabhoomi Movement (1853 onwards)
The movement to build a Ram Mandir at Lord Rama’s birthplace gathered popularity in the 19th century. The first recorded occurrences of community conflict over the location occurred in the mid-19th century.
British Period and Legal Disputes (1885)
Legal conflicts concerning the location evolved during British control. The Judiciary was involved for the first time in 1885, when Mahant Raghubar Das filed a plea in Faizabad district court seeking permission to build a shade structure over the Ram Chabutra on the site of Ram Janmnabhoomi, next to the Babri Masjid. The British courts, however, ruled against him.
Dec 22, 1949
Gorakhnath Math’s Sant Digvijay Nath joined the Akhil Bharatiya Ramayana Mahasabha and organized a 9-day continuous recitation of Ramcharit Manas, at the end of which Hindu activists broke into the mosque and put idols of Ram and Sita inside. Hashim Ansari, an Ayodhya citizen, petitioned the court to have the idols removed and the building preserved as a masjid. The government secured the area, but priests were permitted to perform daily puja. For more than three decades, the case has gone nowhere.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid (December 6, 1992)
On December 6, 1992, a massive mob of Hindu activists demolished the Babri Masjid, marking the turning point in the Ayodhya conflict. This incident sparked major religious rioting throughout India, affecting Hindu-Muslim relations.
Ayodhya Cell Formation and Legal Battles (1992)
Following the demolition, the Liberhan Commission was formed to investigate the events that led to the destruction of the Babri Masjid. The Ayodhya controversy was then referred to the Supreme Court.
In September 2010, the Allahabad High Court directed that the disputed land be divided into three parts between the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara, and the side representing the deity, Ram Lalla. This decision was challenged at the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Verdict (2019)
The Supreme Court of India issued its decision in the Ayodhya controversy in November 2019. The court awarded the entire conflicting property to the Hindu parties, allowing for the construction of a Ram Mandir. In addition, the court ordered the government to give an alternate property for the construction of a mosque.
Bhoomi Pujan and Construction (August 5, 2020)
The foundation stone for the Ram Mandir was placed on August 5, 2020, at a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other guests. The ceremony includes Hindu customs, concluding in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s installation of a 40 kg silver block as the foundation stone. A three-day series of religious rites and prayers preceded the event.The Ram Mandir is still under development.
Why is the Ram Mandir temple being dedicated on January 22nd?
The majestic temple of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, is nearing completion, and preparations for the temple’s inauguration are in full force.
This date relates to the favorable Abhijit Muhurat. On January 22, the Muhurat lasts from 11:51 a.m. to 12:33 p.m. According to tradition, this is when Lord Shiva killed the monster Tripurasur. As a result, this muhurat is associated with the elimination of all negative requires from one’s life. It is also considered a good day to begin something new, whether it is a job, a business, or the purchase of a new home.
Mrigashira Nakshatra begins at 3:52 a.m. on that date and continues till 4:58 a.m. on January 23. The deity Soma, commonly known as the “God of Immortality,” is associated with the Mrigashira Nakshatra. It is considered lucky for a number of rituals. Its favorable impact begins in January. Its beneficial effect begins on January 22 and lasts until the morning of January 23. According to Mahant Govind Dev Giri, treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, ‘Amrit Siddhi Yoga’ and ‘Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga’ also correlate with this date. This makes it ideal for the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, compared the date to India’s Independence Day.
Key figures invited to the Ayodhya event
The guest list for the Ram Temple inauguration ceremony on January 22 will be broad, including famous people from Bollywood, politics, and sports. Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar,Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kangana Ranaut, Arun Govil, and Dipika Chikhlia (who played Ram and Sita in the 1987 TV serial Ramayan) will appear alongside Ranbir and Alia, as will cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, and Ratan Tata will all attend the event, which is scheduled for January 22.Over a lakh devotees are scheduled to attend, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present.
Vedic rituals will begin on January 16, building up to the main event on January 22, during which priest Lakshmi Kant Dixit will perform the essential rituals for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Pran Pratistha.
Conclusion
The history of the Ram Mandir is complicated and broad, involving religious sentiments, legal struggles, and effects on politics. The temple’s building represents an important moment in Indian history, with cultural implications for politics. As India prepares for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s inauguration, the temple promises to be a site of spiritual and cultural enlightenment. It is a monument to India’s rich religious and cultural heritage, as well as a memorial to Lord Shri Ram’s ongoing legacy.
© Ruchie Verma.
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