With ‘Dashvidh Snan’, the final seven-day-long rituals of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Lord Ram idol started from January 16. Officials of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said the priests, nominated by the trust, started the rituals during the wee hours of Tuesday.
“‘Dashvidh Snan’ is perhaps the first ever ritual that would be carried out on the banks of river Saryu on January 16. The ritual, a part of the atonement ceremony, would include worshiping of Vishnu and Godan,” said Champat Rai, general secretary of the trust, highlighting other rituals to be carried out ahead of Pran Pratishtha.
‘Dashvidh Snan’ was followed by a grand Shobha Yatra on January 17. In the ceremony, Ram’s idol was carried to the premises of the temple along with water from Saryu river in the Mangal Kalash. This was followed by rituals including Ganesh Ambika Puja, Varun Puja, Matrika Puja, Brahmin Varan, Vastu Puja and other ceremonies on January 18.
On January 19, a grand havan was performed along with Agni Sthapana and Navagraha Sthapana. On January 20, the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple was washed with the holy water of river Saryu, followed by rituals including Vastu Shanti and Annadhivas. On January 21, Lord Ram’s idol was given a divine bath from 125 urns. The rituals of Shayadhivas were also performed at the same time.
On the final day on January 22, the idol will be worshiped in the morning hours and the consecration ceremony would be performed in Mrigashira Nakshatra in the afternoon. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony will conclude on January 22 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the last ritual by opening the eyes of the deity with a matchstick-size golden stick.
PM Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Yogi Adityanath and president of the temple trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das will be inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on January 22.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has sent invitations to more than 7,000 people for the final consecration ceremony, which include 3,000 VVIPs, 4,000 saints and seers from different parts of the country, delegates from 50 countries and the family members of ‘Kar Sevaks’ who were part of the Ram Mandir movement.
Among the of 3,000 VIPs guests, the trust has invited actor Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yoga guru Ramdev, industrialists Mukesh Ambai, Ratan Tata and Gautam Adani for the consecration ceremony. Famous TV actors, who played the characters of Lord Ram and Sita on screen, Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia, have also been invited.
The event will also be attended by more than 500 individuals from the Engineer Group, who played crucial roles in the construction of the temple.
Saints from all over India, speaking all languages, Shaiva, Vaishnav, Shakya, Ganpati worshippers, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, as well as all the philosophies, Kabir, Valmiki, the tradition of Shankar Dev from Assam, ISKCON, Gayatri, Mahima Samaj of Odisha, Barkari of Maharashtra, and Lingayat of Karnataka will be present.
The temple will be open for devotees from January 23, however, the trust has requested people to come to Ayodhya to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla after January 26.
Both Idols of Ram Lalla to be Placed
The General Secretary of the Trust, Rai, said on Monday that the present idol of Ram Lalla will also be installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the new temple along with the new one, setting all speculations to rest.
While answering to a query, Rai said the present idol will also be dressed in new attires along with the new one and worshipped during the consecration ceremony.
People have been worshipping the present idol of Lord Shri Ram for the last 70 years (since 1950) and it will be seated in the sanctum sanctorum of the original temple along with the new idol, Rai stressed.
Interestingly, at present, the idol of Shri Ram Lalla is placed along with three of his brothers’ idols in the temple.
Ram Lalla’s Idol to be Installed on January 18
Worship ritual before the consecration of Shri Vigraha will start from January 16 in the Ram Temple. Pran Pratishtha programme of Shri Ram Lala will be held on January 22 in ‘Abhijit Muhurat’ of ‘Paush Shukla Dwadashi’.
The Pran Pratishtha is scheduled to start at 12:20 pm on January 22, with the timing determined by the revered priest of Varanasi, Ganeshwar Shastri.
Laxmikant Dixit of Varanasi will be responsible for conducting the entire ritual associated with Pran Pratishtha, Rai added. He explained that the puja rituals are set to begin on January 16 and will continue until January 21. The idol, which is to be consecrated is made of stone, with an estimated weight of 150 to 200 kg. The statue represents the form of a five-year-old boy and is intended to be installed in a standing position.
Pran Pratishtha After ‘Adhivas’ of Shri Vigraha
Rai said the consecrated idol undergoes a process known as ‘Adhivas’, in which various forms of residence are created for the idol, including water, food, fruits, medicine, ghee, bed, and fragrance. This is considered a difficult process as the procedure should be carried out in accordance with the guidance of religious leaders, acknowledging the complexity and importance of the ritual, Rai explained.
According to Rai, the invitation has been extended to saints representing over 150 diverse traditions such as Dharmacharya, Adivasi, Girivasi, and Samudravasi for the programme.
Gifts from Mother Sita’s Maternal House
Rai said water for the ceremony will be collected from many places such as Manasarovar, Amarnath, Gangotri, Haridwar, Sangam of Prayagraj, Narmada, Godavari, Nashik, and Gokarna.
In line with a customary practice, an elaborate gift comprising grains, fruits, clothes, dry fruits, gold, and silver has been presented from Birgunj in South Nepal, an area linked to Mithila. Likewise, representatives from Sitamarhi, the birthplace of Sita Mata, have arrived with their gifts. Additionally, gifts have been brought from Chhattisgarh, Ram Ji’s maternal hometown. A devoted Sadhu from Jodhpur has contributed ghee from his cowshed as well.
Champat Rai said a total of 8,000 chairs have been arranged in the temple courtyard for distinguished individuals who will be attending the Pran Pratishtha.
People have been encouraged to participate in the cleanliness drives, engage in bhajans and kirtans in their temples on January 22.
The Pran Pratishtha programme will be broadcast live, allowing wider participation of Indians. In the evening, after sunset, it is recommended to light five diyas outside of the house as an offering to Lord Ram’s return.
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