Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, Jun 5 (PTI) – On Thursday, amidst immense spiritual fervor, the consecration of 'Raja Ram' — representing Lord Rama in his majestic form — was ceremoniously conducted at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. The occasion was graced by the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, marking the installation of idols in eight newly constructed temples within the sacred space.
This was the second significant consecration ritual at the temple, following the installation of Ram Lalla on January 22, 2024, a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event unfolded during the 'Abhijit Muhurat', a moment deemed exceptionally auspicious within the Hindu tradition. The sacred proceedings commenced with prayers at the 'yajna mandap' at 6:30 am, succeeded by a 'havan' at 9 am, lasting for an hour. Subsequently, synchronized rituals were conducted across all the temple shrines, facilitated by visual technology such as cameras and large screens.
According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the deities consecrated included Shri Ram Darbar (central installation), Sheshavatar, and various prominent deities like Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Surya (Sun God), Goddess Bhagwati, and Goddess Annapurna, positioned strategically across the temple complex.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at the Ram Temple, took 'darshan' of the 'Ram Darbar' on the first floor, and visited the nearby Hanumangarhi temple. He later expressed on X: "Today, in the holy birthplace of Lord Shri Ram, Ayodhya Dham, we are fortunate to witness the Pran-Pratishtha programme of the holy idols." He further added, "This is a new expression of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat'. Victory to Siyavar Shri Ramachandra!"
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), both in power at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh, remarked on X: "The second festival of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha concluded today in Ayodhya. A step towards Ram Rajya."
Anil Mishra, a trustee of the Ram Temple, emphasized to PTI that the ceremonies followed Vedic traditions, with learned Brahmins from across the nation participating. "The day of Ganga Dussehra will symbolize a new beginning, the fruition of centuries of penance, struggle, and faith," he noted.
Marking the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, Mahant Raghuvar Sharan, leading priest of Rasik Niwas Temple, highlighted the historical significance, saying, "This year, Ganga Dussehra is not only sacred but historic, as 'Rajarama' will be ceremonially installed on the grand Ram Temple's first floor, climaxing a 500-year struggle."
Ayodhya-based astrologer Pandit Kalki Ram explained that deeds performed on Ganga Dussehra yield multiplied results, possibly why the Trust selected this day for 'Rajarama's' consecration. The event drew huge crowds of pilgrims, celebrating what many hailed as a milestone in both the city's and the country's spiritual history.
The temple's inauguration in January 2024 marked the end of a prolonged campaign, predominantly under the Hindutva banner, to reclaim the once-disputed religious site in Ayodhya. This celebratory moment, arriving months before the Lok Sabha elections, resonates deeply with the memory of BJP veteran L K Advani's iconic 'Mandir Wahin Banayenge' speech during his Rath yatra, pivotal to Ram mandir politics.
A historical narrative tells of a simmering temple-mosque tension over the site where the 16th-century Babri mosque stood — a location revered by many Hindus as Lord Ram's birthplace. The Babri mosque's demolition by Kar sewaks on December 6, 1992, ignited riots, causing significant casualties. A protracted legal tussle saw the Supreme Court in 2019 ruling for the temple's construction, whilst allotting a five-acre plot for a mosque.
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