Ayodhya Ram Mandir one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus

By Admin 783 0 Comments Jan 19, 2024

The Ram temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 22 at a grand ceremony, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. The event will be telecast live in many cities across India and devotees have been asked to attend it virtually too. After the consecration event, the temple will be open for devotees from January 24.

On November 9, 2019, settling a fractious issue that went back more than a century, a five-judge bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi had paved the way for construction of the temple and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot will be found for a mosque in the holy town in Uttar Pradesh.

The significance of Ayodhya Ram Temple

It is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Ayodhya is considered the birthplace of Lord Ram and so, is considered a sacred place.

When was the foundation stone laid for the temple?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram Mandir on August 5, 2020.

Who manages the Ram temple?

The affairs of the temple are managed by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.

Cost of Ram temple construction

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra had estimated in 2022 that ₹ 1,800 crore will be spent building the grand Ram temple.

In October last year, a report said that the trust spent ₹ 900 crore on the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya between February 5, 2020 and March 31, 2023.

Important Facts about Ram Mandir

Chief Architects	Chandrakant Sompura, and his two sons – Nikhil Sompura and Ashish Sompura.
Design Advisors	IIT Guwahati, IIT Chennai, IIT Bombay, NIT Surat, Central Building Research Institute Roorkee, National Geo Research Institute Hyderabad, and the National Institute of Rock Mechanics.
Construction Company	Larsen and Toubro (L&T)
Project Management Company	Tata Consulting Engineers Limited ( TCEL)
Sculptors	Arun Yogiraaj (Mysore), Ganesh Bhatt and Satyanarayan Pandey
Total Area	70 Acre (70% green Area)
Temple Area	2.77 Acre
Temple Dimensions	Length – 380 Ft. Width – 250 Ft. Height – 161 Ft.
Architectural Style	Indian Nagar Style
Architectural Highlights	3 stories (floors) 392 pillars 44 doors
Bhoomi Pujan	5th August 2020
Proposed Date of Inauguration	22nd January 2024

Major Construction Materials Used

The use of Steel or Iron has been completely avoided in the construction of Ram Mandir. Instead, traditional construction materials have been used in its construction to reflect an alignment with traditional building practices along with an emphasis on sustainability.

Major construction materials used in the construction of Ram Mandir are:

Bansi Paharpur Pink Sandstone from Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district has been used in the main temple structure.

Granite Stones have been used in the plinths

White Makrana and Colored Marbles have been used for the inlay work

Teakwood has been used for the construction of the doors of the temple.

Special Bricks with “Shri Ram” inscribed on them have been used in its construction. These bricks, named Ram Shilas, draw a parallel with the stones used in the construction of Ram Setu, thus intertwining modern craftsmanship with ancient symbolism.

Other Materials Used: Shaligram Rock, Copper Plates, Gold, and Ashtdhatu

Major Architectural Highlights of Ram Mandir

The grand dimensions and intricate details of the temple design can be summed up as a blend of artistic vision and traditional architectural prowess. Around 550 temples across India were studied to find the best possible architectural design for the Ram Mandir.

Some of the major architectural highlights of Ram Mandir can be seen as follows:

Foundation

A 14-metre-thick layer of roller-compacted concrete, looking like an artificial rock, has been used to construct the foundation of the temple.

A 21-foot-high plinth of Granite has been constructed for protection against ground moisture.

The Main Temple

The main temple is built in Nagara Style.

The original design for Ram Mandir was developed in 1988 by the Sompura family of Ahmedabad. However, in 2020, the old design was modified as per the Vastu Shastra and the Shilpa Shastra.

This reflects a conscious effort to blend aesthetic grace with ancient wisdom.
The Sompura family has a rich legacy of temple craftsmanship and has been associated with the design of some renowned Indian temples such as Somnath. Thus, their association brings a sense of continuity to the architectural design of the Ram Mandir and adds a historical and artistic dimension to it.
The Mandir will have three stories (floors), with each story designed to give the devotees an experience of the various stages of Lord Rama’s divine journey.
The ground floor of the temple has been designed to depict the story of the birth and childhood of Lord Rama.
The first floor is designed like Lord Rama’s Darbaar.
The revered temple consists of a total of five Mandaps (Hall) – Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna, and Kirtan Mandaps.
The temple has a total of 44 doors, of which some will be coated with 100 kg gold.
The main entrance to the temple is called the Singh Dwar. This entrance features a series of statues and busts of prominent characters from Ramayana.
The pillars as well as walls of the temple are adorned with statues of deities as well as intricate carvings depicting India’s century-old history.
All along the parikrama path, 100 events from Valmiki’s Ramayana have been engraved on the walkways and columns. The idea is to present Ram Katha Darshan.

The Temple Complex

The temple is surrounded by a rectangular compound wall, called Parkota.
The total length of this wall is 732 meters and its width is 14 feet.
Along with the main Ram Mandir, the temple complex consists of several other religious structures:
One temple has been built at each of the four corners of the compound. These temples are dedicated to Surya Dev, Devi Bhagwati, Ganesh Bhagwan, and Lord Shiva.
The northern arm of the temple complex consists of a temple of Maa Annapurna and in the southern arm, there is a temple of Lord Hanuman.
A historic well called Sita Koop is located near the temple. This dates back to the ancient era.
Some other temples proposed to be constructed within the temple complex are those dedicated to Maharishi Vashishtha, Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Vishwamitra, Maharishi Agastya, Nishad Raj, Devi Ahilya, and Mata Shabri.
Kuber Tila is located in the southwestern part of the complex. The ancient temple of Lord Shiva located in this part has been restored. Also, a bronze idol of the Ramayana character ‘Jatayu’ has been installed here.

The temple complex consists of several independent infrastructures of its own

A sewage treatment plant
A water treatment plant
A fire services
An independent power station.
A Pilgrims Facility Centre of 25,000 capacity to provide medical facilities and locker facilities to the pilgrims.
A separate block with a bathing area, washrooms, washbasin, open taps, etc.
Learning from the damage caused by lightning strikes to some old temples in Mathura and Kashi, around 200 KA light arresters have been installed over the temple structure.
The temple complex includes a museum showcasing artifacts related to Lord Ram and the Ramayana. Thus. more than just a religious center, the Ram Mandir has been envisioned as a cultural and educational center as well.

Other Architectural Facets

A time capsule has been placed approximately 2,000 feet below the ground, right underneath the temple. The capsule contains a copper plate inscribed with relevant information regarding the Ram Mandir, Lord Rama, and Ayodhya.

The purpose of this time capsule is to ensure that the identity of the temple remains intact over time so that it doesn’t get forgotten in the future.
The temple is an earthquake-resistant structure, with an estimated age of 2500 years.
The idols are made up of 60 million years old Shaligram Rocks, brought from the Gandaki River (Nepal)
The Bell is made of Ashtadhatu (Gold, Silver, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Tin, Iron, and Mercury)
The Bell weighs 2100 Kg
The sound of the bell can be heard up to a distance of 15 Km.

The Nagara Style of Temple Architecture

This is a style of temple architecture that developed around the 5th century AD onwards and has been prevalent in North India since then. Apart from some basic elements possessed by all Hindu temples, this temple style possesses some unique features of its own.

Basic Elements of Hindu Temple

Sanctum Sanctorum – It is also known as Grabhgriha. It is a small room which houses the principal deity of the temple.

Mandapa – It refers to a portico or assembly hall which leads to the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Shikhara – It refers to a mountain-like spire. Its shape may vary from pyramid to curvilinear.

Vahana – It refers to the mount or vehicle of the main deity. It is placed just before the sanctum sanctorum.

Prominent Features of Nagara School of Architecture

Panchayatan Style wherein the main shrine is built on a rectangular plinth at the center of the temple complex. Along with this, four subsidiary shrines that are smaller in size are built at the 4 corners of the temple complex.

Images of river goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, are placed outside the Garbhagriha.

The temple is usually constructed on an upraised platform.

The portico has a pillared approach.

The vertical end of Shikhara is shaped like a horizontal fluted disc, called Amalak. On the top of the Amalak, a spherical shape is placed, called Kalash.

There is an ambulatory passageway around the sanctum sanctorum, called Pradakshina Path.

Significance of Ram Mandir’s Construction

Religious Significance: With the completion of the construction of Ram Mandir, the decades of religious clashes between Hindus and Muslims came to an end. This will promote religious harmony in the country.

Cultural Significance: The Ayodhya and Ram Mandir are considered a symbol of the historical and cultural heritage of the country. Thus. construction of the temple is a step towards celebrating and preserving India’s cultural heritage.

Promotion of Social Service: A large number of charitable institutions are expected to come up around the temple. These institutions will promote social service.

Economic Significance: The Ram Mandir, as one of the main shrines of the Hindus, will boost tourism in the Ayodhya region. This, in turn, will stimulate economic growth in the region and create jobs.

Infrastructural Significance: The construction of the Ram Temple has initiated the process of the infrastructural development of the Ayodhya region. Major infrastructure projects such as roads, and airports, followed by some industries are expected to come up in the region.