'Pran Pratishtha' At Ayodhya Ram Mandir From Tomorrow: How This Is Different From 2024 Consecration

News18

2 days ago

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The 'pran pratishtha' last year primarily focused on the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol in the main temple. This one will focus on consecrating the idols of Ram Darbar
Ayodhya is all set to witness another historic 'pran pratishtha', which will be held from June 3 to 5, in the Ram Mandir premises.
The three-day event at Ram Darbar is likely to be attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, but this is not yet confirmed as this ceremony is strictly for devotees and sans a high-profile guest list.
The consecration, meant for the Ram Darbar (housing the 'divine family') will coincide with the festival of Ganga Dussehra. Invitation letters were sent to religious leaders and saints across India.
This marks the end of the second phase of the construction of the Ram Mandir, following the grand 'pran pratishtha' of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22, 2024. But, what is the difference between this consecration and the one that took place last year?
Both the 'pran pratishtha' ceremonies will be different when it comes to the focus of the rituals. The one last year primarily focused on the consecration of the Ram Lalla (infant) idol in the main temple. But, this one will focus on consecrating the idols of Ram Darbar — featuring the complete divine family of Ram, Sita, Laxman, Bharat, Shatrughn, and Hanuman — and 14 newly constructed temples inside the complex.
The 'pran pratishtha' on January 22, 2024, marked the main consecration of the temple and the installation of Ram Lalla in the main sanctum. This one, however, is a new round, establishing Ram Darbar on the first floor sanctum (garbhagriha) and the consecration of the other temples.
The ceremony last year was the initial installation of the primary deity, while these will expand the consecration to other parts of the temple complex.
The event will have 101 vedic scholars from Kashi and Ayodhya, who will reportedly conduct elaborate ceremonies including yagyashala worship, recitation from Valmiki's Ramayana, chanting of vedic mantras, and traditional 'pran pratishtha rituals'. Before these rituals, a 'Kalash Yatra' will be carried out from Saryu Ghat to the Ram Mandir.
Idols of Ram, Laxman, and Sita will be installed on the first floor of the temple. The new portions of the temple are expected to be opened to the public within a week of the June 5 ceremony. Remaining construction work within the temple complex is likely to be completed by September or October.
The invitations for the event describe the rectangular circle being built around the main sanctum, at the corners of which temples will be located and on the northern and southern sides of the circle.
The invitation states that consecration will be held in temples dedicated to Hindu deities, including Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman, Surya, Bhagwati, Annapurna and Sheshavatar. It said the rituals will begin at 6.30 am on June 3 and 4 and continue till 6.30 pm, while on the closing day, June 5, the events will end by 1 pm.
Each of the eight temples being prepared for the rituals will have two householders serving as patrons and two saints acting as witnesses, as outlined in the official communication.
The trust has arranged for morning refreshments and lunch within the temple premises. Dinner, however, is expected to be taken at the invitees' respective ashrams.
The trust's invitation emphasises the spiritual significance of the event and urges religious leaders to lend their presence to the ceremonies as sacred witnesses.
'The Ram Darbar is of 4.5 ft. All the other sculptures are built according to that…it has idols of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, the sun god, Goddess Durga, Lord Hanuman, Saptrishi, Shatrughan, Bharat, annapurana and many others. The idols of Ram and Sita are made from one stone, while the other idols are made of another stone…" sculptor Satyanarayan, who shared insights into the intricate preparations for the sacred idols, told news agency ANI.
WHAT ABOUT DEVOTEES?
Despite the scale of the rituals and ceremonies, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra has assured that devotees will be able to have uninterrupted darshan. The trust has put in place all necessary arrangements to ensure that visitors from India and abroad can visit the temple during this period.
According to officials, even during high-profile visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Supreme Court justices, darshan has remained open to the public. A dedicated route for dignitaries ensures that general devotees are not inconvenienced.
A large number of devotees have already started coming in, for which guidelines have been issued. Champat Rai, general secretary of the Ram Mandir Trust, has made an appeal to the people not to rush to Ayodhya for 'pran pratishtha'.
'…You should come to Ayodhya in the same order. We have not specially invited anyone. Right now there are no such conditions. There may be trouble due to the heat. Devotees should come to Ayodhya at their own convenience," Rai said.
(With PTI inputs)