Ram Mandir Ayodhya: Everything About It
Ram Mandir Ayodhya, also known as Ram Janma bhoomi Mandir, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is being constructed on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid, which was claimed by Hindus to be the birthplace of Rama. The construction of the temple is expected to be completed by 2025, and it will be one of the largest and most magnificent temples in the world.
The History of Ram Mandir Ayodhya
The history of Ram Mandir is intertwined with the history of Ajodhya, which is considered to be one of the seven holy cities of Hinduism. According to the Ramayana, an ancient epic poem, Ajodhya was the capital of the kingdom of Kosala, ruled by King Dasharatha, the father of Rama.
Rama was born in Ayodhya, and spent his childhood and youth there, before going into exile for 14 years with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana. After defeating the demon king Ravana, who had abducted Sita, Rama returned to Ayodhya and was crowned as the king. He ruled for a long and prosperous period, known as Ram Rajya, or the rule of Rama.
Hindus believe that Rama was not only a historical figure, but also a divine incarnation of Vishnu, the supreme god of Hinduism. Therefore, Ayodhya and Ram Mandir are regarded as sacred places of pilgrimage and worship for Hindus.
According to some traditions, the original Ram Mandir was built by Rama himself, or by his descendants, at the exact spot where he was born. However, there is no archaeological or historical evidence to support this claim.
The first recorded mention of a temple at the site of Ram Mandir dates back to the 11th century CE, when the Muslim invader Mahmud of Ghazni attacked Ayodhya and destroyed many Hindu temples. The temple was rebuilt by the Hindu kings of the Gahadavala dynasty in the 12th century CE, and was visited by several Hindu saints and pilgrims, such as Ramananda, Kabir, Tulsidas, and Guru Nanak.
The temple was again destroyed by the Muslim ruler Babur in the 16th century CE, who built a mosque, known as Babri Masjid, on its ruins. The mosque was named after Babur’s general Mir Baqi, who supervised its construction.
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The dispute over the ownership of the site of Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid began in the 19th century, when both Hindus and Muslims claimed it as their religious place. Several lawsuits and petitions were filed in the courts, and several riots and clashes erupted between the two communities, resulting in many deaths and injuries.
The most violent incident occurred on December 6, 1992, when a large mob of Hindu activists, belonging to the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), demolished the Babri Masjid, sparking communal riots across the country, in which more than 2,000 people were killed.
The resolution of the dispute came in November 2019, when the Supreme Court of India delivered a unanimous verdict, based on the archaeological, historical, and legal evidence, that the site of Ram Mandir belonged to the Hindus, and that a temple could be built there.
The court also ordered that a separate plot of land, measuring five acres, be given to the Muslims to build a mosque elsewhere in Ayodhya. The court’s decision was welcomed by both the Hindu and the Muslim leaders, and was seen as a step towards peace and harmony in the country.
The Construction of Ram Mandir Ayodhya
The construction of Ram Mandir began on August 5, 2020, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the ‘bhoomi pujan’ (ground-breaking ceremony) at the site, along with several other dignitaries and religious leaders. The ceremony coincided with the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and was seen as a symbolic gesture of national integration and unity.
The design and architecture of Ram Mandir are based on the Nagara style of Hindu temple construction, which is characterized by a tall and curved spire, called ‘shikhara’, over the main shrine, and a rectangular plan with multiple chambers and courtyards.
Ram Mandir Ayodhya will have three floors, with a height of 161 feet, a length of 270 feet, and a width of 140 feet. The temple will have five domes, representing the five elements of nature, and 360 pillars, representing the 360 degrees of the Hindu calendar.
Ram Mandir Ayodhya will also have a ‘garbhagriha’ (sanctum sanctorum), where the idol of Rama will be installed, along with the idols of Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman, his loyal devotee.
Ram Mandir Ayodhya will also have a ‘mandapam’ (hall), where the rituals and ceremonies will be performed, and a ‘parikrama’ (circumambulation path), where the devotees will walk around the temple.
The construction of Ram Mandir Ayodhya is being supervised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which was formed by the central government in February 2020, to oversee the management and development of the temple and its surroundings.
The trust has appointed Larsen & Toubro, a leading engineering and construction company, as the main contractor for the project, and the Sompura family, a renowned family of temple architects, as the chief consultants.
The trust has also launched a nationwide campaign, called ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Nidhi Samarpan Abhiyan’, to collect funds and donations from the public for the construction of the temple. The campaign aims to reach out to 11 crore (110 million) families across the country, and collect Rs. 1,100 crore (US$ 150 million) by March 31, 2021.
The construction of Ram Mandir Ayodhya is expected to be completed by 2025, and it will be one of the largest and most magnificent temples in the world. The temple will not only be a place of worship, but also a center of cultural, educational, and social activities, promoting the values and teachings of Rama, such as righteousness, justice, compassion, and service.
Ram Mandir Ayodhya, also known as Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, will also be a symbol of national pride and identity, reflecting the ancient and glorious heritage of India, and its diversity and unity. The temple will also be a source of inspiration and hope for millions of Hindus, who have been waiting for centuries to see their dream come true.
