The Ram Mandir is considered to be one of the most sacred places for Hindus, as it is associated with the epic Ramayana, which narrates the life and deeds of Ram. According to the legend, Ram was born in Ayodhya, and ruled there as a righteous king for many years. He was exiled for 14 years by his stepmother, and during his exile, his wife Sita was abducted by the demon king Ravana. Ram, along with his brother Lakshmana and his devotee Hanuman, fought a war against Ravana and rescued Sita. After returning to Ayodhya, Ram was crowned as the king and established an ideal rule, known as Ram Rajya.
The exact location of Ram’s birthplace, however, has been disputed for centuries. Some historians and archaeologists have claimed that there is no conclusive evidence to prove that Ram was a historical figure, or that Ayodhya was his actual birthplace. Others have argued that there are various literary, epigraphic, and archaeological sources that support the existence of Ram and his connection to Ayodhya. Some of these sources include the Ramayana and other ancient texts, the Vishnu Hari inscription, the Baburnama, the Ain-i-Akbari, the Ramcharitmanas, and the reports of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
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| Lord Ram Statue in Ram Mandir, Ayodhya |
The first recorded conflict over the site of Ram’s birthplace dates back to 1853, when a group of Hindu ascetics, known as the Nirmohis, claimed that a temple of Ram had been demolished by the Mughal emperor Babur in 1528, and a mosque, known as the Babri Masjid, had been built in its place. The British colonial administration intervened and erected a fence to divide the site into two parts: the inner courtyard for the Muslims, and the outer courtyard for the Hindus. The Hindus continued to worship at a platform, known as the Ramchabutra, near the mosque, and also claimed a small structure, known as the Sita Rasoi, as a part of the temple complex.
The dispute escalated in 1949, when some Hindu activists secretly placed idols of Ram and Sita inside the mosque, and declared that Ram had manifested himself there. The local administration locked the mosque, and allowed the priests to perform daily rituals for the idols. Several lawsuits were filed by both the Hindu and Muslim parties, seeking the possession and the removal of the idols, respectively. The legal battle continued for decades, with no resolution in sight.
The situation reached a boiling point in 1992, when a large crowd of Hindu activists, led by the leaders of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gathered at the site and demolished the mosque, sparking communal riots across the country. The central government took over the site, and ordered a status quo until the court’s verdict. The Allahabad High Court, in 2010, divided the disputed land into three parts: one for the deity of Ram, one for the Nirmohi Akhara, and one for the Sunni Waqf Board. All the parties appealed against the judgment in the Supreme Court of India.
The Supreme Court, in 2019, delivered a unanimous verdict, giving the entire disputed land to the Hindus for the construction of a temple, and allotting a separate five-acre land to the Muslims for the construction of a mosque. The court based its decision on the balance of probabilities, and cited the ASI report, which suggested that a non-Islamic structure, possibly a temple, existed beneath the mosque. The court also said that the demolition of the mosque was illegal and a violation of the rule of law. The court directed the central government to set up a trust to oversee the construction of the temple, and to provide the land for the mosque within three months.
The central government, in 2020, formed the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, headed by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, to manage the affairs of the temple. The trust appointed the Sompura family, a renowned clan of temple architects, to design and build the temple. The trust also launched a nationwide campaign to collect funds and donations for the temple. On 5 August 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the Bhumi Pujan, or the ground-breaking ceremony, for the temple, and laid the foundation stone. The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the UP CM Yogi Adityanath, the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and the UP Governor Anandiben Patel.
The Ram Mandir is expected to be completed by 2026, and will be a grand and magnificent structure, with five domes, 360 pillars, and a 161-foot tall shikhara, or spire. The temple will also have a museum, a library, a research center, and a gallery showcasing the history and culture of Ayodhya and the Ramayana.
The consecration, or the Prana Pratishtha, of the Ram Lalla idol took place on 22 January 2024, between 12.15 pm and 12.45 pm, coinciding with the auspicious time of Makar Sankranti. Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as the chief patron, or the Mukhya Yajman, of the ceremony, and performed the rituals along with the priests. The ceremony was organised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and was attended by over 7,000 guests, including cricketers, celebrities, businessmen, and religious leaders.
The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya marked the culmination of a long and contentious struggle, and the fulfillment of a cherished dream for many Hindus. The temple is expected to attract millions of pilgrims and tourists every year, and to boost the economy and the development of Ayodhya and its surrounding areas. The temple is also seen as a symbol of the cultural and religious identity of India, and a testament to its rich and diverse heritage. The temple, however, has also faced some controversies, such as the alleged misuse of funds, the sidelining of some of its key activists, and the politicisation of the issue by the BJP. The temple, therefore, also poses some challenges for the social harmony and the secular fabric of the nation.
The Ram Mandir of Ayodhya is not just a temple, but a saga of faith, history, and politics. It is a monument that reflects the past, the present, and the future of India. It is a place that evokes devotion, pride, and hope for many, and resentment, fear, and anger for some. It is a site that has witnessed the best and the worst of humanity, and has endured the test of time. It is a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.
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