On 22nd January 2024, The Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi participated in the Pran Pratishtha (consecration /Establishing the Life Force) ceremony of Shri Ramlalla idol in the newly built Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir(temple) in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
- The rituals of ceremony were led by the PM along with Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
- The consecration ceremony officiated by a team of priests led by Varanasi, UP Priest Lakshmikant Dixit.
About Ramlalla Idol:
The 51-inch (4.25-ft) Ramlalla Idol placed in the sanctum sanctorum of temple was sculpted by Musuru (Karnataka) based Arun Yogiraj.
Features:
i.The statue portraying Lord Ram as a five-year-old i.e. Ram Lalla because this age is considered as the age of innocence.
ii.The idol carved out of black stone showcases innocence, divinity, and royalty. The black stone ensures the idol’s longevity.
iii.Ram Lalla idol’s folded hands are intricately designed to reach the knees, reflecting Lord Ram’s characteristic of ‘Ajanubahu’ (a person whose length of arms is such that his fingers touch his knee).
iv.The idol has a golden bow and arrow in his hands.
v.The ‘Krishna Shila stone’ was used for crafting Ram Lalla’s idol. The stone used was 2.5 billion years old, and these stones are found in the Mysuru district of Karnataka.
vi.The new idol of Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has been named ‘Balak Ram’
Design details:
i.The idol showcases all ten avatars of Lord Vishnu: Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parashurama (warrior), Rama (prince), Krishna (cowherd), Buddha (enlightened one), and Kalki (future avatar).
ii.Lord Hanuman has been engraved near the right foot of the idol and lord Garuda(mount of Lord Vishnu) near left foot.
iii.Religious symbols: Swastik and the Om, along with Chakra, a Gada and a Shankh were engraved in the idol.
About Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir:
i.Design & Construction:
The Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir was designed by celebrated architect Chandrakant B Sompura, 81, and his son Ashish, 51 in the Māru-Gurjara architecture of Nagara style, a type of Hindu temple architecture found primarily in northern India.
- It is constructed by Larsen and Toubro (L&T).
- While, Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra look after the construction and management of Ram Temple.
ii.Cost: The temple was build at an estimated cost of Rs 1800 crore.
iii.Size: The three-storey temple, premises spreads across 70 acres, of which the temple and the complex occupy 5.5 acres. The temple has a length (east-west) of 380 feet, width of 250 feet and height of 161 feet. The main temple area spans 2.67 acre.
Key Points:
i.It is made with pink sandstone and anchored by black granite.
ii.The Temple notably avoids steel or iron, opting for traditional construction materials to adhere to ancient building practices and emphasize a commitment to sustainability.
iii.Supported by a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors, the Mandir is three-storied, with each floor being 20 feet tall.
iv.The pillars and walls showcase intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, gods and goddesses.
v.There will be 6 temples in all apart from the Ram Mandir viz. Surya Dev, Devi Bhagwati, Ganesh Bhagwan,Bhagwan Shiv, Mandir of Maa Annapurna, and Mandir of Hanuman ji.
Other Highlights:
i.PM Modi also unveiled a statue of “Jatayu” at Ayodhya Ram Temple Premises
ii.As of now only the Phase-I of temple is completed i.e. the ground floor was opened, and the rest is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
iii.The construction work is part of a revamp for the city, estimated to cost more than USD 3 billion.
iv.The event saw the participation of dignitaries from all walks of life, and representatives of all major spiritual and religious sects of India.
Points to note:
i.The construction of Ram Temple followed the Supreme Court (SC) of India judgment in 2019 on the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.
ii.The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was formed on 5th February 2020.
iii.PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram Mandir on 5th August 2020.
Two Cube-BHISHM Mobile Hospitals Deployed for Ceremony
Two Cube-BHISHM mobile hospitals under the Arogya Maitri Disaster Management project were deployed in Ayodhya for medical readiness and response capabilities for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.
i.The cube is part of ‘Project BHISHM-Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri‘.
ii.The cube is designed to treat up to 200 casualties with a focus on rapid response and comprehensive care.
iii.It is equipped with innovative tools, including AI (Artificial Intelligence) and data analytics, the Aid Cube enhances disaster response and medical support by facilitating effective coordination, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of medical services during emergencies.
iv.Advanced medical equipment, RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification)-tagged for efficient repacking and redeployment, are the key features of the Cube.
Recent Related News:
i.PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17 Kilometer (Km) priority section of the Delhi-
Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
ii.Chief Minister(CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Yogi Adityanath has declared the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) as the state aquatic animal.
About Larsen and Toubro (L&T):
Chairman and Managing Director– Sekharipuram Narayanan Subrahmanyan
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
