The idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir — which will finally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22 — is 51-inches tall, weighs 1.5 tonnes and has the innocence of a child. Every year on Ramnavmi, sunrays will illuminate the idol’s forehead at 12 noon, said general secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, Champat Rai.
Worship of the idol started from January 16 and it was installed in the sanctum sanctorum on January 18. “Water, milk and ‘Achaman’ will have no adverse effect on the idol,” he added.
“The length of Lord Shri Ram’s idol and the height of its installation have been designed in such a way on the advice of eminent space scientists of India that every year on Ram Navami, the ninth date of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month, Lord Surya himself will anoint Shri Ram as sunrays will directly fall on his forehead at 12 noon making it shine,” Rai further said.
Champat Rai said three sculptors made the idol of Lord Shri Ram separately, out of which one idol weighing 1.5 tonnes as well as with the length of 51 inches from foot to forehead was chosen.
Describing the gentleness of the idol, he said that the idol made of dark coloured stone not only has the divinity of Lord Vishnu and the radiance of a royal son but also has the innocence of a five-year-old child. The idol has been selected keeping in mind the softness of the face, look in the eyes, smile, body etc. He said the head, crown and aura on the 51-inch high statue have also been finely crafted.
Only this idol, of Lord Ram of the age of 5, will be placed on the ground floor of the temple and will be unveiled on January 22. The idols of Lord Ram’s brothers, Sita, and Hanuman will be placed on the first floor of the temple once it is ready after eight months.
He further pointed out that that one of the specialties of the Lord Ram idol is that water and milk will not have any adverse effect on the stone. Also, if someone consumes that water or milk, it will not have any side effects on the body, he stated.
He said the temples of Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Vashishtha, Maharishi Vishwamitra, Maharishi Agastya, Nishad Raj, Mata Shabari and Devi Ahilya will also be built in the Ram Temple complex. Apart from this, the idol of Jatayu has already been installed here.
Champat Rai said that the architecture of the temple is inspired by temples in South India, adding that no such temple has been built in North India in the last 300 years according to construction engineers.
He remarked further that though the age of the stone is 1,000 years, sunlight, wind and water will not be able to affect it as granite has been installed below preventing the absorption of moisture. Iron has also not been used in the idol as it weakens the idol. “It has been designed in such a way that as the age increases, a very strong rock will be formed under the ground. No type of concrete has been used above ground, because the age of concrete does not exceed 150 years. Age has been considered while doing every work,” he said.
Devotees Urged to Visit After January 26
Champat Rai said January 22, 2024 is as important for him personally as August 15, 1947. He appealed to everyone to celebrate January 22 with grand puja in five lakh temples across the country. “In the evening, every Sanatani should light at least five lamps outside his house.”
He said that people should come to visit the temple only after January 26. He assured that the doors of the temple will remain open until everyone has had darshan, even at midnight.
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