Ayodhya Ram Mandir
Context:
Ayodhya prepares for the pran pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple, marking the culmination of a long movement. PM Narendra Modi and 8,000 guests to attend, with lakhs expected to witness via live telecast.
Relevance:
GS-01 GS-02 (Culture, Society, Government policies and interventions)
Main Highlights:
- Preparatory Rituals: The 51-inch Ram Lalla idol bathed with medicated water. Rituals conducted by 121 priests, led by Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid. Mangal Dhvani, traditional musical instruments to precede the ceremony.
- Distinguished Guests: Prominent figures like U.P. Governor, Chief Minister, and RSS chief attending. Political, industrial, film, and sports personalities invited. Opposition leaders mostly decline invitations.
- Temple Open to Public: Following the ceremony, the Ram Temple will be open to the public. The Trust readies Mahaprasad and meals for distribution. The ceremony holds cultural and historical significance.
- Cultural and Religious Significance: The events in Ayodhya emphasize the cultural and religious importance associated with Lord Rama, contributing to national unity and heritage.
Architectural Marvel of Ayodhya Ram Mandir:
- Three-Floor Elegance: Built over three floors, soaring 20 feet each, adorned with 392 pillars and 44 doors.
- Material Mosaic: Makrana Marble, Pink Sandstone, Granite Stone, and Colored Marble used in a harmonious blend.
- Foundation Strength: A robust 14-meter-thick layer of roller-compacted concrete forms the foundation, shielded by a 21-foot-high granite plinth.
- Iron-Free Construction: Distinguished by the absence of iron anywhere in the construction, ensuring purity in design.
- Nagara-Style Elegance: Following the Nagara architectural style with a layout featuring Sanctum Sanctorum, Mandaps, and Mandirs.
- Divine Corners: Compound corners dedicated to Surya, Bhagwati, Ganesh, and Shiv, with Annapurna and Hanuman temples on the northern and southern arms.
- Proposed Additions: Upcoming temples honoring Maharshi Valmiki, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Agastya, Nishad Raj, Shabri, and more.
Nagara style of Architecture:
- The Nagara style of temple architecture, popular in northern India, is characterized by its presence in entire temples constructed on stone platforms with ascending steps.
- A distinctive feature of this style is the absence of elaborate boundary walls or gateways, contributing to its simplicity.
- The garbhagriha, housing the sanctum sanctorum, consistently resides directly beneath the tallest tower, emphasizing the vertical alignment of the structure.
- An integral component is the Amalaka or Kalash, installed atop the Shikhara, further exemplifying the unique traits of this architectural form.
- Notable instances of Nagara-style temples include the Kandariya Mahadev Temple in Madhya Pradesh, known for its adherence to this distinct tradition. Additionally, other renowned examples in India encompass the Sun Temple in Konark, the Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat, and the Ossian Temple in Gujarat.
- The Nagara style also exhibits sub-schools, each with its own distinctive characteristics.
- The Odisha School, a prominent sub-school, distinguishes itself with Shikaras that rise vertically before curving inwards at the top. Typically featuring square bases transitioning into circular upper reaches, these temples boast intricately carved exteriors and often include boundary walls, unlike their northern counterparts.
- In contrast, the Chandel School envisions temples as cohesive units with curved Shikaras extending from bottom to top. Miniature Shikaras rise from the central tower, and additional towers gradually ascend to cap both porticos and halls.
- The Solanki School shares similarities with the Chandel School but introduces carved ceilings resembling true domes. Notably, these temples are characterized by intricate decorative motifs, featuring carvings on both the inner and outer sides of walls, with the exception of the central shrine.
