The trustees of the Lord Rama Temple at Ayodhya have selected January 22 as the day for Prana Prathishta because it is the most auspicious day according to scriptures as well as astrological science, said South India’s leading Vedic scholars and astrologers.

The Sringeri Mutt and Dwaraka Mutt, established by Adi Sankaracharya, have expressed displeasure over the actions of certain entities and individuals spreading false propaganda that they were against the Prana Prathishta scheduled for January 22. Both the Mutts issued releases negating the false news.

January 22, which falls on a Monday, it is Sukla Paksham, a Dwadashi day. It is a Makeeryam (Mrigaseersham) star day. Makeeryam is an Anna Prasha Nakshathra day (Auspicious day for the first feeding of an infant). Considering all other aspects of the day, it is happening during the Uttarayana, making it ideal for Mahaparivarthana Chakravarthi Yoga and Manava Shresta Yoga day.

“This qualifies the day as the most auspicious for rulers as well as the ruled,” said Parappanangadi Unnikrishnan Panicker, Vedic scholar, and author.

“The opposition expressed by a section of society could be either due to ignorance or for the sake of opposition. Astrological traditions followed in the North and South of the country may show slight variations, but they have no major significance,” added Panicker.

P Gopala Menon, the chief priest of the upcoming Lord Rama Temple at Puthussery, said that there is nothing wrong in consecrating the temple as the works of the sanctum sanctorum have been completed. Menon serves as the chief priest (Thanthri) of the temple, where an 18 ft Lord Rama idol will soon be consecrated.

Rama Chandran, a scholar and author of many books on philosophy, pointed out that the Sankaracharyas would stay out of the consecration ceremony because they are expected to step out of their Ashrams only during the Chaathur Maasya Vritham (the four-month period of meditation and prayer). “The pontiffs of Sringeri Mutt in Karnataka and Dwaraka Mutt in Gujarat made it clear on Friday that they would only be able to leave the Ashrams during the Chaathur Maasya Vritham. Hindus do not consider the Puri pontiff as the last word on anything because the previous head of the Mutt was involved in the Khilafat movement, a cardinal sin as far as a Pontiff is concerned,” said Rama Chandran.