In anticipation of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the darshan of Ram Lalla in the temporary temple has been closed for three days from Saturday.
This temporary curb is a prelude to the grand consecration ceremony scheduled for January 22, where only exclusive guests present at the Pran Pratistha will have the opportunity for darshan.
Regular devotees, however, can anticipate having darshan of Ram Lalla in the new temple starting on January 23.
The ongoing ritual process, initiated by main Yajman Anil Mishra on January 16, reached a pivotal juncture with the addition of four new yajmans. Notable among them is industrialist Mahesh Bhagchandka, a key figure in the bhoomi pujan held on August 5, 2020. The ritual saw active participation of the host, Dr Anil Mishra, and his wife Usha Mishra.
In a noteworthy development, Vishwa Hindu Parishad working president Alok Kumar and Kashi entrepreneur Suryakant Jalan assumed the role of yajman in the consecration ritual on Saturday, joining VHP president Dr RN Singh.
Pandit Ramesh Dixit, a key participant in the rituals, shed light on the day’s proceedings, stating, “"Today, the sanctum sanctorum, where the idol of Lord Ram was installed on Thursday, was washed with the holy water of Sarayu. This was followed by the Vastu shanti and Annadhivas rituals.”
The Vastu shanti ritual, rooted in Vedic practices, is a solemn endeavour to attain peace from the elements of sky, water, earth, fire and air, all of which hold significant importance in Vastu Shastra. This ceremony aims to eliminate any lingering defects that may persist even after the Vastu puja performed on January 18.
In a move to add a sweet touch to the proceedings, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Trust, Tirupati, contributed to the ceremonial atmosphere by gifting one lakh (three ton) of mahaprasad (laddus) for distribution during the consecration ceremony.
This delectable offering, transported from Tirupati to Ayodhya airport by a special plane on Saturday, was received by Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi and India Think Council director Saurabh Pandey. From Ayodhya airport, the mahaprasad embarked on its journey to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust office by truck.
The week-long rituals, set in motion on Tuesday, are poised to reach their zenith on January 22 with the Pran Prathistha ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to preside over the ceremonial installation of Ram Lalla, and the temple gates will open for public for darshan from January 23, marking a momentous occasion for devotees.
