From early stages of structural design to seismic safety, from Sun’s path for Surya Tilak to tulips for Praan Pratishthaa ceremony of Shri Ram on January 22, the much-revered temple in Ayodhya has got technical support from four reputed institutes under the country’s premier scientific research agency, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Besides, additional input for the grandiose structure also came from the Department of Science & Technology (DST), and top entities such as IITs as well as Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO).
“The four CSIR institutes which made a significant contribution include Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bengaluru, and Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) Palampur,” Union Minister of State Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed here ahead of the much awaited ceremony to be held in Ayodhya.
The Minister elaborated that while CBRI has majorly contributed towards the construction of the holy temple, NGRI gave significant inputs on foundation design and seismic safety. Similarly, IIA Bengaluru provided technical support on Sun’s path for Surya Tilak and IHBT Palampur has made tulips bloom for the divine Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya being held on January 22.
Tulips do not flower in this season. It grows only in Jammu & Kashmir and few other higher Himalayan regions and that too only in the spring season. The IHBT has recently developed an indigenous technology through which tulip could be made available throughout the year, without waiting for its season, the Minister said adding that in celebration of faith, unity and the spirit of devotion, the institute is sending the tulip blooms to the divine ceremony in Ayodhya on 22nd January.
Similarly, “the CBRI has been involved in the construction of Ram Mandir since early stages. The Institute has contributed towards Structural Design of the main temple, designing Surya Tilak mechanism, design vetting of temple foundation, and Structural Health Monitoring of main temple,” he further added.
The main temple building, which is 360 feet long, 235 feet wide and 161 feet high, is made of sandstone quarried from Bansi Pahadpur, Rajasthan. Cement or iron and steel is not used anywhere in its construction.
The structural design of the 3-storey temple is earthquake resilient and can withstand strong tremors of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale for as long as 2,500 years, he shared.
The Minister highlighted that the NGRI also gave significant inputs on foundation design and seismic/ earthquake safety. Few IITs were also part of the expert advisory committee and even Space technologies from ISRO have been used in the construction of the grandiose structure.
A unique feature of the Ram Temple, said Dr Jitendra Singh, is the Surya Tilak mechanism, designed in such a way that the Sun rays will fall on the forehead of Lord Ram’s Idol at 12 noon on Sriram Navami day every year for about 6 minutes.
The IIA did its bit by providing technical support on Sun’s path and Optica, Bangalore is involved in manufacturing of the lenses and brass tubes.