With just 11 days remaining until the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration ceremony) at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will lead the performance of the rituals, has commenced an 11-day-long rigorous fasting period that includes Yam Niyam, involving regular prayers and yoga. In a message on Friday, the Prime Minister informed the public about adhering to the rituals prescribed in the scriptures before conducting the Pran Pratistha of Ram Lalla on January 22.
“I am fortunate to witness this auspicious occasion. The Lord has chosen me as an instrument to represent all the people of India during the consecration. With this in mind, I am commencing a special ritual of 11 days starting today,” Modi said in a message on X.
“In the scriptures, the Pran Pratishtha of a deity’s idol is a detailed and comprehensive process. Detailed rules, which must be followed several days before the ceremony, have been provided for this purpose. The Prime Minister consistently adheres to rules such as Brahmamuhurta Jagran, Sadhana, and a Satvik diet in his daily routine. However, for the next 11 days, the Prime Minister will follow an ascetic routine, including rigorous fasting,” the functionary said.
“I am emotional and overwhelmed with emotions. For the first time in my life, I am experiencing such feelings,” he said, noting that the dream carried in the hearts of many generations as a resolve will be witnessed by him as it is being realised.
The inner journey he is undergoing can only be felt and not expressed, Modi said in an audio message, adding that he is unable to articulate with words the depth, expanse, and intensity of the feelings.
The Prime Minister remarked that the upcoming event is a sacred occasion for all Indians and devotees of Lord Ram. Everyone is eagerly anticipating the historic moment on January 22 when the idol of Ram will be consecrated at what followers believe to be his birthplace.
In an audio message, PM Modi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to witness what he deemed a “historic” and “auspicious” occasion.
He is undertaking a special regimen based on the guidelines he has received from eminent individuals on the spiritual journey. Officials said that Modi has decided to strictly adhere to all instructions laid down in scriptures, despite his busy schedule and responsibilities.
“For this, the Prime Minister has embarked on an 11-day adherence to Yam Niyam leading up to the Pran Pratishtha,” one official said.
“Yam Niyam” prescribes several austere measures, including yoga, meditation, and discipline in various aspects for its practitioners.
Modi follows many of these disciplines, such as waking up during an auspicious time before sunrise, meditation, and consuming “satvik” food, in his daily life, they said.
Later, the Prime Minister performed darshan and puja at Kala Ram Mandir in Nashik, Maharashtra. He also conducted darshan and puja at Shree Ram Kund, paying floral tributes to the statue of Swami Vivekananda. The Prime Minister then listened to the epic narrative of the Ramayana, specifically the “Yudh Kanda” segment, depicting Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya.
This narrative was presented in Marathi, and the PM listened to the Hindi version through AI translation.
Noting that it is also the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, he mentioned that the spiritual guru had stirred the soul of the nation, and the self-confidence he emphasised is now reflected in the form of the grand Ram temple. It is also the birth anniversary of Jijabai, the mother of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, he added.
On this occasion, he remarked that it is natural for him to remember his mother, who continued to chant ‘Sita Ram’ until the end of her life. Modi mentioned that when he witnesses the occasion, 140 crore Indians will be in his heart, along with the memories of an uncountable number of people whose sole purpose has been the construction of the Ram temple.
Asserting that the masses are also a form of God, he stated that their blessings infuse him with new energy and urged them to share their views and bless him.