Several questions have been asked about why the Pran Pratishtha of an “incomplete” Ram Temple in Ayodhya is being done on January 22, and why the same could not wait. I spoke to several saints for this column to get a correct picture.
Ram Mandir Consecration LIVE
First and foremost, any auspicious event in Hindu traditions is done as per the Panchang, the Hindu calendar. The astrologer and saint in Varanasi who fixed the date, Pandit Ganeshwar Shastri, said January 22 is the “best Mahurat” for many years to come and such an auspicious date won’t come next until 2026. Second, saints said the Pran Pratishtha of the Lord Ram idol is perfectly valid as the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is ready and is now fully covered with doors, walls and a ceiling.
Thirdly, renowned priests from Varanasi will be conducting the Pran Pratishtha along with four trustees of the Shri Ram Temple Trust — contrasting with the claim of some that only the Prime Minister will be dominating the ceremony.
The Pran Pratishtha is a ceremony to bring an idol to life so that God can reside in the same and can see his or her devotees and bless them. This ceremony is only done during a Mahurat.
Why January 22?
The belief is that Lord Ram was born in the ‘Abhijeet Mahurat’ and hence the Pran Pratishtha must happen in the same. On January 22, an 84-second period around 12.30 pm falls under the ‘Abhijeet Mahurat’. But multiple other good omens make this day perfect for such a religious ceremony. This is also the day when the Mrigashira Nakshatra, the Amrit Siddhi Yog, the Sarvatha Siddhi Yog, Ravi Yog align and Jupiter (Guru, the planet of learning and wisdom) is in a perfect position, as per Panchang. Pandit Ganeshwar Shastri says such an auspicious Mahurat won’t come until 2026, and hence January 22 has been chosen as the date for the Pran Pratishtha.
‘Incomplete’ Temple?
Some have also raised the question of why an ‘incomplete’ temple is seeing Pran Pratistha as only the first floor of the temple is complete and the entire temple will only be ready by the end of 2024. The entire temple complex premises will be complete by end of 2025. Multiple saints told News18 that it is not necessary that the full temple has to be ready, even if the Garbhagriha of the temple is complete and fully covered with doors, walls and a ceiling, like at the Ram Temple, Pran Pratishtha of an idol can be done. A Kalash Pratishta can be done at a later date once the temple is complete, many saints clarified.
This is also a Pran Pratishtha ceremony and not a consecration as it is being called in popular parlance. A consecration is done to make a place sacred. Still, as per Hindu belief, the Ram Janambhoomi has already been sacred for many centuries and what is happening now is the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Lalla idol. The ceremony will see life being put into the Lord Ram idol by priests at the Ram Mandir at the most auspicious time to ensure the divinity of the temple is the grandest.
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