Ram Temple of Ayodhya, also known as the Ram Mandir, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama, a revered deity in Hinduism. The temple is located at a site in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India, that is believed to be the birthplace of Rama, and the setting of the epic Ramayana. The temple has been a source of religious and political controversy for centuries, as it is also the former location of the Babri Masjid, a 16th-century mosque built by the Mughal emperor Babur.
According to Hindu mythology and legends, Ayodhya was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, ruled by Rama’s father, King Dasharatha. Rama was the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, the supreme god of Hinduism, and the hero of the Ramayana. He was born at the Ramkot, a fortress in Ayodhya, where the Ram Mandir stands today. The Ramayana narrates the story of Rama’s exile, his rescue of his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana, and his triumphant return to Ayodhya after 14 years. Rama is worshipped as an ideal king, a righteous warrior, and a compassionate husband.
The history of the Ram Mandir dates back to ancient times, as evidenced by various inscriptions, coins, sculptures, and literary sources. The earliest reference to a temple at the site is found in the Skanda Purana, a Hindu scripture composed between the 6th and 15th centuries CE. The Skanda Purana mentions that Rama’s son, Kusha, built a temple at his father’s birthplace, and installed an idol of Rama there. The temple was later renovated and expanded by various Hindu kings and dynasties, such as the Guptas, the Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Gahadavalas, and the Chandellas.
The temple faced destruction and desecration several times by Muslim invaders and rulers, who considered it a symbol of Hindu power and pride. The most notorious of these was Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, who ordered the demolition of the temple in 1669 CE, and erected a mosque on its ruins. The mosque was named after Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, and came to be known as the Babri Masjid. The mosque had three domes, and inscriptions in Persian that claimed that it was built by Mir Baqi, a general of Babur, on the orders of Aurangzeb.
The Hindus did not give up their claim to the site, and continued to worship Rama there. They believed that the mosque was built over the Ram Janmabhoomi, or Rama’s birthplace, which was marked by a platform called the Ram Chabutra, and a niche called the Sita Rasoi, where Sita used to cook. The Hindus also asserted that the mosque contained a pillar with a carving of Rama, and that the central dome was the exact spot where Rama was born. The Hindus and the Muslims often clashed over the access and ownership of the site, leading to violence and bloodshed.
The conflict reached a climax in 1949, when some Hindu activists secretly placed idols of Rama and Sita inside the mosque, and declared that Rama had miraculously appeared there. The government locked the gates of the mosque, and declared it a disputed site. The Hindus filed a lawsuit in the civil court, demanding the right to worship the idols, while the Muslims filed a counter-suit, demanding the removal of the idols and the restoration of the mosque. The legal battle dragged on for decades, without any resolution.
The dispute took a political turn in the 1980s, when the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu nationalist organization, launched a campaign to build a grand temple at the site, and mobilized millions of Hindus across the country. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist political party, also supported the cause, and made it a part of its electoral agenda. The campaign culminated in a massive rally on December 6, 1992, when thousands of Hindu activists, known as kar sevaks, stormed the mosque, and demolished it with axes, hammers, and crowbars. The demolition sparked communal riots across India, killing more than 2,000 people.
The demolition also triggered a series of court cases, investigations, and commissions, to determine the historical and legal status of the site. The most important of these was the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which conducted excavations at the site in 2003, and found evidence of a large structure beneath the mosque, that was non-Islamic in nature. The ASI report suggested that the structure could be a temple, or a part of a temple complex, that was destroyed before the construction of the mosque.
The final verdict on the dispute was delivered by the Supreme Court of India on November 9, 2019, after hearing the arguments of all the parties involved. The court ruled that the entire 2.77 acres of land belonged to the Hindus, and that they had the right to build a temple there. The court also directed the government to allot 5 acres of land to the Muslims, at a prominent location in Ayodhya, to construct a mosque. The court based its judgment on the ASI report, the historical records, the religious beliefs, and the balance of equity.
The verdict paved the way for the construction of the Ram Mandir, which was supervised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, set up by the government. The trust appointed the Sompura family, a renowned clan of temple architects, to design and build the temple. The temple is based on the Nagara style of Hindu temple architecture, and has a height of 49 metres, a length of 110 metres, and a width of 72 metres. The temple has one central shrine, dedicated to Rama, and six smaller shrines, dedicated to his family and associates. The temple also has a museum, a library, a research centre, and a food court.
The foundation stone of the temple was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2020, in a grand ceremony attended by several religious and political leaders. The ceremony coincided with the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and was seen as a symbolic gesture of national integration and unity. The temple was consecrated and inaugurated by Modi on January 22, 2024, in another lavish ceremony that was witnessed by millions of people through live telecast and streaming. The temple has become a major attraction for pilgrims and tourists, who flock to Ayodhya to seek the blessings of Rama.
The Ayodhya Ram Temple is not just a place of worship, but also a testament to the faith and perseverance of the Hindu community, who have fought for their rights and dignity for centuries. The temple is also a symbol of the cultural and civilizational heritage of India, which has survived the onslaughts of time and history. The temple is also a sign of hope and harmony, as it represents the possibility of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among different religious groups, who share a common land and destiny. The temple is, in essence, a reflection of the spirit and soul of India.
How Ram Temple transformed Ayodhya after its inaugration
After the inauguration of the grand Ram Temple on January 22, 2024. The temple, which was built on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid after a long and contentious legal battle, has become a major attraction for devotees, tourists, and pilgrims from across the country and the world.
The inauguration of the temple was a historic event that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and other prominent dignitaries. The ceremony was also broadcast live on various media platforms, reaching millions of people who could not be physically present in Ayodhya.
The temple, which is designed in the Nagara style of architecture, has a height of 161 feet and covers an area of 2.7 acres. It has 400 pillars, 44 doors, and a new idol of Lord Ram made of black stone. The temple complex also includes a museum, a library, a research center, and a food court. The temple trust has planned to develop the temple as a green and eco-friendly structure, with solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and waste management systems.
The construction of the temple has also boosted the development of Ayodhya as a whole, with several infrastructural and cultural projects being undertaken by the state and central governments. Some of the notable initiatives are:
- The construction of a new international airport, named after Lord Ram, which is expected to be operational by March 2024. The airport will have a capacity of handling 1,000 passengers per hour and will connect Ayodhya with major domestic and international destinations.
- The renovation of the Ayodhya railway station, which has been given a makeover with a modern and aesthetic design, inspired by the temple. The station will also have facilities such as escalators, lifts, waiting rooms, and parking spaces.
- The opening of new roads and highways, such as the 354-km Purvanchal Expressway, which connects Ayodhya with Lucknow and other eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh. The expressway will reduce the travel time between Ayodhya and Lucknow from six hours to 90 minutes.
- The beautification and landscaping of the city, with the planting of trees, flowers, and herbs along the banks of the Saryu river, which flows near the temple. The riverfront will also have ghats, parks, fountains, and statues of Lord Ram and other characters from the Ramayana.
- The promotion of Ayodhya as a cultural and spiritual hub, with the establishment of a Ramayana Circuit, which will link 15 sites related to the epic in and around the city. The circuit will also include a Ramayana Theme Park, which will showcase the life and teachings of Lord Ram through various attractions and activities.
- The enhancement of the security and safety of the city, with the installation of CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, and smart traffic management systems. The city will also have a dedicated police force and a special cell to deal with any threats or emergencies.
The inauguration of the Ram Temple has not only fulfilled the long-cherished dream of millions of Hindus, but also opened new avenues of growth and prosperity for Ayodhya and its people. The temple is expected to attract more than 10 crore visitors annually, generating revenue and employment opportunities for the local economy. The temple is also seen as a symbol of national unity and harmony, as it represents the culmination of a 500-year-old dispute that had divided the country along communal lines.
The transformation of Ayodhya after the inauguration of the Ram Temple is a testament to the vision and efforts of the government, the temple trust, and the people of the city, who have worked together to make this dream a reality. Ayodhya, which was once a neglected and backward town, has now emerged as a shining example of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage, and a destination of pride and faith for the entire nation.