Acharya Satyendra Das, the Chief Priest of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple, made a significant announcement on Saturday regarding the unveiling of the eyes of the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya. He stated that the revelation of the idol’s eyes would only occur after the completion of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, scheduled for January 22.
The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony holds immense importance as it marks the establishment of divine life force in the idol of Lord Ram. Crafted by Arun Yogiraj, the Ram Lalla idol was positioned inside the Sanctum Santorum during a placement ceremony on Thursday. Despite this, pictures of the idol with what appeared to be ‘naked’ eyes surfaced on the internet.
Addressing the situation, Acharya Satyendra Das clarified, “The eyes of Lord Ram’s idol cannot be revealed before Pran Pratishtha is completed. The idol where the eyes of Lord Ram can be seen is not the real idol. If the eyes can be seen, an investigation should be done on who revealed the eyes and how the pictures of the idol are going viral.”
He emphasized the adherence to traditional procedures, stating that all rituals would be carried out as usual. However, the Chief Priest stressed that the eyes of Ram Lalla would remain veiled until the completion of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.
Discussing the procedures for carrying the tent idol of Shri Ram Lalla to the temple, Acharya Satyendra Das explained, “It will be established in the Sanctum Santorum of the temple, where the new idol will be installed. There is also no auspicious timing for this. An auspicious timing is predicted when something new has to be done. This is a procedure.”
He also speculated on the individual responsible for carrying the idol to the temple, suggesting that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath might undertake this significant task.
The origin of the ‘tent idol’ of Shri Ram Lalla can be traced back to 1949 when Hindu leaders reportedly placed the idol inside the Babri Masjid, claiming the manifestation of Lord Ram. In 1992, following the demolition of the Babri Masjid, a makeshift idol was installed in a tent, where worship ceremonies commenced.
Acharya Satyendra Das also shed light on the ‘Aunshthan’ conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in preparation for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ Day. “The person who does ‘Anushthan’ has to sleep on the floor, not to speak lies, chant mantras like ‘Gayatri mantra’, has to eat on a leaf and follow ‘Brahmacharya’,” he explained.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier announced his intention to initiate an 11-day ‘Anushthan’ ritual preceding the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, showcasing a unique spiritual commitment. The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ scheduled for January 22 will be conducted by Prime Minister Modi himself, with the ceremonies overseen by a group of priests led by Lakshami Kant Dixit.
As Ayodhya prepares for this historic event, the announcement by the Chief Priest adds an extra layer of significance, emphasizing the adherence to sacred rituals and traditions in the process of consecrating the new Ram Lalla idol.
