Ayodhya: The Vedic rituals leading up to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla entered its fourth day on Friday. The sanctity of the occasion was marked by the lighting of the holy fire, paving the way for the forthcoming establishment of ‘Navagraha’ and the initiation of a ‘Havan’ ceremony. The fourth-day rituals began at the temple today at 9 a.m. with the lighting of holy fire.
The idol of Shri Ram Lalla, which was placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in Ayodhya on Thursday, will be given ‘Aushdhadhiwas’ (medicinal abode), ‘Kesaradhiwas’ (saffron abode), ‘Dhritashiwas’ (Dhrita abode), and ‘Pushpadhiwas’ (flower abode).
Following this, the idol will be kept in saffron and later in grains.The temple doors will be closed to visitors until January 22 and will be reopened the next day.
Meanwhile, as ‘Pran Pratishtha’ Day approaches, the security in Ayodhya’s Karsevakpuram has been beefed up, the area where Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai resides.
Ayodhya is observing ‘Amrit Mahotsava’ ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.The idol of Lord Ram was placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in Ayodhya on Thursday. Covered with a veil, the first photo of the idol was revealed during the placement ceremony in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday.
The photos were shared by Sharad Sharma, media in-charge of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.Vedic Brahmins and revered Acharyas were seen leading worship ceremonies inside the sacred precincts of the Sri Ram Temple.
The idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ was carved by Arun Yogiraj, a famed sculptor from Karnataka. The idol is 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes. The idol portrays Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus also crafted from the same stone.
The Pran Pratishta ceremony will be held in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform rituals to mark the ‘Pran Pratishtha’; however, a team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will perform the main rituals.
Several celebrities and noted personalities have also been invited to the ceremony. Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday announced that all central government offices will be closed for half-day on January 22 for the ‘Pran Patishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla at Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
As per the notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, all Central Government offices, Central Institutions and Central Industrial Establishments across the country shall remain closed for half a day till 02:30 pm.
(With ANI Inputs)
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