Ram Kumar Kaushik /New Delhi

A mala fide campaign is in full swing to spread misinformation about the consecration process of Lord Ram Lalla scheduled on January 22 in the newly built temple at Ayodhya Dham. Baiters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opponents of the Ram Mandir construction have joined hands to run this campaign based on myths.

It has confused people to the extent that a section of Sanatan Dharm followers is also making noise that PM Modi will do the Pran Pratishta of Ram Lalla idol whereas the fact is that he will not be the Yajman (host) of the Pran Pratishta rituals but will participate in the cultural & temple inauguration ritual as Ram Bhakta (devotee). PM Modi will enter the temple Garbh Griha (sanctum sanctorum) after completing 11 days fast following ‘Yam Niyam (rules)’ prescribed for a willing worshipper, which any devotee is entitled to.

Divya Darshans of Bhagwan Shri Ram Lalla, along with his brothers- Ayodhya Dham

Paush Maas, Shukla Paksh, Chaturthi Tithi, Vikrami Samvat 2080 pic.twitter.com/ZkUG06ZG0O

— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) January 15, 2024

Ram Janmbhumi Tirtha Trust also clarifies the position that PM Modi will participate in rites in Garbh Griha as a distinguished guest on 22 January. In a statement on X, the trust posted, “4. Distinguished Guests: The Prana Pratishtha will be conducted in the august presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bharat Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Pujaniya Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Shri Mohan Bhagwat Ji, Governor of Uttar Pradesh Smt Anandiben Patel Ji, Hon’ble Chief Minister of U.P. Shri Yogi Adityanath Ji Maharaj, and other dignitaries.”

Despite all clarifications, even in the mainstream media, it has been said, with careless choice of words, that the prime minister would perform the pran pratishtha in Ayodhya on January 22, lending credence to the calumnious propaganda by the likes of disgruntled BJP MP Subramanian Swamy and his supporters. One more controversy erupted that consecration can’t be organised until the temple is fully constructed.

Surajeet Dasgupta, a veteran journalist, and researcher on Vaidic Scriptures, explains, “I went through Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta and Ganapatya literature. While the rites vary, none says completion of the temple is a prerequisite. Lakshmi took the form of a Badri tree to provide warmth to Vishnu, who was until then braving the harsh cold climate, in Badrinath.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Ram Temple 

Rāma himself installed the Linga in Rameshwaram without any temple around it (Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas). Shiva Purāña 2.1.13 states rules of prāña pratishThā separately with and without temples. Without the devālaya in place, the ritual is performed after भूतशुद्धि. With devālaya, it's installation of दिक्पाल followed by मूलमंत्र; whether there should be a fully-functional building around the गर्भगृह and dikpālas is not mentioned.”

How will Pran Pratishtha happen:

The grand rituals of Ramlala Pran Pratishtha are starting in Ayodhya today i.e. January 16, In this, there will be atonement for the host, Dash Vidharnaan in river Saryu, Sauer for the host Brahmin, atonement along with Purvottarang, Godaan, Panch-Gavyaprashan, Dashdaan, and Karmakuti Homa.

It will be Pandit Laxmikant Mathuranath Dixit, 86, a veteran of Vedic rituals, who will lead the group of priests in the pran pratishtha (consecration) of the Ram Lalla idol. Dixit's lineage traces back to Pandit Gaga Bhatt, the famous Varanasi-based 17th-century priest who presided over the Indrabhishek of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Acharya Ganesh Shastri Dravid Will coordinate and anchor the entire process of rites for 16-22 January.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Chief Priest of Ram Temple

As many as 120 acharyas and gurus who have dedicated their lives to sadhana, worship, and deep study of the Vedas and Upanishads will be in the group of primary worshippers of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. Of these, 40 priests are from Kashi.

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About 21,000 priests from Nepal are going to perform Mahayagya under the leadership of Atmanand Das Mahatyagi, a disciple of the famous ascetic Narayan Das known as 'Nepali Baba'. The traditional royal family of Nepal had given the title of 'Nepali Baba' to ascetic Narayan Das.

(Ram Kumar Kaushik is a senior Delhi-based journalist)