The much-awaited “Pran-Pratishtha,” or the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, is in less than two weeks. The event will happen on January 22, 2024, at 12:20 p.m. at the temple’s garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum).Under the direct supervision of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, preparations for the major event are well underway. The consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22 has invited leaders in politics, business, sports, seers, academia, and other notable disciplines in addition to celebrities from film and television.
Ram Temple’s exquisite architecture
The Ram Mandir occupies 2.77 acres of the 71 acres total building space of the great complex. The sanctum sanctorum and the five pavilions (Gun Mandap, Rang Mandap, Nritya Mandap, Kirtan Mandap, and Prarthana Mandap) comprise its six sections. The temple’s three storeys, each measuring 19.5 feet, are intended to reach a height of 161 feet. Professor Ramanchrala Pradeep Kumar, Director of the CSIR-Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, spoke on the construction of the Ram temple, and said, “We have used stone because its life is much higher than other construction materials. The Ram temple was built using extremely malleable stone. Iron has also been avoided because it rusts. Additionally, we have made sure that the temple’s structure is resistant to earthquakes.” The temple is constructed in the typical Nagara style, with three stories and twenty feet for each wall. No iron is used in the temple’s construction.
Temple’s main entrance
The Lion Gate, also known as the “Singh Dwar,” will serve as the temple’s main entrance. It is built in the Nagar style from Rajasthani sand pink stone. The gate is decorated with flowers on both sides. The construction of the gate took three months in total. Via the Singh Dwar, one must climb 32 stairs to gain entry to the temple.
Other important details about the architecture and structure of the temple
The complex has a length (east-west) of 380 feet, a width of 250 feet, and a height of 161 feet. It has a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors. The complex also has five mandaps (Hall) – Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna and Kirtan Mandap. The temple’s complex is surrounded by a Parkota (Rectangular Compound Wall) that is 732 metres long and 14 feet wide. There are four temples at the four corners of the structure, one each for Surya Dev, Devi Bhagwati, Ganesh Bhagwan, and Bhagwan Shiv. Maa Annapurna’s temple is located in the northern arm, whereas Hanuman ji’s temple is located in the southern arm. Proposed temples inside the Ram Mandir complex honour the following: Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri, Maharshi Valmiki, Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, and the esteemed consort of Devi Ahilya. The Mandir complex also has a sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, water supply for fire safety, and an independent power station. The 14-meter-thick layer of roller-compacted concrete (RCC) that forms the temple’s base gives it the appearance of man-made rock. In addition, a granite plinth 21 feet high has been built to guard against ground dampness.
By: Gursharan Kaur