Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV.
22 January 2024 is a date which will be recorded forever in the history of India. Diwali was celebrated all over the country, lamps were lit in every house and street, Lord Ram again came to Ayodhya after five hundred years, sat in the grand Ram temple, Ayodhya is completely illuminated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi consecrated Ram Lalla with full rituals and Vedic traditions. Inaugurated the divine temple at Ram Janmabhoomi. Temples across the country were decorated to welcome Ramlala. There is zeal, enthusiasm, devotion everywhere. The majesty of the name Ram, the power of Ram and an ocean of faith in Lord Ram were visible everywhere. Modi’s 11-day fast ended with the consecration of Ram Lalla. After offering food to Ramlala, his aarti and prostration, Modi completed his rituals by accepting the prasad. When the ritual of consecration of Ram Lalla was going on in Ayodhya, crores of Ram devotees were watching its live telecast in temples across the country. The festival was taking place in Ayodhya but Ram devotees from all over the world were involved in it. In many countries including America, Britain, Russia, Australia, Denmark, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, morning processions were taken out, Diwali was celebrated, fireworks were done and sweets were distributed to welcome Ram Lalla. In our country, there was Sankirtan of Ramnaam and Bhandara at every street and intersection.
Modi said that five hundred years of penance, sacrifice and patience have yielded pleasant results. Ramlala has reached the grand Ram temple from the tent. Modi said that those who used to say that if Ram temple is built, the country will be on fire, after seeing this flood of devotion, they should also understand that Ram is not fire but energy, Ram is not a concern for the country, he is a contemplation, Ram is controversy. No, there is a solution. Ram is not past but eternal, Ram temple is not just a god temple but a national temple. It is an indelible proof of Sanatan culture. Modi said that one yagya has been completed, now what next? Now we have to offer our hard work to Lord Ram, we have to make India a world leader, we have to make India a developed nation. Modi was full of faith and devotion. The next morning of Pran Pratistha, about 3 lakh people reached the temple in Ayodhya to have darshan of Ramlala.
Ramlala’s form is divine, pleasing to the eyes. This idol is of five year old child Ram. The crown worn on the 51-inch tall Shyamal idol is a symbol of North Indian tradition. Emerald, ruby, diamond and other gems have been studded in this gold crown. The figure of Sun God has been made in the middle of the crown. The earrings worn are made of gold. Diamond, emerald and ruby are studded in these earrings. The earrings are molded in the shape of a peacock. The necklace around Ram’s neck is in the shape of a moon, in which fine diamonds and gems are studded. Kaustubh Mani has been worn on the chest of Ramlala. A big ruby has been placed in the middle of this Kaustubh gem and small diamonds are placed around it. It is a tradition that the incarnations of Lord Vishnu are adorned with Kaustubh Mani. That is why Ramlala was also adorned with Kaustabhu Mani. A necklace has also been worn around the neck of Ramlala. This necklace made of five gold stars has emeralds studded in it and a earring is also attached at the bottom of the necklace. Another necklace is also worn whose name is Vyjayantika. This is the longest necklace placed around the neck of Ramlala, which is decorated with symbols of Vaishnava traditions. Sudarshan Chakra, lotus, conch and Mangal Kalash have been made in Vyjayantika. Figures of flowers dear to the Lord such as Champa, Parijat Kund and Tulsi are also carved in this necklace. A girdle has been worn around the waist of the statue, various types of diamonds and gems have been studded in this girdle. These include diamonds, emeralds, pearls and rubies. Bhujbandhas are worn on both the hands of Ram, which are made of gold and are also studded with precious gems. Gold bracelets studded with diamonds and gems have also been worn on the wrist of the Lord. Apart from this, the idol of Ramlala has also been adorned with rings or rings studded with diamonds and pearls. Ramlala’s feet are adorned with anklets, while he has a golden bow in his left hand and a golden arrow in his right hand. A lotus shape has been made below the feet of the Lord, which is decorated with a gold garland. A gold canopy has also been installed over this beautiful statue of Ramlala. Ram is adorned in yellow dhoti made of Banarasi cloth and red colored angavastram. These clothes have been worked with pure gold zari and stars in which the auspicious symbol of Vaishnav sect, conch, padma, chakra and peacock are inscribed.
Saints, Mahamandaleshwar, Mandaleshwar, Shrimahant, Mahant of more than 150 traditions, religions, sects, worship methods and traditions of India were invited in this program for Pran Pratishtha. Along with Naga Sadhus, more than 50 prominent persons of tribal, Girivasi, Tatvasi, Dweepavi tribal traditions were invited for Pran Pratishtha. Modi met everyone, Modi also met the laborers engaged in the work of building the grand Ram temple. Showered flowers on them. Today Modi showed how much power there is in spiritual practice, what is the effect of the name of Ram. This is also visible in the entire country. It is true that today is a historic moment for Sanatan culture. Ayodhya has been revived after five hundred years. Ramlala has once again returned to Ayodhya. This day is the result of the penance that countless Ram devotees performed continuously.
When I heard the story of the struggle and sacrifices in Ayodhya from Yogi Adityanath, my heart was filled with emotion. Saw Uma Bharti and Sadhvi Ritambhara hugging each other after many years and shedding tears of joy. Saw Swami Ramdev and Rambhadracharya sitting at the feet of Ramlala. Famous people like Mukesh Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth were seen bowing their heads in front of Ram Lalla. Heard the message from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to the entire country to forget mutual disputes and bring brotherhood. Then it seemed that not only Ram temple was inaugurated today. Only Lord Ram was not consecrated. A new future was ushered in for the country. But this opportunity has come after five hundred years. There is enthusiasm and happiness among Ram devotees across the country. The atmosphere across the country, the enthusiasm among the countrymen, is an eye-opener for all those people who were opposing the Ram temple till now. Questions were being raised on the auspicious time of Ramlala’s life consecration. That is why when the crowd of devotees increased in the temples across the country, the chants of Ram’s name started echoing across the country, then big leaders of the opposition parties also went towards the temples. When someone came out on the road dressed in Ram’s name, someone started chanting Ram’s name to show himself to be a devotee of Ram. At the time when the Ram temple was being inaugurated in Ayodhya, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was praising Lord Ram in Bengaluru, inaugurating the Ram temple in KR Puram of Bengaluru, this temple was being built for the last 10 years. The temple was built by the local people but Siddaramaiah arrived to inaugurate it and after that he said that he would soon go to Ayodhya and have darshan of the Lord.
Other Congress leaders were also seen immersed in devotion today. Deependra Singh Hooda inaugurated and consecrated the Ram temple in Patoda village of Jhajjar. Hooda rode in an open jeep, holding a saffron flag in his hand and chanting slogans of Siyawar Ramchandra ki Jai. The thing to note is that big Congress leaders had refused to attend the consecration ceremony, but some Congress leaders ignored the party’s displeasure and went to Ayodhya and had darshan of Ram Lalla. Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and minister in the state government, also participated in the program in Ayodhya. He said that this is a historic day, a proud moment for every Hindu, that is why he has come to Ayodhya. Those who think in terms of politics, this question will definitely be in their mind that what will be the impact of the construction of Ram Mandir, the prestige of the temple and Modi becoming the chief host, on the upcoming elections? Will Modi benefit from this? I think the matter is clear here. The environment created in the country. Narendra Modi will definitely benefit from the way the entire country became Rammay. Modi talked about Mata Shabari, mentioned Lord Ram’s relationship with Nishadraj. Modi explained the importance of Ram to the youth. Modi showered flowers on the workers building the temple. All these things are such that their impact will be on the hearts and minds of the people of the country, on the politics of the country and on the elections. The leaders of the opposition parties also understand this, that is why they started saying from the very first day that BJP has captured Ram, why is the consecration being done in a half-finished temple on the occasion of elections? In what capacity did Modi become the host? Shankaracharya is also opposing Pran Pratistha, but the leaders of the opposition parties understood within two-four days that such things are having no effect on the public. Shankaracharya, who had come to the field to protest against Modi on the advice of Digviji Singh, also got scared and turned back. Seeing the changed atmosphere, Shankaracharya also started praising Modi.
Siddaramaiah inaugurated his Ram temple. Kejriwal congratulated the life consecration in Ayodhya by putting up the picture of Ram Lalla. Most of the leaders of opposition parties went to the temple today and worshiped Lord Ram. After consecration, shared the photo of Ramlala’s idol on his social media handle. Everyone felt that no matter what the party’s line was, if one wanted to escape from the wrath of the public, one would have to take refuge in Ram. But there is a saying, ‘What do you regret now, when the bird has pecked the field’? When people have the original Rambhakt Modi, why would anyone go to a duplicate? I have no doubt that today the consecration of life in Ram temple has breathed new life into BJP also. The leaders opposing Ram are finding it difficult to save their political lives. And the biggest loss will be to Rahul Gandhi and his Congress because they opposed Ram Mandir in the name of anti-Modi. There are a large number of leaders and workers in Congress who are Ram devotees. Many of these leaders reached Ayodhya today, a large number of Congress supporters lit lamps in the evening. They feel that Sonia and Kharge should have gone to Pran Pratistha, this policy of boycott is not right. On the other hand, BJP’s policy is clear. Apart from Modi and Yogi, no big BJP leader was seen at the consecration ceremony. There is a need to understand its meaning also. In the coming days, big leaders like Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, JP Nadda will go to Ayodhya with thousands of devotees from different corners of the country, will have darshan of Ram Lalla, and what happened today will echo across the country for many months. Will be heard in. Perhaps that is why Modi said- Ram ji is the solution, now is the time, right is the time. (Rajat Sharma)
Watch: ‘Aaj Ki Baat, Rajat Sharma Sath’ full episode of January 22, 2023
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