Prabhu Ram has always been a beacon of India’s cultural cohesion. As the great epic Ramayana unfolds, his journey from the forests of Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh to the tranquil shores of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, demonstrates the harmonious spirit that he embodies.
By Aaina
Throughout this journey, Bhagwan Ram transcends barriers and unites individuals from diverse backgrounds and walks of life for a shared purpose.
In a similar vein, the name of Bhagwan Ram has continued to unite generations of Hindus, despite innumerable attempts to divide them through the tropes of parochialism and creating fissures where none existed.
The spirited struggle for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya not only coalesced people from a myriad of regions and castes but has also transformed the temple’s construction into an emblem of Hindu unity.
The temple interweaves various regions and castes, creating a singular fabric of devotion, echoing the spirit of the idol.
The inspiration is drawn from none other than Bhagwan Ram himself.
During the building of Ram Setu, the efforts of every being in the jungle, from the monkey to a squirrel, were integral to making the structure possible. Through collective perseverance and divine intervention, even stones miraculously floated upon the water.
It is with that spirit that people across India have come together for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Here are few examples:
Bansi Paharpur Stone: Sourced from Rajasthan, this pink sandstone is the primary material to be used for constructing the temple’s superstructure. Approximately four lakh cubic feet of this stone will be used, and no steel will be utilised in the construction.
Jodhpur Stone: Also from Rajasthan, Jodhpur stone will be used to construct the Parkota (complex) of the temple.
Makrana Marble: White marble from the Makrana hills in Rajasthan will be used inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Granite: Huge granite blocks sourced from Karnataka will be used for flooring in the temple.
Krishna Shilla: The black stone from Karkala, Karnataka, known as ‘Krishna shilla’, chosen from the hills near the banks of the Tungabhadra river, has been sent to Ayodhya for the Ram Lala idol.
Sagwan (Teak) Wood: High-quality teak wood from the forests of Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district will be used to design the main entrance of the temple and for exquisite carvings to decorate the temple.
Dharmavaram Silk Saree: A 60-metre-long silk saree, woven by silk weavers of Dharmavaram in Andhra Pradesh, features 168 ghats of the Ramayana and the Jai Sri Ram mantra (32,000 times in different languages) embroidered on its edge. This saree is intended for the Ram temple.
Shaligram Stones: Two sacred Shaligram stones, weighing 31 tonnes and 15 tonnes, were brought from Galeshwar Dham in Janakpur, 100 km from Pokhara in Nepal. These stones are expected to be used for constructing the idols of Bhagwan Ram and Ma Janaki at the Ram Temple.
Sita Eliya Stone: In 2021, Sri Lanka donated a stone for the Ayodhya Ram Temple from the Sita Eliya temple, the historic place where Ravana is said to have kept Sita.
The construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will not just be a monumental architectural triumph. Each stone, every block of marble, and the intricate carvings adorning the temple would stand as enduring testaments to the unwavering faith that the countless Indians hold in the divine presence of Bhagwan Ram, who once traversed this land, etching the path of dharma for all to follow.
This article first appeared in www.swarajyamag.com and it belongs to them.
