Shri Ram Janmabhumi Mandir

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, is a temple complex under construction in Ayodhya. The site is significant to Hindus as it is the birthplace of the revered deity Ram, Balak Ram or Ram Lala who is established as the presiding deity of the new temple which was consecrated on 22^nd January, 2024.

Balak Ram is the primary murti (idol) of Shri Ram Mandir, built in Nagara style  at the Ram Janma bhoomi. The murti (idol) represents Rama in the form of a small child.

Three Indian sculptors, namely, Ganesh Bhatt, Satyanarayan Pandey, and Arun Yogiraj, were assigned the task of making the idol of the deity by the trust. As per the trust, the characteristics of the deity were supposed to be a 5-year-old Bālaka with a cheerful face possessing both divine and princely looks. 

On both sides of the main idol, Hindu Gods and symbols are carved on the stone arch. They are 10 avtars of Vishnu, then Hanuman, Garuda, Swastik, Om, Sudarshan Chakra, Kaumodaki gada, Padma, Brahma, Shiva and Surya It was informed by the Trust that the Blackstone is water resistant and non-reacting to the acidic nature of milk when Abhiseka (i.e. ritualistic holy bath) is done.

 The trust has clarified that the 9-inch high Ramlalla Virajman idol which was placed in the mosque in 1949 will be henceforth used as the utsava mūrti.

The “prana pratistha” i.e. consecration ceremony of the deity in the sanctum sanctorum  of the Ram Mandir was performed on 22 January 2024.

Since antiquity, it has been a custom to offer and adorn Hindu deities with precious metals and valuable stones. The Balak Ram Murti was adorned with 15 kilograms of gold and no less than 18,000 precious stones such as diamonds, Zambian emeralds, and rubies.

Balak Ram is offered Aarati and Prasad. The trust has informed that there will be six Aaratis to the Balak Ram daily. They are:

·         Maṅgala Ārati , to awaken the deity in the morning

·         Śṛiṅgāra Ārati,  after fully decorating the deity

·         Rājabhoga Ārati,  as mid-day royal meals and prepared for a siesta

·         Utthāpan Ārati  to awaken deity from siesta

·         Sandhyā Ārati,  performed during twilight

·         Śayana Ārati  to put the deity to sleep

In Hindu temples, dressing the holy deity is considered as a form of devotional service known as Vastrālaṅkaraṇa Seva (Dress decoration service) The deity is dressed on Sunday with pink colored clothes, on Monday with white, on Tuesday with red, on Wednesday with green, on Thursday with yellow, on Friday with cream, and on Saturday with blue. On the day of consecration, the deity was dressed in a yellow dhoti and a red angvastra. The deity will be dressed in yellow on special occasions.

Ram Mandir was built in the Maru-Gurjara style which is a sub-style of Nagra architecture of Indian temples that exist in Northern, Eastern, and Western India. The Temple is still under construction and will be the third largest upon completion. The Angkor Wat in Combodia and BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersy, USA are the largest Hindu temples in the world. As per the modified design, it shall have three floors with five domes, and the whole complex spans around 120 acres. The Sikha, main dome shall be 161 feet.