History of Ram Mandir

A long awaited Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla (Prabhu Sri Ram) in Ram Mandir Auodhya took place in the presence of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi  on 22 January 2024.

The Story of Ram Mandir: 

The battle for justice began 330 years after the construction of the mosque, lasting for 134 years in legal disputes; know everything

On January 22, in Lord Ram, Ayodhya, Lord Ram’s idol was consecrated in the Shri Ram Temple. The Ram Temple in Ayodhya will emerge as a major centre of faith for Hindus worldwide. The majestic Ram Temple that we see today has a history of decades of legal battles. Building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been filled with challenges. It started with the Babri dispute, followed by long legal battles in the courts, and finally, after the decision of the Supreme Court, the temple construction began. Now, the anticipation of the country’s people for January 22 has almost ended.

1528: Controversy begins with the construction of a mosque on Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya

Let’s now delve into history, starting from the year 1526. This was the year when the Mughal ruler Babar came to India. Two years later, Babar’s commander, Mir Baqi, built a mosque in Ayodhya. This mosque was constructed at the very place where Lord Ram was born. In honour of Babar, Mir Baqi named the mosque Babri Masjid. This era was marked by the expansion of Mughal rule throughout the country. From 1528 to 1853, Hindus had little voice during the Mughal and Nawab rule. In the 19th century, the rule of the Mughals and Nawabs began to weaken. It was during this period that Hindus raised the issue, stating that a mosque had been built by demolishing Lord Ram’s birthplace. Since then, the fight to reclaim the birthplace of Ram Lalla began.

1858: The First FIR 330 Years After the Construction of Babri Masjid After 330 years of the construction of Mir Baqi’s mosque, a legal battle ensued in 1858 when the first FIR was filed for the first time on performing havan and worship within the premises. According to the book “Ayodhya Revisited,” on December 1, 1858, Sheetal Dube, the magistrate of Awadh, reported that a platform had been built in the premises. This is the first legal document providing evidence of Lord Ram’s symbol inside the premises. After this, a fence was erected, allowing Muslims and Hindus to perform separate worship and prayers in the disputed area.

1885: When the Court Stepped In for a Permanent Home for Ram Twenty-seven years after the events of 1858, in 1885, a legal battle reached the court for Ram Janmabhoomi. Raghubar Das, the head of the Nirmohi Akhara, filed a civil suit in Faizabad court claiming ownership. Das demanded permission to construct a permanent temple on the temporary structure outside the Babri structure and install a roof. The judge ruled that Hindus had the right to worship and perform rituals there, but they could not be allowed to build a permanent temple or install a roof, against the decision of the district magistrate.

1949: Manifestation of Idols While the country was engaged in movements against the British for independence, the fight for Ram Janmabhoomi continued. Just two years after the country gained independence, on December 22, 1949, idols were manifested inside the dome within the structure.

1950: First Case Post-Independence The first case post-independence was filed by Gopal Singh Visharad, a member of the Hindu Mahasabha, on January 16, 1950, in the Civil Court of Faizabad. Visharad demanded the worship and rituals of the idols of Lord Ram located under the main dome of the structure. Around 11 months later, on December 5, 1950, Mahant Ramchandra Paramhans filed a similar case before the Civil Judge, making the same demand. The case sought to prevent the obstruction of worship and rituals for the other party at the relevant site.

On March 3, 1951, in the Gopal Singh Visharad case, the court directed that there should be no obstruction to Muslim worshippers in performing their rituals. A similar order was also issued in the case filed by Paramhans.

1959: Nirmohi Akhara Seeks Permission for Worship On December 17, 1959, six individuals from the Nirmohi Akhara, representing the Ramanandi sect, filed a case asserting their claim on the site. They demanded permission to worship and perform rituals, asserting their right. Another case was filed on December 18, 1961, by the Sunni Waqf Board of Uttar Pradesh, claiming that the site belonged to Muslims. The court battles continued, leading to the disposal of the idols from within the structure. Before discussing the outcomes, let’s look at other movements for the Ram temple.

1982: Campaign for the Liberation of Hindu Holy Sites In 1982, the Vishva Hindu Parishad declared a conspiracy to build mosques on the sites of Ram, Krishna, and Shiva and announced a campaign for their liberation. Two years later, on April 8, 1984, saints, spiritual leaders, and Hindu activists in Delhi decided to launch a movement for the freedom of Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Janmabhoomi site.

1986: Unlocking the Premises Returning to legal battles, a crucial decision was made on February 1, 1986, when Faizabad’s District Judge K.M. Pandey, on the application of local advocate Umesh Pandey, ordered the opening of the locks at the site. The appeal against the decision was dismissed by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court.

1989: Foundation Stone Laying for the Ram Temple In January 1989, during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, a decision was made to conduct stone puja (worship) in every village to construct the temple. Subsequently, on November 9, 1989, the announcement was made to lay the foundation stone for the Ram Temple at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi site. After much controversy and deliberation, then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi granted permission for the foundation stone-laying ceremony. The ceremony was conducted with the foundation stone laid at the site by Kameshwar Chaupal from Bihar.

1990: Advani Initiates Rath Yatra, Imposes Section 144 In the 1990s, the movement gained momentum. In September 1990, Lal Krishna Advani embarked on a Rath Yatra (chariot journey), further fueling the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The political landscape of the country was changing rapidly. Advani was arrested, leading to a change in government at the centre. With Congress’s support, the government formed by the Janata Dal came to power. However, this government did not last long. New elections were held, and once again, Congress came to power at the centre. Amidst all this, an important date arrived, crucial to the unfolding of this saga.

1992: Demolition of the Controversial Structure, Kalyan Singh’s Government Dismissed On December 6, 1992, thousands of kar sevaks (volunteers) reached Ayodhya and demolished the controversial structure. An improvised temple was inaugurated on the same evening, initiating worship and rituals. The then-Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao’s government immediately dismissed BJP-led governments, including the Kalyan Singh-led government in Uttar Pradesh. Communal violence erupted in various parts of the country, resulting in several casualties. Legal cases were filed against numerous BJP leaders and thousands of others involved in the demolition of the structure. Amidst these events, the number of legal cases related to the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute increased.

1993: Permission Granted for Darshan and Pujan Two days after the Babri Masjid demolition, a curfew was imposed in Ayodhya on December 8, 1992. Lawyer Harishankar Jain filed a plea in the Lucknow Bench of the High Court stating that the deities were hungry and permission should be granted for Ram Bhog (worship). Approximately 25 days later, on January 1, 1993, Justice Harinath Tilhari permitted darshan (viewing) and puja (worship). On January 7, 1993, the Central Government acquired 67 acres of land, including the disputed site and the land given to the trust by the Kalyan Singh government.

2002: Ownership Rights Hearing Begins in the High Court In April 2002, the Lucknow Bench of the High Court commenced hearings to determine the ownership rights of the disputed site. On March 5, 2003, the High Court directed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct excavations at the relevant site. On August 22, 2003, the Archaeological Survey of India submitted its report to the court, stating a massive Hindu religious structure (temple) beneath the ground at the disputed site.

2010: Historic Verdict by Allahabad High Court On September 30, 2010, the Allahabad High Court issued an order to divide the site equally among the three parties: Shri Ram Lalla Virajman, Nirmohi Akhara, and the Sunni Central Waqf Board. The judges considered the area beneath the central dome, where idols were present, the birthplace. Subsequently, the case reached the Supreme Court. On March 21, 2017, the Supreme Court proposed mediation to resolve the matter and expressed readiness for the parties to reach a mutual agreement.

2017: Supreme Court Proposes Mediation The fight for the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya has now reached the country’s highest court. On March 21, 2017, the Supreme Court proposed mediation to resolve the matter, expressing willingness for both parties to agree.

2019: Supreme Court Decision Clears the Path for Temple Construction On August 6, 2019, the Supreme Court began daily hearings. The final hearing concluded on October 16, 2019, with the court reserving its judgment. On November 9, 2019, after 134 years of legal battles, the Supreme Court recognized the disputed site as the birthplace of Lord Ram and granted ownership of the 2.77-acre land to Ram Lalla. Simultaneously, the claims of Nirmohi Akhara and the Sunni Waqf Board were dismissed. The court directed the central government to form a trust for the temple’s construction within three months and include a representative from Nirmohi Akhara in the faith. Additionally, the court instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to provide 5 acres of alternative land for the Muslim side to build a mosque.

2020: Construction Begins with the Laying of the Foundation Stone in Ayodhya. After decades of legal battles, the path for construction was clear. On February 5, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of the Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust to construct the temple in Ayodhya. Exactly six months later, on August 5, 2020, the foundation stone for the Ram Temple was laid in Ayodhya, with Prime Minister Modi in attendance.

2024: Consecration of Ram Lalla in the Grand Temple After a legal battle spanning 134 years, the construction of the grand Ram Temple is underway in Ayodhya. The completion of the first phase of the temple on January 22, 2024, marked a historic date, as the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram took place. The temple is scheduled to open to the public on January 23.

The architectural design of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya follows the traditional Nagar style, one of the two principal styles of Hindu temple architecture. Crafted with either stone or brick, the temple is constructed on a square or rectangular plane, with the prominent shikhara positioned at the centre. Embracing this classical architectural approach, the temple is complemented by smaller surrounding towers known as Mukha Mandapa.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Interior

Specifications

The upcoming temple is 380-foot long, 235-foot wide and 161-foot high. In height, the temple will three times the height of existing structure n the old city.

Style

The temple is designed by chief architect, Chandrakant Bhai Sompura, whose grandfather, Prabhakarji Sompura, had designed the Somnath Temple, along with his son, Ashish Sompura. The 79-year-old architect was appointed in 1992. Sompura mentioned that the Ram Mandir is being built in the Nagara style, following the principles of Vastu Shastra. The entrance on the east would be built in the Gopuram style, which represents the temples of the south. The walls of the temple would display artworks depicting the life of Lord Ram.

Shape

The sanctorum of the mandir would be octagonal-shaped while the structure perimeter would be circular.

Floors

The mandir will have five domes and one tower with a height of 161 ft. The 3-floor temple will have a centre – Garbh Griha – built to allow sun rays to fall on the idol of Ram Lalla, the infant embodiment of the Lord. Like the sanctorum, the Griha Mandap would be fully covered, while the Keertan Mandap, the Nritya Mandap, the Rang Mandap and the two Prarthana Mandaps on each side would be open areas.

Modern Facilities/Amenities in Ram Temple Premises

• Multipurpose Distribution and Operations Room
• Bank/ATM
• Essential Public Utilities (Toilets, Bathroom, Washroom & More)
• Emergency Medical Facilities
• Ramps/Lifts for Senior Citizens
• Solar Energy Panels and Power Back-Ups
• Pilgrim facility center
• Pilgrim/Visitor Management System

CHARDHAM INFORMATION AT A GLANCE

• About Chardham
• Yamunotri Temple
• Gangotri Temple
• Kedarnath Temple
• Badrinath Temple
• Significance of Chardham

History of Ram Mandir Ayodhya 

Jyotirlinga Temples

• Somnath – Gujarat
• Mallikarjuna – Andhra Pradesh
• Mahakaleshwar – Madhya Pradesh
• Omkareshwar – Madhya Pradesh
• Bhimashankar – Maharashtra
• Vishveshwar/Vishwanath – Uttar Pradesh
• Triambakeshwar – Maharashtra
• Baidyanath – Maharashtra
• Nageshwar – Gujarat
• Rameshwaram – Tamil Nadu
• Ghrishneshwar – Maharashtra

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