Many questions have been asked about why the consecration of the “incomplete” Ram temple in Ayodhya is being held on January 22, and why it cannot wait. To get the correct picture for this column, I talked to many saints.

ram mandir abhishek live

First and foremost, any auspicious work in Hindu traditions is performed as per the Hindu calendar calendar. Pandit Ganeshwar Shastri, an astrologer and saint in Varanasi who fixes the date, said January 22 is the “best muhurat” for many years to come and such an auspicious date will not come until 2026. Second, the saints said that the consecration of Lord Rama’s idol is completely valid as the sanctum sanctorum (sanctum sanctorum) is ready and now completely covered with doors, walls and ceiling.

Third, the renowned priest of Varanasi will conduct the Pran Pratishtha along with four trustees of the Shri Ram Mandir Trust – contrary to claims by some that only the Prime Minister will conduct the ceremony.

Pran Pratishtha is a ceremony of bringing an idol to life so that the Lord can reside in it and can see and bless his devotees. This ritual is performed only during the auspicious time.

Why 22 January?

The belief is that Lord Ram was born in ‘Abhijeet Muhurta’ and hence the life consecration should also take place in the same time. The period of 84 seconds around 12.30 pm on January 22 comes under ‘Abhijeet Muhurta’. But many other auspicious signs make this day suitable for such a religious ceremony. This is also the day when according to the Panchang Mrigashira Nakshatra, Amrit Siddhi Yoga, Sarvath Siddhi Yoga, Ravi Yoga are aligned and Jupiter (Guru, planet of knowledge and wisdom) is in an ideal position. Pandit Ganeshwar Shastri says that such an auspicious time will not come before 2026 and hence the date of January 22 has been chosen for Pran Pratishtha.

‘Incomplete’ temple?

Some people have also raised the question as to why the consecration is taking place in an ‘incomplete’ temple as only the first floor of the temple has been completed and the entire temple will be ready only by the end of 2024. The entire temple complex will be completed by the end of 2025. Several saints told News 18 that it is not necessary that the entire temple be ready, even if the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is complete and like the Ram temple, Pran Pratishtha is complete with doors, walls and Be completely covered by the roof. Can be done to any idol. Many saints clarified that the Kalash Pratistha can be done at a later date after the construction of the temple is completed.

This is also a life consecration ceremony, not a consecration as it is commonly called. Abhishekam is done to make a place sacred. Yet, as per Hindu belief, the Ram Janmabhoomi has already been sacred for many centuries and what is happening now is the consecration of the idol of Ram Lalla. In this ceremony, the priests of the Ram temple will infuse life into the idol of Lord Ram at the most auspicious time to ensure that the divinity of the temple is at its grandest.