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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ram darbar consecration at Ayodhya: What this means, which is the ‘only temple' where Ram is worshipped as king
The Ram temple in Ayodhya witnessed another pran pratistha (idol consecration) earlier this month, when the idol of Lord Ram the king was consecrated. The pran prathistha in Ayodhya last January was a grand affair, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and scores of other VIPs. The ceremony this time was simpler. While the consecration last year was for the idol of Ramlala, or Ram the child, this pran pratistha was of the Ram Darbar, or Ram as the king, surrounded by wife Sita, brother Lakshmana, and devoted ally Hanuman. While the Ram Darbar can be found in many Indian homes, there is only one temple in India where Ram is worshipped as the king. Which temple is that? In which other forms in Ram worshipped? We explain. Why the second pran pratishtha Consecration is the formal process that transforms an idol into a deity, which can be worshipped and grant boons. You can read in detail about the process and significance of pran pratishtha here. Since Ayodhya is both the birthplace and the kingdom of Ram — the seventh avatar of Vishnu — the temple honours him in both forms. Ramlala, or Balak Ram, or Ram the child, is worshipped as a symbol of purity and innocence, in the vatsalya (tenderness) form of bhakti (devotion). Ram the king is worshipped as a symbol of justice and peace. Ramrajya (the reign of Ram) in the Hindu tradition is symbolic of an ideal state, a land where people live in harmony under a fair and efficient rule. However, interestingly, the one temple in India dedicated to Ram as king does not worship him as the king of Ayodhya alone. The Ramraja temple is located in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh. Acharya Jai Prakash Tripathi from Kashi, the priest who led the recent consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, told The Indian Express, 'The consecration in Ayodhya was of the Ram Darbar, or the court of Ram, where He is featured along with Mata Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman. The Ram Darbar symbolises Ram as both king and head of family, who inspires love and devotion and dispenses justice. The only temple which worships Ram as the king is located in Orchha, where he is worshipped as the king of Orchha.' The Orchha temple was built during the reign of Madhukar Shah (1554–1592) of the Bundela dynasty. Legend goes that while Madhukar Shah was a devotee of Lord Krishna, his wife, Queen Ganesh Kunwari, was a devotee of Lord Ram. Once, the king wanted to visit Braj-Mathura with the queen. Ganesh Kunwari, however, had had a dream where Lord Ram directed her to build a temple for Him. She, thus, wanted to go to Ayodhya. Incensed, Madhukar Shah said she could go to Ayodhya, but should come back only if she brought Ram with her. The queen then went to Ayodhya and prayed for months. When Lord Ram did not appear, the dejected Ganesh Kunwari threw herself into the Sarayu river. Here, an idol of Ram appeared in her arms. The Lord, however, put several conditions before going to Orchha. First was that he would be worshipped as the king of Orchha, second was he would travel only in the Pushya nakshatra (a certain alignment of stars and planets), and the third was that wherever the idol was first put down would be his home. The queen accepted. When the king heard the news, he was overjoyed and ordered the construction of the Chaturbhuj temple to receive the idol. Once back, Ganesh Kunwari put the idol in her chambers at night, intending to move it to the temple the next day. However, the idol refused to budge. Thus, it is the queen's palace which is the Ramraja temple today. The Chaturbhuj temple stands next to it, dedicated to Vishnu. The Ramraja temple does not have the shikhara, or the spire above the sanctum sanctorum that is a standard feature of temples, pointing to its origin as a palace. It has arched entrances and domed chhatris, more in keeping with a palace. 'Because the deity here is a king, it gets a guard of honour. Even today, four policemen from the Madhya Pradesh police are assigned to the temple. The aarti here has a martial note to it, and is accompanied by a gun salute. Also, distinguished guests are offered a beera (betel nut) and ittar (perfume), as they would at a king's palace, as opposed to prasad (an offering of sweets) in temples,' Avinash Pathak, the District Informatics Officer of Tikamgarh, where Orchha is located, told The Indian Express. In what other forms is Ram worshipped? Shiv Prasad Pandey, Sanskrit teacher at DAV Post Graduate College in Varanasi, told The Indian Express that apart from Ramlala and Raja Ram, the other form is Kodanddhari Ram, or Ram the warrior carrying his bow and arrow. 'This form is quite popular in south India,' Pandey said. Yashee is an Assistant Editor with the where she is a member of the Explained team. She is a journalist with over 10 years of experience, starting her career with the Mumbai edition of Hindustan Times. She has also worked with India Today, where she wrote opinion and analysis pieces for DailyO. Her articles break down complex issues for readers with context and insight. Yashee has a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Presidency College, Kolkata, and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, one of the premier media institutes in the countr ... Read More
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ayodhya: 45kg gold used in Ram Darbar construction; visitors to need passes
A total of 45 kilograms of pure gold has been used in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, according to Nripendra Mishra, the chairman of the Ram Temple Construction Committee. Mishra informed on Friday, a day after the consecration of the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple complex. He said the estimated value of the gold, excluding taxes, is around ₹50 crore. Gold has been used extensively in the doors on the ground floor of the temple and the throne of Lord Ram. He added that gold work is still ongoing in the Sheshavatar Temple. While the main structure of the Ram Temple has been completed, other parts of the temple complex, including the museum, auditorium, and guest house, are still under construction. These are expected to be completed by December 2025. Following the consecration of the Ram Darbar, Mishra said arrangements are being made for controlled public access to the sacred space. For now, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed to visit the Ram Darbar, and entry will be regulated through passes, which will be issued free of cost. The consecration ceremony has drawn large crowds to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Champat Rai, Secretary of Ram temple trust, said that on Thursday the consecration ceremony of seven idols was completed at the temple. He stated that the idols installed on the first floor above the sanctum sanctorum include Ram Darbar in the middle, a Shivalinga in the north eastern corner, a Ganapati idol in the southeastern corner, Hanuman idol in the middle of the southern side, Surya in the south western corner, Bhagwati in the north western corner, and Annapurna Mata in the middle of the northern side. In a statement, Champat Rai, on Friday advised the temple visitors to exercise patience for visits to the Ram Darbar. As the Ram Darbar is 20-feet-high and requires devotees to climb about 40 steps, there are limited arrangements for going up, and the lift's construction will take time, he said. "A lift is being constructed for elderly devotees, but it will take time to complete. Devotees will have to wait to visit the Ram Darbar due to unfavourable conditions and after the rainy season, public visits may be possible," Rai said. The final task will be to hoist the flag on the temple's peak, likely in October or November, once the weather is favourable. Until then, minor works will be completed, he said. However, many devotees are facing difficulties due to the intense summer heat and limited arrangements to shield them from the sun. Ramji Mishra, a devotee who travelled from Basti district, said, "The path to the sanctum is very long, and the stones placed on the walkway become scorching hot under the sun. I used to visit Ayodhya before the grand temple was built, and back then the path to see Lord Ram was shorter and more comfortable. Now, the stones are so hot during the day they can cause blisters." His companion, Sudhakar Tiwari, added that although the temple trust has placed red mats over parts of the path, many of them have torn and become dangerously hot. "It's best to wear thick socks while visiting the temple in this weather," he advised. A Ram Temple Trust official clarified that the newly consecrated Ram Darbar is not yet open for the general public. The trust is expected to finalise a plan for public access in an upcoming meeting, Mishra added. Thursday's was the second major ceremony at the Ram Temple, the first being the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22 last year in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of dignitaries from across the country.
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Business Standard
06-06-2025
- General
- Business Standard
45 kg gold used in Ram Temple; passes to be required for Ram Darbar visits
A total of 45 kilograms of pure gold has been used in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, according to Nripendra Mishra, the chairman of the Ram Temple Construction Committee. Mishra informed on Friday, a day after the consecration of the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple complex. He said the estimated value of the gold, excluding taxes, is around Rs 50 crore. Gold has been used extensively in the doors on the ground floor of the temple and the throne of Lord Ram. He added that gold work is still ongoing in the Sheshavatar Temple. While the main structure of the Ram Temple has been completed, other parts of the temple complex, including the museum, auditorium, and guest house, are still under construction. These are expected to be completed by December 2025. Following the consecration of the Ram Darbar, Mishra said arrangements are being made for controlled public access to the sacred space. For now, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed to visit the Ram Darbar, and entry will be regulated through passes, which will be issued free of cost. Meanwhile, the consecration ceremony has drawn large crowds to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Champat Rai, Secretary of Ram temple trust, said that on Thursday the consecration ceremony of seven idols was completed at the temple. He stated that the idols installed on the first floor above the sanctum sanctorum include Ram Darbar in the middle, a Shivalinga in the north eastern corner, a Ganapati idol in the southeastern corner, Hanumana idol in the middle of the southern side, Surya in the south western corner, Bhagwati in the north western corner, and Annapurna Mata in the middle of the northern side. However, many devotees are facing difficulties due to the intense summer heat and limited arrangements to shield them from the sun. Ramji Mishra, a devotee who travelled from Basti district, said, "The path to the sanctum is very long, and the stones placed on the walkway become scorching hot under the sun. I used to visit Ayodhya before the grand temple was built, and back then the path to see Lord Ram was shorter and more comfortable. Now, the stones are so hot during the day they can cause blisters." His companion, Sudhakar Tiwari, added that although the temple trust has placed red mats over parts of the path, many of them have torn and become dangerously hot. "It's best to wear thick socks while visiting the temple in this weather," he advised. A Ram Temple Trust official clarified that the newly consecrated Ram Darbar is not yet open for general public. The trust is expected to finalise a plan for public access in an upcoming meeting, Mishra added. Thursday's was the second major ceremony at the Ram Temple, the first being the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22 last year in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of dignitaries from across the country. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Deccan Herald
06-06-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
45 kg of gold used in Ram Temple; passes to be required for Ram Darbar visits
Mishra informed on Friday, a day after the consecration of the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple complex.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
45 kg of pure gold used in Ram Temple construction, Ram Darbar access to be regulated through passes: Nripendra Mishra
Ayodhya's Ram Temple has used 45 kilograms of pure gold in its construction, Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra said on Friday. This follows the consecration of the Ram Darbar on the temple's first floor, held a day earlier. The gold, valued at around Rs 50 crore before taxes, is mainly in the temple doors on the ground floor and the throne of Lord Ram. Mishra also mentioned that gold work continues in the Sheshavatar Temple within the complex. Gold work and temple construction progress While the main Ram Temple structure is complete, other parts of the complex—including a museum, auditorium, and guest house—are still being built. These facilities are expected to be finished by December 2025. Mishra said that after the Ram Darbar's consecration, arrangements are underway to allow limited, controlled access for devotees. Entry will require passes, which the trust will issue free of cost. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo Ram Darbar Passes A Ram Temple Trust official clarified that the Ram Darbar is not yet open to the general public. Mishra said the trust will finalise a plan for public access in an upcoming meeting. For now, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed to visit the Ram Darbar, and entry will be regulated through passes, which will be issued free of cost. Thursday's ceremony was the second major event at the Ram Temple, following the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22 last year, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. Live Events Idols consecrated in Ram Darbar Champat Rai, Secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, said the consecration of seven idols was completed on Thursday. The idols placed on the first floor above the sanctum sanctorum include: Ram Darbar in the middle Shivalinga in the northeastern corner Ganapati idol in the southeastern corner Hanumana idol in the middle of the southern side Surya in the southwestern corner Bhagwati in the northwestern corner Annapurna Mata in the middle of the northern side Devotees face challenges in summer heat Many devotees have found it difficult to visit the temple due to the intense summer heat and limited shade on the path. Ramji Mishra, a devotee from Basti district, said, 'The path to the sanctum is very long, and the stones placed on the walkway become scorching hot under the sun. I used to visit Ayodhya before the grand temple was built, and back then the path to see Lord Ram was shorter and more comfortable. Now, the stones are so hot during the day they can cause blisters.' His companion, Sudhakar Tiwari, added, 'Although the temple trust has placed red mats over parts of the path, many of them have torn and become dangerously hot. It's best to wear thick socks while visiting the temple in this weather.' (Inputs from PTI)
