With the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya just around the corner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently touring temples in south India to garner support for the upcoming event. These temples are of particular significance in the Ramayana, as they mark the paths traversed by Lord Ram during his vanvas.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit some significant temples in Tamil Nadu on January 20 and 21. On January 20, Prime Minister Modi will participate in a programme at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, around 11 am. He will also listen to various scholars reciting verses from the Kamba Ramayanam in the temple. Thereafter, Prime Minister Modi will reach Rameswaram around 2 pm and perform darshan and pooja in the Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple.
“This aligns with Bharatiya cultural ethos and bonding, which is at the core of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,’ the statement said. In the Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, Prime Minister Modi will also participate in Bhajan Sandhya, where multiple devotional songs will be sung in the temple complex in the evening.
Meanwhile, Modi on Thursday issued commemorative postage stamps on Thursday, honouring Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir. Additionally, a book containing stamps dedicated to Lord Ram from around the world was released. The intricate design of the stamps captures the essence of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir, featuring six distinct components. These include the Ram Mandir itself, the timeless Choupai “Mangal Bhavan Amangal Hari,” a radiant depiction of the sun, the sacred Saryu river, and sculptures found in and around the temple. The release of the commemorative stamps comes days before the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya temple on Monday.
The commemorative stamp collection consists of six different stamps, each featuring important characters and symbols from Lord Ram’s story. These include Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Maa Shabri, Kevatraj, Jatayu, and the Ram Mandir. The use of gold leaf detailing for the sun rays and the Choupai adds a regal touch to the miniature sheet.
Continuing the practice observed during the Prime Minister’s visits to temples in the last few days, where he attends Ramayana chanting in various languages such as Marathi, Malayalam, and Telugu, he will participate in a program called ‘Shri Ramayana Paryana’ in this temple. In the programme, eight different traditional Mandalis will recite the Sanskrit, Awadhi, Kashmiri, Gurumukhi, Assamese, Bengali, Maithili, and Gujarati Ramkathas, recounting the episode of Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya, said the PMO.
The main deity worshipped in this temple is Sri Ramanathaswamy, a form of Bhagwan Shiva. It is widely believed that the main lingam in this temple was installed and worshipped by Sri Rama and Mata Sita. The temple contains one of the longest temple corridors, famous for its beautiful architecture. It is one of the Char Dhams - Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameshwaram, and also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
It is said that this is where Vibhishana first met Shri Rama and asked him for refuge. Some legends also claim that this is the place where Sri Rama conducted the coronation of Vibhishana. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, located in Srirangam, Trichy, is one of the most ancient temple complexes in the country and is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Puranas and Sangam era texts. It is famous for its architectural grandeur and numerous iconic gopurams. The main deity worshipped here is Sri Ranganatha Swamy, a reclining form of Bhagwaan Vishnu.
Sri Ramanujacharya, the great philosopher and saint, is also deeply associated with the history of this temple. Moreover, there are various important places in this temple; for example, the famous Kamba Ramayanam was first presented publicly by the Tamil poet Kamban in a particular location within this complex.
On January 21, Prime Minister Modi will perform ‘darshan and pooja’ at Kothandaramaswamy Temple, Dhanushkodi. Near Dhanushkodi, Modi will also visit Arichal Munai, which is said to be the place from where the Ram Setu was built. The Kothandaramaswamy Temple is dedicated to Sri Kothandarama Swamy. The name Kothandarama means Rama with the bow.
According to sources, PM Modi has asked his Cabinet colleagues to celebrate the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22 like Diwali by lighting up diyas at their homes and also feeding the poor. Cabinet ministers, sources said, have also been urged to visit the temple along with devotees from their respective states after January 22.
