New Delhi: The new idol of Ram Lalla, carved in black stone and depicting a child-like form was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of Ayodhya’s grand Ram Temple, amidst the chanting of prayers on Thursday.
Amidst the ‘Ram-maya’ atmosphere in the holy city and across the country, first pictures of the new Ram Lalla idol has surfaced, prompting reactions from people.
The 51-inch idol has been placed on a pedestal inside the ‘garbhagriha’ and will remain in standing position. It has been sculpted by Mysuru-based artist Arun Yogiraj.
Face of Ram Lalla idol to remain covered
The seven-day rituals before Pran Pratistha ceremony, due to January 22, are underway in the Ram Temple. The elaborate religious rituals began on January 16 and will continue till January 21.
While series of customs & rituals are being observed through the seven-day period, today havan will be performed in the temple premises.
Ayodhya, UP | Glimpse of the idol of Lord Ram inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya
(Source: Sharad Sharma, media in-charge of Vishwa Hindu Parishad) pic.twitter.com/vSuDNzpHm4
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2024
The Ram Lalla idol’s face will remain covered till Pran Pratistha day and will only be unveiled after the consecration ceremony by main ‘yajmaan’.
The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Trust advocated for the standing posture of Lord Ram statue as this will give devotees a chance for ‘grand darshan’, unlike the earlier idol which is just six inches long.
What will happen to Ram Lalla Virajman?
Amid the concern raised by Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth over the fate of Ram Lalla Virajman, it is learnt that the original Ram Lalla idol will also find a place in the sanctum sanctorum of temple.
According to a daily, the Ram Lalla Virajman, the deity’s idol which has been worshipped by devotees since 1949 will be placed in front of the new idol, inside the ‘garbhagriha’.
Also, the make-shift temple visited by thousands of devotees till now, will cease to exist from today as the original statues of Lord Ram and his brothers will be shifted to the newly-built temple.
For the unversed, the original/old idols of Lord Ram is just 6 inches in height while the idols of his brothers including Laxman, Bharat, Shtrughan & Lord Hanuman are even smaller.
The entire temple complex will stay closed for general public on January 20, 21 and will open its doors for all from January 23.