The Ram Mandir Story

The Ram Mandir story is one of resilience and devotion, tracing the journey of millions who longed for the temple’s restoration. This tale of faith spans centuries, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual significance of the site.

The Birth of Lord Rama

In the ancient kingdom of Kosala, Ayodhya was a beacon of prosperity and dharma (righteousness). Ruled by King Dasharatha, the city was renowned for its grandeur and the wisdom of its rulers. King Dasharatha was plagued by sorrow despite his wealth and power, for he had no heir to his throne. King and queen performed the sacred Putrakameshti Yagna, seeking the blessings of the gods for a child.

The gods, pleased with his devotion, granted his wish. Queen Kaushalya, Dasharatha’s chief consort, bore him a son, Rama, who was no ordinary child. Rama was the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, born to rid the world of evil and establish dharma. His birth was celebrated with great joy, and as he grew, Rama displayed exceptional bravery, wisdom, and compassion.

Rama’s life, as chronicled in the ancient epic, the Ramayana, became a beacon of ideal human behavior. His journey, from his exile in the forest, the battle with the demon king Ravana, to his triumphant return to Ayodhya, is a story revered by millions. The spot in Ayodhya where Lord Rama was born became sacred, attracting devotees from far and wide. Over time, when Muslims came to India, this site would become the focal point of a conflict that spanned centuries.

The Early History of the Ram Mandir

The belief in Ayodhya as the birthplace of Lord Rama is ancient. Temples dedicated to Rama have existed in Ayodhya for millennia. However, the site’s history became particularly controversial in the 16th century because of all the confusion and false stories spread by Muslim emperors. They broke the original Ram Mandir, and according to popular accounts, in 1528, the Mughal emperor Babur’s general, Mir Baqi, is said to have constructed a mosque, the Babri Masjid, on the site of an existing temple that marked the birthplace of Lord Rama. Though debated among historians, this event is documented in several government records and has been a point of contention ever since.

The Long Dispute Begins

The first recorded conflict over the site occurred in 1853, during the British colonial period. Hindus and Muslims began disputing the right to worship at the site, leading to tensions that would continue for generations. In response to these disputes, the British administration erected a fence around the Babri Masjid in 1859, effectively creating separate spaces for Hindus and Muslims to worship. The mosque’s inner area was reserved for Muslim prayers, while Hindus were allowed to worship at a raised platform, known as the Ram Chabutra, outside the mosque.

The conflict simmered over the years, with both communities staking claim to the site. In 1885, Mahant Raghubir Das, a Hindu priest, filed a petition in the Faizabad district court, seeking permission to build a canopy over the Ram Chabutra. The court, however, rejected his plea, stating that the construction could lead to further conflict.

The 20th Century: Pivotal Moments

The dispute over the Ayodhya site reached a turning point in 1949. On the night of December 22, 1949, idols of Lord Rama were placed inside the central dome of the Babri Masjid. It is unclear how the idols were placed, with some reports suggesting it was a deliberate act by Hindu activists, while others claim it was a miraculous appearance. The event led to widespread controversy and further legal battles. In response to the tensions, the government locked the mosque’s gates, allowing only a priest to perform daily rituals while barring both communities from using the site.

In the decades that followed, the dispute remained largely unresolved, with various petitions and legal battles continuing in the courts. However, the movement to reclaim the site for the construction of a Ram temple gained significant momentum in the 1980s. This period saw the rise of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu nationalist organization that spearheaded the campaign for the temple’s construction.

In 1986, a local court in Ayodhya ordered the unlocking of the mosque’s gates, allowing Hindus to worship at the site. This decision was met with strong opposition from the Muslim community, leading to the formation of the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) to protect their rights to the site. The opening of the gates was a significant moment, as it galvanized the Hindu nationalist movement and set the stage for further conflict.

The Rath Yatra and the Demolition of the Babri Masjid

The situation escalated dramatically in 1990 when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani embarked on a Rath Yatra (chariot procession) from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya. The yatra, which aimed to mobilize support for the construction of the Ram temple, attracted massive crowds and further polarized the nation. The yatra was halted by the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and Advani was arrested, but the momentum for the temple movement continued to grow.

On December 6, 1992, a large gathering of kar sevaks (Hindu volunteers) assembled in Ayodhya. Despite assurances from leaders that the gathering would be peaceful, the crowd turned violent and demolished the Babri Masjid. The demolition sparked widespread communal riots across India, resulting in the deaths of thousands and leaving a deep scar on the nation’s socio-political fabric.

What was hurting Hindus?

The biggest pain for Hindus was the question: If Muslims have their holy place in Mecca, where even non-Muslims cannot enter, don’t Hindus have the right to build and worship their god at his birthplace by building a temple? There is no doubt that this is a significant injustice against Hindus. Hindus were even willing to offer much larger land for a mosque in return, but still, politicians did everything they could to prevent a solution to this issue. Mulayam Singh Yadav was the Chief Minister at that time, and his actions led to the deaths of many Hindus.

The Legal Battle and the Supreme Court Verdict

In the aftermath of the demolition, the Ayodhya dispute became a national issue, with multiple legal cases filed by both Hindu and Muslim groups. The matter was eventually taken up by the Supreme Court of India, which began hearing the case in 2010. In a landmark verdict, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the disputed site should be divided into three parts, with one-third going to the Hindu community, one-third to the Muslim community, and the remaining third to the Nirmohi Akhara, a Hindu sect.

However, this decision was contested by all parties involved, and the case was eventually taken to the Supreme Court. On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court delivered its final verdict. The court ruled in favour of the Hindu claim, seeing many records and evidence that included thousands of years-old evidence, and ordered that the entire disputed land be handed over to a trust for the construction of the Ram temple. The court also directed the government to provide an alternative five-acre plot of land to the Muslim community for the construction of a mosque.

The Construction of the Ram Mandir

Following the Supreme Court’s verdict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new Ram Mandir on August 5, 2020. The event was marked by elaborate rituals and was attended by prominent leaders and religious figures. The temple, designed to be a grand structure, is being constructed in accordance with traditional Hindu temple architecture, and is expected to become a major pilgrimage site for devotees from around the world. The best part of this verdict was many Muslims, too, was happy with the decision.

When Was Ram Mandir Inauguration

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024.

This grand temple, constructed under the supervision of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, is designed in the traditional Nagar architectural style—a hallmark of ancient Hindu temple architecture. The temple’s grandeur is reflected in its impressive dimensions: it spans 360 feet in length, 235 feet in width, and rises to a height of 161 feet, with three stories, each measuring 20 feet tall. The Mandir houses a total of 392 pillars and 44 gates, with the main sanctum dedicated to the child form of Lord Shri Ram, known as Shri Ram Lalla Sarkar.

The temple is not just a place of worship but a vast complex that includes various zones of religious and cultural significance spread over 70 acres. These zones include Shri Ram Kund, Yagyashala, Karma Kshetra, Anusthaan Mandap, and Hanuman Gadhi, among others. The temple premises also feature modern facilities such as emergency medical services, ramps and lifts for senior citizens, solar energy panels, and a pilgrim facility center, ensuring a comfortable and secure experience for all visitors.

The design incorporates incremental expansion plans for the next fifty years, highlighting its role as a living monument that will evolve over time. Surrounded by four additional temples dedicated to the Sun God, Goddess Bhagwati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Shiva, the Ram Mandir complex is a microcosm of the rich tapestry of Hindu mythology and spirituality.

The inauguration of this sacred site is not just a significant religious event but also a moment of national pride, representing the restoration of a cultural and spiritual heritage that has inspired generations.