Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake an 11-day spiritual retreat known as anushthan ahead of the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. The PM announced on Friday in a video message shared on his social media handles.
Modi said he feels fortunate to be able to witness the historic ceremony where the idol of Lord Ram will be formally installed inside the new temple complex. The construction of the Ram Temple is a culmination of the decades-long Ram Janmabhoomi movement and a major political and religious milestone for India.
The Prime Minister will observe anushthan – a period of deep meditation, prayer, and rituals – from January 12 to January 22 to spiritually prepare himself for the pran pratishtha ceremony. Anushthan involves chanting hymns and mantras from religious scriptures while engaging in introspection and prayer.
सियावर रामचंद्र की जय!
अयोध्या में रामलला की प्राण प्रतिष्ठा में केवल 11 दिन ही बचे हैं।
इस पुण्य अवसर के दृष्टिगत प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी आज से 11 दिन का विशेष अनुष्ठान आरंभ कर रहे हैं।
आप भी अपने अपने शब्दों, अपने भावों को NaMo App के माध्यम से पीएम मोदी के साथ साझा… pic.twitter.com/NULsEanyqC— BJP (@BJP4India) January 12, 2024
Modi said God has allowed him to represent all Indians during the consecration ceremony. “Keeping this in mind, I am beginning an 11-day special ritual from today. I seek blessings from all of you,” he said in his video message.
The PM expressed that he is at a loss for words to convey his emotions at this historic moment. He called undertaking anushthan his initiative to spiritually cleanse and elevate himself ahead of the momentous event.
Modi has been closely associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement since his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. As PM, he laid the foundation stone and monitored the construction of the Ram Temple with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust.
The grand temple is nearly complete after two years of construction. In the pran pratishtha ceremony, the idol of Ram Lalla which was worshipped at the makeshift temple structure for decades will be formally installed inside the new garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum.
Elaborate rituals involving Hindu religious scholars, priests, and saints will be carried out on January 20-21 before the idol installation on January 22 which falls on Makar Sankranti. Over 100,000 guests are expected to attend the event which will be telecast live.
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The construction of the Ram Temple has been a long-standing demand of the Hindu community. The decades-long title dispute over the site was finally settled by the Supreme Court in November 2019, paving the way for the temple construction.
Modi performing the pran pratishtha ceremony will be a major political and symbolic milestone, underscoring his role as a leader who fulfilled the Ram Janmabhoomi movement’s mission. It will also boost the BJP’s Hindutva credentials ahead of the upcoming state elections.
The Prime Minister’s anushthan ritual is a reflection of his deep personal connection with Ayodhya and Lord Ram. It shows his commitment to spiritually preparing himself for one of the most significant religious ceremonies in India’s history. Modi will represent all Indians who fought for the Ram Temple at its grand inauguration on January 22.
