‘Surya Tilak’ illuminates Ram Lalla idol’s forehead at Ayodhya Temple on Ram Navami

‘Surya Tilak’ (Sun’s rays) illuminated Lord Ram Lalla idol’s forehead at Ayodhya Temple on the occasion of Ram Navami on Wednesday, April 17. The ‘ Surya tilak’ of the deity was made possible by an elaborate mechanism involving mirrors and lenses. The system was tested by the scientists on Tuesday.

This was the first Ram Navami since the consecration of the Ram idol at the Ayodhya temple, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22.

Watch Ram Lalla’s ‘surya tilak’ here:

According to a senior scientist of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, the planned tilak size is 58 mm. The exact period of tilak on the forehead centre was about three to three-and-a-half minutes, with two minutes of full illumination, he said.

PM Modi’s appeal during surya tilak

Even as Ram Lalla was to be anointed with the Surya Tilak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a reference to the historic occasion at his election rally at Assam’s Nalbari. Amid chants of ‘Jai Siyavar Ram’, the PM said “Today is the historic occasion of Ram Navami. After waiting for 500 years, Lord Ram has been seated in his grand temple. Now after a few minutes, by applying Surya Tilak to Lord Ram, his birth anniversary will be celebrated in the holy city of Ayodhya, in the Ram Temple.”

The Ram Janmabhoomi for the second time is witnessing a grand celebration, after the magnificent ceremony of pran pratishtha. Ram Navami is being celebrated with great pomp at Ram Mandir with offerings of 56 types of bhog, prasad and panjiri.

Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, said all the arrangements for the celebration are being managed by the Trust and the occasion of Ram Navami is being celebrated with great enthusiasm.

The chief priest further informed that everything has been decorated and the idol of Lord Ram has been specially dressed for the day, “He is dressed in yellow clothes, and after this he is bathed with Panchamrit. Four-five types of panjiris are made and along with that, 56 types of offerings are made to the Lord.”

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, a trust constituted to look after the management of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, on its official X handle posted pictures of priests performing Divya Abhisheka of Ramlalla Sarkar at the temple. The trust also posted pictures of the Divya Shringar of Lord Rama on the occasion.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his official X handle and extended his greetings for the festival. “Infinite best wishes to my family members across the country on the occasion of Lord Shri Ram’s birth anniversary, Ram Navami! On this auspicious occasion, my heart is overwhelmed and fulfilled. It is the supreme grace of Shri Ram that this year, along with millions of my countrymen, I became a witness to the Pran-Pratishtha in Ayodhya. The memories of that moment of Avadhpuri still pulsate in my mind with the same energy,” Modi said.

“This is the first Ram Navami when our Ram Lalla has been enthroned in the grand and divine Ram temple of Ayodhya. Today, Ayodhya is in unparalleled joy in this celebration of Ram Navami. After waiting for five centuries, today we have got the privilege of celebrating this Ram Navami in Ayodhya in this manner. This is the fruit of so many years of hard penance, sacrifice and sacrifice of the countrymen,” Modi added.

Top updates on Ram Navami at Ayodhya Ram Temple

Devotees in Ayodhya: Before visiting the Ram temple, devotees took a dip in the holy waters of the Saryu River in Ayodhya. Devotees started flocking to the ghats at night. ‘Darshan’ started at Ram Temple at 3:30am.

Consecration of Ram idol: This was the first Ram Navami since the consecration of the Ram idol at the new temple, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22.

LED screens put up: A member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Anil Mishra earlier said during the surya tilak, devotees would be allowed inside the Ram temple. Around 100 LED screens have been up by the temple trust, and 50 by the government, which will show the Ram Navami celebrations. People will be able to see the celebrations from where they are present.

Security arrangements in Ayodhya: Regarding security arrangements, IG (Ayodhya Range) Praveen Kumar said arrangements have been made for devotees.

Science behind surya tilak:The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said scientists from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, have calculated the timings of surya tilak based on the movement of the Sun. “The ‘Surya Abhishek’ of Ram Lalla will be performed using an optomechanical system with high-quality mirrors and lenses,” the trust said.

PM Modi’s suggestion: During his visit to Ayodhya for the Deepotsav celebration on October 23, 2022, PM Modi had suggested to the trust members that the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Mandir should be constructed in such a way that sun rays fall directly on Ram Lalla idol on Ram Navami, similar to the phenomenon at the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha.