I am emotional for first time in life, says PM Narendra Modi as he begins 11-day religious exercise ahead of Ram temple consecration

Tribune News Service

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, January 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that ahead of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, he would undertake a strict code of conduct for 11 days and dedicate himself to the will of God.

"I have decided to start an 11-day religious meeting exercise before the consecration rituals on January 22 and am fortunate to begin my exercise today from Nasik Dham Pandhvati, the divine land where Lord Ram spent a lot of time," said an emotional prime minister in an audio message to the people whom he urged to immerse themselves in Ram worship in the coming days. 

Siyavar Ramchandra Ki Jai!

Catch a special message from PM @narendramodi just 11 days before the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.#ShriRamJanmbhoomi#RamMandir#Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/CphYkBDEgT

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) January 12, 2024

Describing himself as fortunate to be the chosen one to represent 140 crore Indians and their faith through consecration of the idol, the PM said he was feeling emotional for the very first time in his life.

The PM remembered Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary today and how he spent his life trying to awaken a slumbering Indian consciousness.

"That same self-confidence is before us today in the form of a grand Ram temple which is our identity," the prime minister said urging people to share their feelings on the occasion through the Namo app.

The PM who is in Mumbai on Friday to inaugurate the longest bridge on sea, Atal Setu, also saluted Jija Bai, the mother of Shivaji who, he said, had a tremendous role in shaping a sovereign India as we see it today.

"It is also natural for me to remember my mother today. She worshiped Sita-Ram till the end of her life," the PM said.

While counting himself as blessed to be representing all Indians when he enters the sanctum sanctorum of Ram temple on January 22, the PM said though he would witness the divine moment in person, all 140 crore Indians would be with him.

"All Ram worshippers will be with me. That moment will be a moment of our collective realisation. I will carry with me the inspiration of innumerable people who sacrificed their lives for the Mandir, the inspiration of endless tales of nameless people and their valour and of the resilience shown over a long wait of 500 years," Modi said, adding that he would enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple with the energy of everyone and would feel their presence.

The 11-day social and moral code of conduct the PM entered into on Friday is prescribed in Hindu scriptures as a mandatory exercise ahead of a task like consecration of an idol.

The code of conduct involves a range of tasks, including fasting, and observance of a set of values.

Called Yam Niyams, these codes are strict and require tremendous self-discipline.

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#Narendra Modi