Ram Temple ‘pran pratishtha’—religion or politics

Tribune Web Desk

Vibha Sharma

Chandigarh, January 11

Not just some opposition parties, many spiritual/religious leaders of Sanatan Dharma, including shankaracharyas of several peeths, have declined the invitation to the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 citing the same reason.

One of the contentions appears to be the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and not a religious head, will be performing the consecration ceremony. 

Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Jyotir Mutt, was quoted as saying that the decision should not be construed as being “anti-Modi” as it was taken because they did not want to be “anti-dharma shastras”.

“Who is the PM to preside over the consecration ceremony, which should be the role of a dharmacharya. Not attending a ceremony which is not according to the shastra does not show lack of reverence for Shri Ram, rather it is a principled stand. The Prime Minister is not a shankaracharya or the chief priest," is their main argument.

Is installing an idol in an incomplete structure “shastra vidhi virudh”

While putting PM Modi at the forefront undermines traditional rituals of Sanatan Shastras, according to detractors, they add that the project also lacks the sanctity inherent in traditional temple construction. 

"The temple is still under construction and it is inappropriate to consecrate the divine in a structure that is not yet complete. The timing also puts a question mark on the BJP's intentions and commitment to Hindu dharma, otherwise a more suitable time would be Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama,” they say. 

According to supporters, the ceremony is being conducted following proper Vedic traditions and the shastras. “PM Modi would also visit Lord Hanuman’s court to seek his permission,” they add.

It is believed that after Shri Ram left for his abode, Lord Hanuman, a ‘chiranjeevi’, ruled Ayodhya. 

“Pran pratishtha should ideally take place before a temple’s construction is completely finished. Only the 'garbha griha' (sanctum sanctorum) should be fully complete before the pran pratishtha,” they say.

Pran pratishtha

According to reports, apart from the priest, four other persons would be present in the sanctum sanctorum during the consecration ceremony —PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel. 

This, according to Congress leaders, proves that the event is state/BJP-sponsored.

The Congress, which has also given the same arguments as some religious leaders, is also accusing the BJP of exploiting Hindu sentiments for political gains.

So what exactly is the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony that PM Modi will be performing?

The elaborate process is mentioned in the Vedas and elaborated upon in various Puranas like Matsya Puran, Vaman Puran, Narad Puran, explain those in the know.

The literal meaning of pran pratishta is giving ‘prana’ or life to the idol.

The ceremony is performed every time a new idol is placed for worship in a temple to transform it into a deity that can accept prayers. It can also be held for idols in household temples.

Many times, there is also a ‘shobha yatra’, a religious procession where the idol is taken around the city for ‘darshan’. 

Various ceremonies are performed in order to prepare the idol for the consecration ceremony, including submerging and bathing it with various holy materials.

During the final ceremony the idol is awakened amid the chanting of mantras.

The final step is opening the eyes by applying ‘anjan’ around the deity’s eyes.

Has Congress walked into or avoided anti-Hindu trap

The Congress on Wednesday declined the invitation extended to Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to attend the ceremony, a decision which, according to sources, came after a lot of consideration.

The Congress manifesto in 1991 mentioned that it was all for the construction of the temple but without demolishing the Babri Masjid. It is another story that a year later, the mosque came down under the watch of a Congress government at the Centre. 

In 2019 when the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Hindu side in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit case, the party welcomed the order and said it was in favour of construction of a Ram temple.

So what really changed its mind?

Top Congress leaders may visit temple after consecration

Clearly the party was wary of associating with the ceremony being undertaken by the Sangh Parivar and timed in mind the Lok Sabha election, say observers.

“Either way it was a trap, the better way was to steer clear for now and visit the temple after the event managed by the VHP and RSS is over. The invitation was a design to force the Congress to take a stand.

"Being labelled “anti-Hindu” was a price it was ready to pay for now given the gains from the event would have entirely been that of the BJP but now they should be able to explain the decision convincingly to the people, they add. 

Sources say some leaders proposed a symbolic representation by the party to ensure that the BJP did not get the chance to project it as anti-Ram or anti-Hindu. 

Meanwhile, some top leaders might visit the temple after the consecration, thus conveying that the move was against the BJP “politicising the ceremony and not about the religion”.

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