{"id":42997,"date":"2022-04-09T11:32:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-09T09:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=42997\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T18:22:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T16:22:40","slug":"ayodhya-city-lord-rama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/ayodhya-city-lord-rama\/","title":{"rendered":"Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nestled on the tranquil banks of the Sarayu River, Ayodhya is a city deeply rooted in history and spiritual tradition. Identified as the ancient capital of the Kosala kingdom and the birthplace of Rama, the iconic hero of the Ramayana epic, it is one of the seven holiest cities in Hinduism, known as Sapta Puri.<\/a> Like other major pilgrimage centers, Ayodhya exudes a palpable spiritual fervor, a unique atmosphere that has persisted despite the decades of political and religious tensions that have marked its recent history.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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The ghats of Ayodhya during the laying of the foundation stone of the Rama temple | Photo : By \u0930\u0942\u0939\u0940 – Own work<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The origin of the Ayodhya conflict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The origin of the conflict in Ayodhya lies in the sacred writings according to which the birthplace of the god Rama was originally marked by a temple.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Badri Mosque before its destruction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This temple was allegedly demolished by the Mughal emperor Babur and replaced in 1528 by a mosque called Badri. <\/strong>Among the most imposing in Uttar Pradesh<\/a>. it was nicknamed masjid i janmasthan, the mosque built on the place of birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a long time, the site was shared, with Muslim worshippers praying inside while Hindus gathered outside.<\/strong> While archaeological excavations have revealed the presence of a significant Hindu structure beneath the foundations, they have not been able to definitively confirm that it was the temple dedicated to Rama. Finally, although a majority of scholars agree that the present-day Ayodhya is the one mentioned in these texts, this correlation remains a subject of scholarly debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Destruction of the Badri mosque during the 1992 riots<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1992, during a Hindu political rally that turned into a riot, the Babri Mosque was destroyed. The activists’ objective was then to rebuild a temple dedicated to Rama on this same site, an ambition which ended up materialising with the current construction site of the new temple.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The legal battle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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After the destruction of the mosque, the matter came before the Allahabad High Court which, in a judgment dated September 30, 2010, <\/strong>ordered equal sharing of the 2.77-acre land between the Hindu and Muslim parties. Following appeals to the Supreme Court, the case remained pending for seven years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The workshop for the Rama temple in Ayodhya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In October 2019, the Supreme Court issued its final verdict: it awarded the disputed land to the Hindu trust for the construction of the temple, while ordering the government to allocate another plot to the Sunni Waqf council for the erection of a mosque.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The stones collected from Rajasthan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anticipating this outcome, the Hindu trust had already extensively prepared the site by amassing an immense quantity of materials, notably blocks of sculpted pink sandstone from Rajasthan <\/strong>and more than 200,000 bricks engraved with the inscription Sri Ram. This mobilisation testifies to the determined desire to see the temple rise from the ground, regardless of legal developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The new temple of Lord Rama<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Prime Minister Modi laying the foundation stone of the temple on August 5, 2020 | Photo : PTI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On August 5, 2020, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, placed a symbolic silver brick in the sanctum sanctorum of the future temple, an event experienced as a historic moment by a large part of the Hindu population. The widely publicised ceremony was followed live by more than 160 million viewers, highlighting the national importance of this project.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The final model of the Rama temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was officially opened on January 22, 2024, marking the dedication of the deity on the ground floor, construction of the entire complex is still underway.<\/strong> Work is currently continuing to complete the upper floors, secondary pavilions, and extensive accommodation facilities for pilgrims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Rama temple during the inauguration ceremony: the laying of the sacred flag (Dharma Dhvaja) | Photo : Prime Minister’s Office (GODL-India<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alongside the progress of the construction, symbolic ceremonies, such as the raising of the sacred flag (Dhvaja) atop the structure, punctuate this ritual progression. <\/strong>The overall project, one of the most ambitious construction projects in Uttar Pradesh, is expected to reach full completion by 2027 or 2028, depending on the progress of the architectural and ornamental finishing touches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ram Janmbhoomi or Ramkot<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The site of Ram Janmbhoomi, considered the birthplace of Lord Rama, constitutes the geographical and symbolic heart of the Ayodhya conflict. It is located west of the city, on the site where Rama’s fort once stood.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major deity in Hinduism, Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu, the protector of the universe. His birth is celebrated on the ninth day of the lunar month of Chaitra (March-April) during the Ram Navami festival, an event observed throughout India. This date coincides with one of the four Navaratris of the Hindu calendar, thus marking a period of spring celebration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rama & Sitha<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Until 2020, the shrine dedicated to Rama was housed in a rudimentary temporary tent,<\/strong> installed on the very site of the old mosque while awaiting the start of the final works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The temple-tent that stood on the site of the destroyed mosque<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of the new sanctuary, the effigy of Rama, inaugurated in January 2024 (Pran Pratishtha), stands out as the focal point of the entire structure.<\/strong> Carved from\u00a0Krishna Shila, a rare black stone quarried in Karnataka, this statue depicts the deity in the guise of the child Rama (Ram Lalla). This material was selected for its exceptional robustness as well as for its deep symbolic charge. The solemn installation of this idol marked a historic turning point, filling with emotion the faithful who came from all over the world to celebrate the consecration of this highly sacred place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ram Lalla’s new idol a day after ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Mandir (Photo : PTI)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ancient idol of Lalla Rama as well as those of Sita and other deities were placed at the foot of this new statue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The former idol of La Rama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Hanuman Garhi<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Garhi temple, dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey god, stands at the top of a citadel accessible by around a hundred steps. <\/strong>Along with Ramkot, it is among the most revered places in Ayodhya; according to custom, pilgrims gather in this sanctuary before going to Lord Rama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The colourful Hanuman Garhi temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although this building was erected by the Nawabs of Lucknow <\/a>in the 10th century, it remains a major center of Hindu spirituality<\/strong>. Beyond its sacred dimension, the vibrant atmosphere and richly ornamented architecture of the sanctuary make it an essential stop for any visitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Oral tradition holds that Hanuman took up residence in a cave on this very spot, protecting the Ramkot fort. Inside the sanctuary, the deity is represented by a shila \u2013 an imposing, richly decorated stone surrounded by other divine figures \u2013 including that of Hanuman’s mother, adding an intimate and protective dimension to this unique place of worship.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hanuman’s Idol<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The faithful frequently go there with laddoos<\/a><\/strong>, these round sweets emblematic of India, which they leave as an offering to be blessed, convinced that their prayers will bring them luck and prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The laddoos and other sweets at the entrance of the temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

[ Un petit tour du temple d’Hanuman Garhi<\/strong><\/strong> ]<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n