Amid the excitement over the Pran Pratishtha at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, there is also a debate over whether the ceremony can be conducted before the completion of construction. A section of Shankaracharyas has even said that they are opposed to the way the ceremony is being conducted, saying it is not in accordance with the Hindu shastras and traditions.
News18 spoke to a range of experts, from Sadhguru to International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) priests and astrologers, well-versed in the Hindu tradition to check whether the Pran Pratishtha can be conducted before the completion of construction.
While Isha Foundation’s Sadhguru said a “temple will always be evolving", ISKCON Senior Vice-President His Grace Chanchalapathi Dasa said there was “nothing wrong with conducting the ceremony, as long as the deity seva can be done properly". Renowned Belagavi-based astrologer NR Vijayendra Sharma said there shouldn’t be “many restrictions for God’s work".
#AyodhyaRamMandir#CivilizationReclaim pic.twitter.com/VDZWFkAZ08— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) January 11, 2024
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“A temple will always be evolving," Sadhguru said. “After 550 years, I think it is ugly when someone asks to wait for another two years…the temple is of three floors. They have completed one floor and they are doing the Ram Lalla consecration and it’s already a consecrated deity. They are further enhancing that."
Speaking about the completion of the temple, Sadhguru said, “If one loves something, you are never going to do something that says this is enough! It will never be over. It will go on. If we do stone, then somebody will say let’s cover it with gold. Somebody will say let’s put a diamond on it… because when you love something, you can never do enough."
CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER PARTS CAN CONTINUE: ISKCON
According to His Grace Chanchalapathi Dasa, as long as the deity seva can go on properly, it is possible for other facilities to come up in due course of time.
“It is possible to complete the Garba Griha, and a few other deity service facilities, install deities, while construction of other parts of the temple continues," he told News18.
ISKCON Bangalore will commemorate the consecration of Sri Ram Mandir and Prana Pratishtha of Sri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya on 22 Jan 2024 at ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Temple, Rajajinagar, and ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill, Vasanthapura. We invite you to participate in the grand celebrations… pic.twitter.com/rukeIhe7Ct
— ISKCON Bangalore (@ISKCONBangalore) January 16, 2024
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Sharma, who was also one of the persons consulted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find an auspicious time and date to mark the foundation of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on August 5, 2020, is also of the opinion that the Pran Pratishtha can go ahead.
“How can they say that the temple is incomplete? Three floors have been already built. There will be a Pratima of Ram on each floor. In case of the idol on the ground floor, a kalasha has already been kept on top of it. So this auspicious event can take place," Sharma said.
Speaking about how finding an auspicious time (muhurtham) for be it a wedding, to start a new venture or any good thing is important, he said, “This is a service to God. According to our Hindu traditions and religious texts, we can go about it with utmost devotion."
Answering questions related to the event being conducted in Paush, he said that Prathishta can take place in Makara Pushya, but not in Dhanur month.
“As this is God’s work, there will be not many rules or restrictions. For example in Tirupati, they conduct the Kalyanotsavam during Amavasya. We usually do not do anything during Amavasya, but when it comes to offering to God, service to Him, such restrictions don’t matter," said Sharma, who is close to Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, also known as Kishore ji Vyas, a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust.
“Modiji is a man who is leading our country and we must respect his position and his efforts," he said.
SHANKARACHARYAS’ OBJECTIONS
So why are the Shankaracharyas of Jyotirmath and Puri opposed to the way the ceremony is being held?
Referring to the Hindu scriptures, both the Shankaracharyas have called it a deviation from Hindu traditions and expressed that the Pran Pratishtha cannot be done, until the temple structure is complete. However, it is learnt that the Shankaracharyas of Dwarka and Sringeri Maths have urged all devotees to participate in the ceremony with utmost faith and devotion.
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