Ram Mandir Series
Today’s a landmark day for devotees of Shri Ram but do you know the story behind the Mandir in Ayodhya? Here’s the tea.
The story begins when around 3000 temples in the name of Shri Ram in Ayodhya itself, among other places across India.
Around the 5th Century, the temples start seeing wear & tear but Ujjain’s King Vikram Aditya is said to have taken up the responsibility of restoring them although different sources have other stories.
Then in 1526, there’s a Panipat war between the founder of the Mughal era in India, Babar & the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi & by 1528, Babar’s army reaches Ayodhya, and reports allege that his General, Mir Baqi, breaks the temple to build a Masjid in its place … although this is disputed.
Other reports like the one by Joseph Tiephentaler, also suggest Aurangzeb, who comes to power a century later in 1658, has a hand in pillaging the area … although this claim is disputed, too.
But overall the idea is that the Mughals take charge of the fortress & area which devotees consider as the birthplace of Shri Ram.
In 1717, Raja Sawai Jai Singh, tries to acquire the land but when that fails, he takes the decision that will have a ripple effect across centuries, building a Chabhoothra where devotees can pray & do their poojas.
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Here’s the untold story behind the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya (Part 2)!
By the 1800s, we have Babri Masjid & the Chabhoothra by Raja Sawai Jai Singh, sitting side by side in Ayodhya.
It’s in 1813, that Shri Ram devotees first point out the history behind the place. And a report by the Britisher Montgomery Martin in 1838 alledges that the pillars used to build the mosque are that of a previous temple.
In 1855, there is an unfortunate clash between two faiths & a wall is constructed in between to avoid disputes.
In 1885, the matter reaches the Court & the plea to put up a chatthri over the Chabhoothra was denied.
In 1934, the communal riots began again but there isn’t any conclusion. After Independence, however, on December 23rd 1949, things escalate to the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru again.
Allegedly an idol has been seen inside the Masjid & on the Magistrate K.K Nair’s recommendation, Nehru agrees to build a gate around it to keep peace on both sides.
In 1950, there’s the first-ever plea to install idols of Ram Lalla on the site & for the next 35 years, both parties keep debating about their right on the until 1976, when an excavation of the surrounding area reveals something interesting.
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Here’s the untold story behind the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya (Part 3)!
In 1976, an excavation of the area surrounding the Babri Masjid reveals that the 12 pillars used to build it have the essence of the temple that came before. This discovery is led by the archaeologist K.K. Muhammed & it is debated.
In 1980, different forces unite to speed up the goal of restoring the mandir but because of Indira Gandhi’s death in 1984, the plans get delayed.
But a controversial court case commonly called the “Shah Bano case” stirs up communal tensions in the country again. Rajiv Gandhi permits the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) to perform Shilanyas, which is laying a foundational stone, near the disputed structure.
In the early 1990s, political leaders are arrested during a Rath Yatra campaign towards Ayodhya, And in 1992, when around 150,000 Karsevaks, or volunteers, storm & demolish the site breaking through the police, the resulting riots lead to hundreds of unfortunate deaths all across the country on both sides.
The matter is brought to the the Allahabad High Court, and around 18 years later, it passes a verdict.
But before that happens, in 2003, a report by the Archeological Survey of India concludes that the team has found the ruins of a previous temple below the site, which sits up the debate.
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Here’s the untold story behind the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya (Part 4)!
In 2009, the Allahabad High Court, where the case is registered, passes a verdict to split the site under dispute but this is challenged & taken to the Supreme Court & in 2011, it states that the decision will stay but asks for all the evidence & arguments to be translated into English for review & final judgement.
Finally, on 9th December 2019, the final verdict is passed to hand over the site to a trust to build the temple while also ordering the government to give 5 acres of land inside Ayodhya city limits to build a mosque.
In 2020, the construction of the Ram Mandir is announced & after 500 years.
It has been a story of 500 years, finally reaching its conclusion this week on 22nd January 2024.