I ndia will be celebrating first anniversary of the Pran Pratishtha of Ramlalla at Ayodhya. It triggers a train of thoughts down the memory lane. The first thought that comes to mind is Rath Yatra by L.K. Advani duly supported by the present PM as a sahyogi. It inspired the nation to act.
“Rajiv Gandhi … going to seek the Baba’s blessing and also his guidance on the contentious Ayodhya issue. Deoraha Baba looked at him and commented, “Bachcha ho jane do (child let it happen)”. The saint’s words were taken to mean " let the foundation-laying happen on 9 November 1989”. Source: First Post, Ajay Singh December 25, 2015. Kar sewa and demolition of the disputed structure, dismissal of the U.P government took place.
Why were Hindus fighting an unending battle to reclaim Ram temple?
After laying foundation stone took place, I asked a jubilant Swami Shyamdas ji of Narsingh peeth Jabalpur, a divine saint as well as member of Dharm Sansad, “what will change if we are able to build the Ram Temple at Ayodhya”? The saint said that it will create an ecosystem where;
1. No body will dare to touch any temple in future.
2. It will restore the self-respect among Hindus who are oppressed for centuries.
3. Government will stop controlling the temples.
4. Temple will start spreading knowledge about Sanatana Sanskriti, will fund research in Indian knowledge system. It will counter the ill intended conversion drive by other religions.
5. Threatened Hindus will get shelter in temples as happen in case of gurudwara and mosque.
I was not able to appreciate his noble thoughts as it looked like wishful thinking at that time. Millions of people thousands of saints offered sacrifices tirelessly to realise this dream. Last year Pran Pratishtha happened with full glory. Respected Swami Shyamdas ji is no more with us but one has to answer whether temple Pran Pratishtha has led to above objectives.
The attacks on Shobha Yatras, Visrajan, restrictions on Arti, siphoning of temple funds, taking over of temples by the state governments is going on unabated. Reacting to these leads to violence and suspicion. The communal harmony gets threatened. Is there a better way to realise above goals building a culture of peaceful co- existence.
Seeking help from AI apps available on internet
I posted the question how Ram temple can promote Hinduism on AI apps. The answers received were amazing. It mostly covered educating pilgrims about Sanatana dharma, promotion of religious tourism, community outreach, digital presence, youth engagement, inter faith dialogue and cultural events.
But what I missed, is missed by the temple management as well. The real issue is that in 2031 there will be a fully developed Ayodhya having an infrastructure created by investing 85000 crores. It will be a lucrative asset to control. The misguided Jihadis keep threatening to convert it to a mosque as and when they achieve Ghazwa-e -Hind in 2047.
(NIA report based on documents recovered investigating the acts of PFI. “Ghazwa-e-hind' After 'India At 2047'; Who Is Peddling Radical Mindset In India? | Arnab Debates” (available on YouTube).
Even though it seems impossible but nation has to investigate why people are carried away by such destructive ideas and what the public can do to counter such thinking.
Democracy has an inherent weakness of appeasing the vote bank. The communal forces who believe in appeasement and killed armless Kar Sewak using brutal force of the state have shown no regrets. Their dangerous inclinations have been exposed during Sambal unrest. The best remedy to counter it, is empowering citizens to take care of themselves. It can be achieved if preventive measures are put in place and the trust handling crores of pilgrims every year can play a great role.
Issues left unattended post Pran Pratishtha
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra is a trust set up for the construction and management of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by the Government of India in February 2020. The trust is composed of 15 trustees. This trust organized Prana Pratishtha on 22 January 2024. Accordingly, future governments have the power to dissolve or/and modify the present status any time. This hanging sword has to be eliminated either by making it difficult by amending the law or creating a sanatan board on the lines of the act created to manage gurudwaras.
It is very urgent and important as Building of Ram mandir is a pain to misguided jihadi mindset who are not comfortable with removal of section 370 in Kashmir. New democratically elected majority party in Kashmir is working overtime to restore the previous status. The government has to ensure that no future government should be able to play with the mandate given to trust. The present position of nominating the trusties seems to be a big protection but the same will turn into vulnerability if the leftist or I.N.D.I alliance government takes over in future. The mandirs taken over by different governments are facing exploitation. Corruption and greed of the government servants nominated in temples, is the issue.. Audits done by CAG of these governments have raised queries which are not answered. Full details of such corruption are listed in the book ‘Arthvyavstha of Mandir/Temple Economics’ by Sandeep Singh. The book provides a detailed description of misuse of democratic practices under part III: loss of Mandir Ecosystem,Post Independence. The task at hand is to make new provisions to ensure no such manipulation should take place despite the anti Hindu, anti-mandir government taking over. As the temple is being built by 100 percent donation of the public therefore it is imperative that there should be provisions for:
1. Money of the trust to be used exclusively for construction of temple and promotion of Santana Dharma.
2. Non-Hindu should not be eligible to be the trustees.
3. Only the People with an excellent record of serving the temples or having the credibility to promote Hinduism should be elected as trustees.
4. No government should have the power to dissolve or modify the basic framework of the trust. More stringent provisions should be created to protect the trust from manipulators.
Construction of Ram mandir is not a destination but it is the beginning of a long journey…
Construction of ram mandir is a beginning of a long journey to restore the self-respect of the followers of Santana dharma and empower the Hindus to protect their religious practices all over the world. The long struggle and the final victory can be developed into a case study to be taught at universities to teach how to safeguard the cultural heritage through protecting the temple. It becomes top priority as the misguided jihadis are working relentlessly to capture pockets and destroy temple based arthvyavastha. Violence during the survey at Sambhal at UP and attack on police has provided the glimpses of the future in the offing. The findings of the survey team as published in newspapers expose a new model of alienating Hindus, forcing migration and locking of the full ecosystem of temples. The trust has the history, experience and resources to take up this mission. If implemented in letter and spirit the trust will realise the goal envisaged by supreme court and that of the government to eliminate all future complaints of mosques being built on the remains of a temple. The Empowered Public will not allow it to happen henceforth! Unless the attack on temples is stopped completely, communal tension cannot be ruled out. Ram temple is a living example neither the invaders nor the anti-temple lobby could stop the devotees from reclaiming the birth place of Ram Lalla.
The trust should provide know-how and financial support against attacks on Hindu temples around the world.
Ramavatar has two distinct features:
1. It empowered the have nots in the deep forest.
2. It took a pledge to eliminate the rogue ecosystem from the world.
When Shree Ram took the pledge to annihilate the demons from earth (निसिचर हीन करउँ महि भुज उठाइ पन कीन्ह (Aranya Kand Ram Charit Manas). Sita did object to Ram taking such a violent pledge. Shree Ram explained to her by appreciating her concern for standing tall to defend non-violence. However, the true meaning of non-violence is elimination of violence and this requires violence to annihilate the violent behaviour.
“Thou sayst the warrior bears the bow
That misery's tears may cease to flow;”
(Valmiki Ramayan canto 10 Ram’s reply to Sita
(English translation by Griffith).
Why people should be empowered to counter extremist mindset.
The conception and nurturing of extremism takes time and no government can act during the early period. The only remedy is an empowered society which responds to such activities at the level zero.
If the society develops a zero tolerance towards the promotion of such activities the state administration will get timely inputs and people's support to take stern action. Leadership in democracy follows the public sentiments and it can not be there until unless the public is empowered. What would have been the fate of Ram Janam Bhumi Mukti movement without Lal Krishna Advani rath yatra sensitising the nation (present Prime Minister played an active role in managing it).
To empower non-violent forces is the need of the hour.
The world is watching violence helplessly as millions of people are becoming homeless for no reason. The United nation is a mute spectator. The propagator of non-violence mahatma Gandhi said,
“I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence... I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour.” https://www.mkgandhi.org/nonviolence/phil8.php.
The global acceptance of Ramakrishna mission, Chinmay mission, ISKCON and Swaminarayan movement etc in non Hindu lands is proof that sanatan temples are nurturing harmony and peaceful coexistence.
The trust should act as an epitome of temple management and spread education to people associated with temple management throughout the world.
From time immemorial Hinduism has provided asylum to people of other faith in their hour of crisis, Christian Parasi, Muslims have taken refuge here. Post independence Tibetan, Bangladeshi, Rohangiyas and sikh citizens from Afghanistan have rushed to India in their fight to survive. Indian Citizens have to be taught to help while ensuring that the refugees do not become a threat. This is important to retain the capacity to protect future generations as well, and not to become a victim of the refugees taking over the helping government as happened in Lebanon, where refugees are now dominating the host.
Crores of pilgrims visiting the temple can be inspired to uphold the spirit of vasudhaiva kutumbakam displaying strength. Ayodhya can be a place to learn the finer points of Hinduism without being apologetic.
The darkness under the lamp.
Losing the Ayodhya seat in the recent parliamentary election is a reminder that we have failed in sharing the information and building trust among local population.Ayodhya has voted for the party whose regime was responsible for killing of peaceful karsewak. The trust has to ensure that donations to the temple and big investments by people from outside should not timid the locals. Vatican - like status can not be created from the top, local participation is a must. In-depth Research is needed to pursue the spirit of "Think global, act local".
We have to unlock the mystery that when rathyatra for building Ram temple took BJP from 2 seats to full majority then what has gone wrong that after building the temple BJP reduced to 240 seats losing at Ayodhya as well.
The author is of the belief that the zeal with which funds for Ram mandir were raised took a back seat as soon as the mission became a case study for the world to admire. We fail to respond to the hoax call given about loss of reservation or changing the constitution.
If the nation takes it as a beginning of the long mission of re-establishing the sanatan values for the better good of the world. If safeguarding nature, people and peace is the mission than the Ramjanmbhumi trust has to say what hanuman told to the Mainak mountain during his mission to find the whereabouts of mata Sita,
“ राम काजु कीन्हें बिनु मोहि कहां विश्राम”.
How can I stop without completing the mission given by Shri Ram.
Ram Rajya is what Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of,
Gurudev RabindraNath Tagore defined it as, where the mind is free and head is held high.
Let the Ram Mandir tirth kshetra nyas ensure the peaceful living and empower the public to punish those who play foul with this spirit. Power of the vote has to empower good citizens.
Woods might seem to be dark and deep but a solid path has been built by Shree Ram by walking bare footed, many millennia ago. Ram mandir has to retrain devotees to walk the talk as done by Maryada Purushottam Shree Ram.
By Rakesh Kumar
(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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