Ram Mandir Heralds Rise of Confident India: Modi

The Ram Mandir is not just divine temple but is a path to nation building where the divinity of Lord Ram is equivalent to the nation and marks a decisive turn in the “kal chakra (wheel of time)” heralding the rise of a capable and confident India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

In an address delivered from the terrace of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya soon after consecration of the new idol of Lord Ram, the Prime Minister said beyond the construction of the temple, all citizens need to pledge to build a capable, magnificent and divine India. He said the vision of Ram was inclusive, referring to the unstinted generosity of the tribal king Nishad Raj towards Lord Ram and the affection that marked their relations.

Looking to emphasise the message of inclusion embedded in the life of Lord Ram as a roadmap for the nation, Modi spoke of the affection of Adivasi woman Shabari towards Ram, and said the divinity of the Lord touched everyone. The reference to Shabari and the implied concern for those at the bottom of the socio-economic scale, saw Modi pause as he became emotional, and then he carried on. It was moment of empathy and reflection on what the temple should mean for the nation.

“Remember the story of the squirrel (in the Ramayana) and consider how every contribution counts,” he said. The popular story recounts how squirrels helped gather stones for the construction of the bridge  to Lanka. “We should not think `I am small, what can I do. The squirrel’s contribution should remove our hesitations,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister stressed the temple and divinity of Ram does not lend itself to disputes but offers solutions. He said it was unfortunate the wait for a proper temple for the Lord rather than a makeshift tent took so long. “The history of the world is a witness that many nations get entangled in their own history. Whenever such countries have tried to unravel the tangled knots of their history, they have faced great difficulties in achieving success,” he said. “Ram is not fire, Ram is energy. Ram is not a dispute, Ram is the solution. Ram is not only ours, Ram is for everyone. Ram is not just the present, Ram is eternal,” he said.

Elaborating on the significance of the day, Modi said the Ram Mandir is a temple of India’s vision, philosophy and direction. “It is a temple of national consciousness in the form of Ram,” he said. He said it was not just the “pran prathistha (infusion of life) of the idol of Ram but a reaffirmation of the unbreakable faith in Indian culture as represented by the Lord.  Stating that generations will remember the day, he said “Therefore, I say – Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai (This is the time, the right time).

The Prime Minister began by dwelling on the return of Ram to his abode. “Our Ramlala will no longer live in a tent. Our Ramlala will now reside in this divine temple. I firmly believe, with immense devotion, that the experience of what has happened will be felt by devotees of Lord Ram in every corner of the country…This time is the most sacred. This atmosphere, this environment, this energy, this moment..a blessing from Lord Ram,” he said.

The date January 22, 2024 is not just a date on the calendar. It marks the beginning of a new era, Modi said. “A nation rising by breaking the mentality of slavery, a nation drawing courage from every affliction of the past, creates a new history in this manner,” the Prime Minister said. He expressed gratitude towards the judiciary for resolving the Ram temple dispute, noting that by doing so the courts upheld the dignity of judicial system (nyay ki laaj rakh li).

Elaborating on his earlier call to celebrate the day as Diwali, he said “Today, in every village, kirtan and sankirtan are being performed together. Today, festivals are being celebrated in temples, and cleanliness campaigns are being conducted. The entire country is celebrating Diwali today. This evening, preparations are being made to light Ramjyoti in every home.”

The Prime Minister provided some insights into his observations about why he felt the wheel of time was changing. “Yesterday, with the blessings of Lord Ram, I was at Arichal Munai, the starting point of Ram Setu (Ram’s bridge to Lanka) in Dhanushkodi…There, a belief awakened within me that just as the course of time had changed then, similarly, the course of time will change again now and will move in an auspicious direction,” he said.

His 11-day fast and ritual, said Modi, saw him visit places associated with Ram’s travels during exile — Panchavati Dham in Nashik, the sacred Triprayar Temple in Kerala, Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh, Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram, or Dhanushkodi. During this, he heard Ramayana recited in several languages.

Looking to weave a cohesive message, Modi said the temple signifies the maturity of Indian society. “For us, this occasion is not only about victory, but also about humility…the way our country has untangled this knot of history with seriousness and sensitivity, it indicates that our future is going to be much more beautiful than our past,” he said.

Though he avoided overtly political references, the Prime Minister said the temple was a message to nay sayers. “There was a time when some people said that if the Ram temple is built, it will lead to unrest. Such people failed to understand the purity of India’s social sentiment. The construction of this temple of Ramlalla is also a symbol of peace, patience, harmony, and coordination in Indian society,” he said.

In a series of iterations, the Prime Minister said, “Ram is the faith of India, the foundation of India. Ram is the thought of India, the law of India. Ram is the norm (neti), and Ram is the policy (niti)…Ram is all-encompassing, Ram is the universe, the soul of the universe.”

Linking the “grand Ram temple” to his call for a Viksit Bharat (developed India), Modi said the temple teaches us that if the goal is proven true (is genuine) and supported by collective and organised strength, anything is possible.

Also Read: Other Stories on Ayodhya

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Rajeev Deshpande

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