Why Jan 22, 2024 Ram Temple hype is so crucial and vital ? What's Political Hinduism? ::::: Ram Lalla's idol sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj

Why Jan 22, 2024 Ram Temple hype is so crucial and vital  ? What's Political Hinduism?

Narendra Modi has transformed the Hindu mindset. Thus, he has emerged bigger than he was even in 2023. 

Far from being apologetic about Hinduism, Hindu heritage and rituals, Namo has given a world stage to the Hindus to be proud. This is a big iconic role he has played.

On Jan 12, 2003, his first rally after 2002 election win immediately after post-Godhra riots, Modi had said, "Hindus should not be apologetic about Hindutva". And that's a 'reality' he has ensured for them. Political Hinduism has emerged, but that's only one part. Modi has achieved much bigger for Hindus socially and in a rather civilisational context.  His decision to follow some strict rituals for 11 days before Pran-pratishta is unique and path-breaking. 

According to Vedic norms, Modi is following rituals such as meditation, chanting of prayers and a sattvic diet and also waking up before sunrise. This strengthens the 'personification of Hinduism' with Modi. In contrast, India's first Prime Minister had declined to inaugurate Somnath temple and also tried to prevent President Dr Rajendra Prasad visit the temple. 

Hence, according to many and not without good reasons, Nehru was not only anti-religion. He was anti-Hindu while even his daughter Indira Gandhi developed faith and weaknesses for Hindu rituals and even Godmen. Therefore, Modi keeping himself at the centre stage of Ram temple construction and consecration is important politically. He has changed the Hindu mindset. 

But there could be other impacts too. The Muslim participation in polls may decline and the 'Hindutva constituency' will grow further at the cost of pro-Dalit and caste-based parties.   

The Jan 22, 2024, the Ram Temple consecration is hence reflective of a new India -- an India or Bharat that is fast transforming from traditionally known 'Nehruvian vision' of democracy to the RSS's brand of democracy. That is Political Hinduism. 

This churning phase of India's socio-politics should not be seen simply from the perspective of an immediate electoral implication. This episode has perhaps already altered the politics of a nation with 1.45 billion Hindus in fundamental ways in more ways than one. The transition is more sociological.

Ram Lalla's idol sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj 

“The worship of the present idol has been going on for the last 70 years and it will be seated in the sanctum sanctorum of the original temple along with the new idol. 

The worship of the idol will continue even after January 22, in the same manner as it has been done so far,” the Trust has announced. 

 

(The Shyam rang, dark coloured, Ram Lalla idol sculpted on ‘Krishna Shila’, black stone)

Champat Rai, Secretary of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said 11 of the total 15 members of the Trust chose the idol.

He said the old idol would also be installed in the sanctum sanctorum.

“Arun Yogiraj, a resident of Mysuru, hails from generations of sculptors… You cannot imagine the kind of life he has lived to sculpt the idol… He has not kept his phone with himself for 15 days and did not speak to his children for 15-20 days at a stretch," Rai said. 

He was so engrossed in his work. His idol has been selected and everyone appreciated it,” Rai said at a press conference in Ayodhya.

Yogiraj was among three sculptors shortlisted to carve idols depicting a five-year-old 51-inch-tall Ram Lalla (child Ram) in standing form. 

While two idols, sculpted by Yogiraj and Ganesh Bhatt, were carved in dark stone, the third one by Satyanarayan Pandey is pure white. 

Rai said that the other two idols would be also given “due respect”, reports 'Indian Express'.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Chief of the Trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das will be among those present at the ceremony.

The new idol, which weighs 150-200 kgs, will enter the new temple premises on January 17 and will be installed in the sanctum sanctorum the next day. The rituals in the run-up to the “Pran Pratishtha” (consecration ceremony) will begin from Tuesday and will continue till January 21, he said.

The idol will also be part of a ritual called ‘adhivas’, during which the ‘jal niwas’, ‘fal niwas’, ‘anna niwas’, ‘aushadi niwas’ and ‘ghee niwas’ for the idol will be done, he said. The Ram Temple “Pran Pratishtha” on January 22 will begin at 12:20 pm, he said.

The ceremony will also be attended by all the trustees of the temple trust, seers of about 150 sects and over 500 people associated with the construction of the temple.

While 121 acharyas will conduct the rituals under Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid, the lead Acharya would be Laxmikant Dixit of Varanasi.

Yogiraj hails from a family which has been sculpting idols for five generations – it once worked for the royal Mysuru family. 

He is popular for having carved the 30-foot statue of Subhas Chandra Bose, which is placed in the canopy behind Amar Jawan Jyoti near India Gate in New Delhi, and the 12-foot-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand.

In Karnataka, his mother, Saraswathi, said the family was elated about the selection of his idol. “He was not expecting his idol to be selected. He told me that he would be happy if any idol was finalised as all the sculptors had worked very hard. He is very happy that the efforts he put in for six months have borne fruit,” she said.

Saraswathi said she was yet to see the idol. “We may see it in the coming days,” she said, adding, “He would have been happier if his father was alive. His father was very proud of his achievements.”

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