Modi Visits Tamil Nadu Temples Ahead of Ram Temple Inauguration

NEW DELHI: In the final days leading to the inauguration of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday worshipped at the Sri Ranganathaswamy and Lord Ramanathaswamy temples in Tamil Nadu. Mr Modi first offered prayers at the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Sri Rangam in Tiruchirapalli and later at the Lord Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram. The Prime Minister wore traditional Tamil attire during his visits to the ancient shrines in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, Ayodhya is getting ready for the gala ceremony on January 22. Posters and hoardings with slogans like "Shubh shadi aayi", "Taiyar hai Ayodhya dham, virajenge Shree Ram" and "Ram fir lautenge" are being erected across the temple town.

On Saturday, Mr Modi, the first Prime Minister to visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, wore a spotless veshti (dhoti) and an angavastram (a shawl) and prayed with folded hands in the Lord Vishnu temple. On his arrival, he was accorded a ceremonial “poorna kumbha” welcome amid Vedic chanting by priests.

Mr Modi prayed to Sri Ranganathaswamy temple and was blessed with "sadari" (a crown, symbolising Lord Vishnu's blessings) by temple priests. The Prime Minister prayed at several "sannadhis" (separate enclosures for deities), including those dedicated to Vaishnavite saint-guru Sri Ramanjuacharya and Sri Chakrathazhwar. He also took blessings from the temple elephant after feeding it.

It is being seen as Mr Modi having sought the blessings from Ranganathaswamy, worshipped by Lord Ram, for the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

At the temple, he listened to Kamba Ramayan verses, one of the old versions of the Ramayan. The Kamba Ramayan was composed by the great Tamil poet Kambar in the 12th century. The temple that the PM visited has a deep link to the Kamba Ramayana.

Religious scholars say that Mr Modi sat in that very place where poet Kambar first sang the Tamil Ramayan, reinforcing the deep connection between Tamil, Tamil Nadu and Shri Ram.

During his visit, "vastram" and clothes were presented to Mr Modi, a traditional way of a temple acknowledging a devotee's devoutness. Local officials said the clothes will be taken to the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, where the consecration of the grand temple will be held on Monday.

The Prime Minister arrived in Tiruchirappalli on Saturday from Chennai and on his way to the temple, he stood on the running board of his car and waved at the people and the BJP workers who gathered at vantage points to greet him. The crowds chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' welcoming him.

Later, Mr Modi worshipped at the Lord Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram after taking a holy dip at the "Angi teerth" beach. He was wearing a rudraksha mala and prayed in the Ramanathaswamy shrine, an ancient Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu. The Prime Minister was accorded traditional honours by priests and also took part in bhajans performed in the shrine.

While the Prime Minister, who will be performing rituals at the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony, was visiting temples with Ramayan connections in Tamil Nadu, Ayodhya was getting ready to celebrate the grand event on January 22.

On Saturday, security was further stepped up in Ayodhya. Barricades have been set up at the Ram temple site and other key areas like the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk and the entry of vehicles has been restricted as authorities prepare to host a large number of people, including many prominent personalities.

From Dharampath and Rampath, which are witnessing a deluge of devotees from different parts of the country, to the bylanes of the Hanumangarhi area and Asharfi Bhavan road, security personnel can be seen keeping a tight vigil on movements and activities.

Movable barriers with barbed wires were spotted virtually at every prominent crossroad in the temple city, as police use them to regulate traffic, especially during VVIP movements.

Meanwhile, at the newly constructed temple, special rituals were performed, including bathing Lord Ram's idol and purifying the garbh grah (sanctum sanctorum) with water collected from various religious sites stored in 81 consecrated kalash (urns). The idol was also offered flowers sourced from different regions of the country for a ritual known as "Pushpadhivas".

As many as 14 couples from the north, east, west, south and north-east parts of India have been chosen to be the yajmaans' (hosts) for the “praan partisthaa” of Lord Ram, according to the organisers.

The grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has been decorated with rich stocks of flowers and special lights for the mega event. It appears that the entire city and all its activities are draped in religious fervour. Various verses from the Ramayan are printed on posters at prominent places like the Ram Marg, the Saryu river bank and Lata Mangeshkar Chowk.

A redeveloped road that skirts its way off Ram Path on the way to the Ram temple site has been named Ramjanmabhoomi Path.

With the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple a couple of days away, the devotion to the deity is such that even commerce is not untouched by the spiritual feel in the holy city. Images of the grand temple are finding places even on visiting cards, posters, calendars and even signages.

It is not just the main thoroughfare like the Ram Path that is dotted with such banners or posters; practically every space in the city adorns posters depicting the Ram temple in one way or another.

Small models of the temple can also be seen these days, kept at various shops and restaurants in Ayodhya. These models are flying off the shelves in Ayodhya, while the demand for saffron flags bearing the image of Lord Ram has risen manifold.