There’s a feeling I get… yes it’s in the air, somehow just permeating through the ether as it were, it’s a feeling of joy, of hope, of something deeper than religion or faith, a loved one coming home as it were…
The significance of the rebuilding of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to the millions of Hindus and Indians around the world is huge. Whether one is a believer or not, whether one sits on one end of the political spectrum or the other, whether one has an orthodox or modernist outlook irrespective of religious or political ideology, the symbolic reference and importance of the rebuilding of the Ram temple cannot be overlooked.
Ram, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu in the Hindu pantheon of Gods, is one of the most worshipped dieties across India. The Legend of Lord Ram runs far and wide across India, South East Asia and beyond. These stories, myths, historical references, poems, songs, dance, theatre have all woven their way into the cultural ethos of India and the legend of Ram plays out in every Hindu household and exposure to these stories is gained at a very young age.
It is of great significance to note that among the Gods, His legend still lives on after thousands of years and He holds a special place in every devotee’s heart. Of greater significance is the fact that His param bhakt, supreme devotee, Hanuman is worshipped as a God as well and in fact there are more Hanuman temples than Rama temples perhaps.
Without one realizing it, these stories, legends, myths, prayers etc weave themselves into the inner subconscious and pour out at times like these.
Temples are a part of the Hindu landscape and have played a very important role in the Hindu community for aeons. They were the centre of religious, social, cultural and educational activities of society for thousands of years. Temples were built to dissolve the boundaries between man and the Divine. Hinduism extols each individual to strive to be Divinity, realise the Divine within as it were and our ancient temples are the living embodiment of the oldest intangible civilization of humanity
These temples were built with strictest accordance to design, architecture, ground plans, and rules laid down in our ancient Scriptures especially the Shilpa Shastra and the Vaastu Shastra. The ground plan of a temple is basically a mandala, a grid of 64 or 81 squares where each square hosts a particular diety. The inner sanctum, the congregation hall, the tower, inner chambers, open spaces etc all follow age old rules to forge a connection between the faithful and the Divine.
Most temples also align with certain principles of astronomy and geometry and are at about a 79 degree angle. Cosmic harmony is a driving principle in Hindu temple construction in the belief that sacred connections with celestial realms are brought forth and cosmic energies and vibrations permeate throughout the temple. This 79 degree angle is believed to be the sacred meridian that passes through the temple connecting the earth with the cosmos giving it spiritual energy and creating a positive environment for worship and prayers.
The orientation of temples is done in accordance with the planetary movements and the position of the Sun. The alignment captures the first rays of the sun on equinoxes and solistices as well as the rays when it sets. Solar alignments also mark the celestial union of the Gods. These angles and alignments also bear astrological significance marking and taking into account the movement of the zodiac with the aim of creating a positive influence on devotees and visitors to the temple.
Like everything else in Hinduism the number 79 has its own symbolism. 7 represents spirituality and 9 perfection, and when combined creates a spiritual resonance in the temple. Hence the location and construction of temples bears a deep cultural, historical and spiritual significance, which is why the importance of Ram Mandir being built on the very site believed to be the birthplace and ancient site of the temple can’t be overlooked. . Any other piece of land no matter how large or small may not have the same spiritual significance .
India has been subjected to a host of invaders, marauders and attacks for centuries. Not only have our towns and cities been pillaged and plundered, our temples and treasuries looted, our citizens subjugated and killed, but repeated attempts have been made to destroy and distort our culture, our faith, our ethos and our way of life. It is only the resilience, the faith and the determination of our people through centuries that have kept this cultural heritage alive.
Historical records and ASI excavations have indicated that temples at the janamsthan date back to the 2nd millennium BC. Historical remains of the temple in the 10th century and a grand structure in the 13th century destroyed by the forces of the Sultanate 300 years before Babur came and then Babur ordering its destruction again are on record.
All the loot and plunder of Babur’s forces when temples were sacked and the tons of gold and precious stones taken away not only from Ayodhya but Somnath and Mathura too form part of the records maintained by his own record keepers.
Thousands of temples were destroyed throughout North India since Muhammad Ghazni’s attacks in 1000 AD followed by the arrival of Qutub ud Din Aibak in 1150 AD and through the centuries to Aurangzeb who became Emperor in 1658.
Despite relentless attacks, marauders, invaders, laws preventing worship, taxes on Hindus and the blood of the faithful martyred to protect these temples, faith kept the ancient traditions alive and historical records show that prayers and offerings in howsoever humble or grand temples at these sites have continued to be offered by ordinary devotees through the centuries. Finally it is the law of the land that has delivered Rama back to the people. Court cases filed during the British Rule, the first of which in 1858, through the countless cases filed independent India finally ended with the Supreme Court judgment in 2019, 161 years later in favour of the Ram Janambhoomi Temple.
The significance today.
After a thousand years, a new temple as grand is this is being built on the very hallowed ground believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. Most ordinary Hindus will be overwhelmed with intense emotional feelings that in some way not only pay homage to the millions who died in the struggle in the last thousand years but also lends itself to the shared belief that Rama is finally coming home again… light the diyas, in a way it’s Diwali again!!!
Yes questions will be asked, fingers will be pointed, the naysayers will have their thoughts, the establishment will beat their drums because like it or not religion is politics too, but in the end it is the faith of the ordinary millions through millennia that will not only be vindicated but will triumph. It is not for nothing that the legends of the Gods have survived and thrived these aeons.
The Symbolism of the Ramayana- a simplistic look:-
Talking of Diwali and Rama, the story of the Ramayana symbolises the ultimate aim and purpose of the soul, Self Realization. Here’s a brief and simplistic look at the symbolism of the characters and events in the Ramayana.
Diwali is the celebration of the seeker’s journey to enlightenment. Enlightenment in Hindu Philosophy is the realization that the individual self is actually the Divine Self. The entire Ramayana can thus be seen as the journey of a seeker towards this goal. It marks the upward inner journey of the soul moving from the gross to the subtle dispelling the darkness of ignorance and the unconscious mind to enlightenment and Oneness with the Super Conscious state of Being… It is the return of the warrior to Ayodhya. Ayodhya from A- yodha literally meaning Non Warrior or the realm of No Conflict, which Zen Buddhists call No Mind… The mind is tranquil in equanimity, rekindling the inner light of wisdom as the soul ascends to Kavelya, Oneness…
The 14 year period of exile is symbolic of the spiritual awakening which takes place in twelve year cycles once a seeker has begun practice under a Guru. The 13th year is the year of Samadhi, or deep intense meditation to finally gain enlightenment. Vanvas or time in the forests is actually seclusion from the affairs of the world to focus on one’s spiritual practices. All the Sages, Rishis, Gurus and other learned people they met on their travels signify the spiritual lessons and growth that seeker gains from practice.
This long and arduous journey of the soul takes many lifetimes in different planes to finally attain moksha and hence troubles, hardships, battles, wars, sacrifices faced by the family have been depicted in the story.
Ram’s father Dashrath etymologically from Dus meaning ten and Rath meaning chariots. These ten chariots symbolise the ten chariots of perception, the five sense organs and five organs of action.
Kaushalya, Rama’s Mother symbolises skill. A skilful charioteer of the senses giving birth to Pure Consciousness, Rama.
Dashratha’s other wives Sumitra symbolises a good friend and Kaikayi symbolises benevolence because it is the hard road of meditation symbolised by the Vanvaas that finally leads us to the Spirit. Hence Kaikayi insists that Ram be banished to the forests.
Rama’s brothers Lakshman , Shatrughan and Bharata symbolises the meeting of Awareness ( Lakshman) with Radiance (Rama), thus leaving one with no enemies or negative qualities (Shatrughan) leading to enlightenment (Bharata)
Rama is the pure soul or Divine Consciousness from Ra Light and Ma, resonance or vibration, thus the Light within me…Radiance and Resonance
Sita is the Earth, the individual self, the mind. Hence the trial by fire she faces. The mind has to fight many battles with thoughts, desires, distractions, temptations, karmic tendencies and all other distractions that keep the seeker away from the spiritual path before it begins its upward surge of consciousness. These tendencies are represented by the dark forests where Sita was held captive and the trial by fire is also the removal of all impurities and karmic tendencies before enlightenment. Once this is done we enter the zone of No Mind, hence the disappearance of Sita or the individual soul as it merges with the Supreme.
Rama and Sita’s wedding before that signifies Pure Light or Consciousness merging with the Mind which creates conflict and hence they are exiled as one cannot live in the realm of No Conflict, Ayodhya, when the mind is in the physical realm. The golden deer Sita saw is the distraction of a seeker when mediating on the Supreme.
Lakshman, is the Awareness within us and the Lakshman Rekha is the protective circle that Awareness creates to keep the Mind in check. If the Mind steps out it enters the realm of Ego, Ravana. Lakshman is also Sheshnaga, the cosmic residue after dissolution of the cosmos till creation sprouts again. Shesha also means thousand. Only when the duality is removed, does singularity prevail and the Truth stands revealed. Supharna or the first vibrations felt is our consciousness breaking away from the Supreme moving from Advaita to Dwaidtya, unity to duality. The coils of the Kundalini that lie in our Muldhara Chakra are reflective of the Serpent.
Hanuman, is Prana, the life force as Breath
Ravana is Ego and his ten heads signify negative tendencies and their propensities, pride, desires or lust, delusion, perversion, anger, envy, Ravanna is finally killed by an arrow to the navel signifying one has to go deep within to destroy one’s own ego completely and thus realise that the self and the Divine are but One…
Lanka or the City of Gold, is the material world and its trappings.
The Bridge, Ram Setu, built with large stones with His name on it symbolises the Bhakti Yoga tradition of chanting of the Lord’s name to attain salvation.
Ramayana Valmiki’s epic etymologically comes from two words Rama’s and Ayana, meaning tbe journey of Rama, or the coming of Rama in a sense the the transmigration of the soul.
Ram Charitra Manas Tulsidas’ ode means the character and mind of Rama. Charitra means character, manas means mind. Besides being an incarnation of Vishnu, Ram is also maryada purushottam or the ultimate human being. Thus the work extols us to imbibe the characteristics of Rama to finally transcend the cycle of birth and rebirth, moksha prapti.
The Ramayana like the Mahabharata is the reunion of the individual self with the Cosmic One. It highlights the battles the mind has to fight trapped in ego and delusion to realise the Ultimate Truth and Higher Reality through intense practice and study.
Diwali is when the soul finally finds enlightenment hence it is the Festival of Lights. For us it is a reminder to start or keep at our spiritual practice and direct our senses inward through yogic techniques of meditation, pranayama- breath control and constant unbroken awareness so that our consciousness can rise to dissolve into Divine Consciousness…
This thus ties in with the basic tenet of Hinduism that extols each one to seek the Divinity within and the knowledge base and teachings in the Scriptures, the stories and legends of the epics, the mantras, chants and prayers, the rituals and their ultimate renunciation as well as the design of the temples and meditation practices all go to serve that end…
Yes, there’s a feeling I get… 🙏
#JaiShriRam
Ravi Sasan 