This is Ram Lalla's first Ram Navami at his newly built home, the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Something special took place on this special occasion. The Sun kissed the deity's forehead in a ritual known as Surya Abhishek or Surya Tilak.
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, (IIT-R) were roped in to design the Surya Tilak mechanism.
SURYABHISHEK AT AYODHYA RAM MANDIR ON RAM NAVAMI
The sunlight illuminating Ram Lalla's forehead will create a 'Surya Tilak'.
Two trials have already taken place to ensure a smooth Surya Abhishek ceremony on Ram Navami (April 17 this year), with the IIT team employing an apparatus with high-quality mirrors and lenses to precisely direct the Sun's rays onto Ram Lalla's forehead at a specific time.
Pancha Dhathu, a traditional Indian alloy, has also been used in the surya tilak apparatus.
Former Isro scientist, Manish Purohit explained the mechanism behind the Surya Abhishek and said three things have been considered while ensuring the Sun's rays illuminate Ram Lalla's forehead. These three things are -- archaeoastronomy, metonic cycle and analemma.
THE ANCIENT SCIENCE OF SURYABHISHEK
The ritual and scope of Surya Abhishek has been a norm in several Jain temples and Hindu sun temples across India.
Nanarayanaswamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh: In Nagalapuram district, the Nanarayanaswamy Temple hosts a five-day Surya Puja Mahotsavam, during which the Sun's rays penetrate the temple and transition through phases each day.
Mahalakshmi Temple, Maharashtra: The Chalukyan Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur is known for its Kiranotsav, which is a bi-annual event.
Koba Jain Temple, Gujarat: Surya Tilak is also seen annually in the Koba Jain Temple in Ahmedabad, when the Sun's rays fall directly on the forehead of the marble statue of the deity, Mahaveerswami, at exactly 2.07pm for three minutes.
Konark Sun Temple, Odisha: Among the most renowned Sun temples is the one at Odisha's Konark. The 13th-century temple, dedicated to the Sun God, is known for the way sunlight bathed the temple, particularly at sunrise. The design ensured that the first rays of the Sun touch the temple's main entrance, then filter through its different doorways, casting light upon the garbhagriha within.
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, Karnataka: The Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, also known as the Gavipuram Cave Temple, near Bengaluru, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Every year on Makar Sankranti, the Sun's rays illuminate the statue of Nandi first, then reaches the feet of the Shivlingam, and finally, then covers the entire deity.
