123-621: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra is a trust set up for the construction and management of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by the Government of India in February 2020. The trust is composed of 15 trustees. This trust organized Prana Pratishtha on 22 January 2024. It was created as per the verdict of the Supreme Court on the M Siddiq(D) Thr Lrs v/s Mahant Suresh Das & Ors case . The court directed
246-407: A Jīva ( lit. ' a living being ' ) cross the ocean of samsara . Devotees of Rama such as Valmiki , Tulsidas , Bhadrachala Ramadasu , Samartha Ramadas , Tyagaraja , Purandara Dasa , Gondavalekar Maharaj and Mahatma Gandhi popularised this mantra. Ram Mandir is being built to commemorate the birth of Rama at his Janmasthan . Therefore, the presiding deity of the temple
369-437: A rath yatra , embarking on a 10,000 km journey starting from the south and heading towards Ayodhya. On 6 December 1992, BJP, VHP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders gathered at the site to offer prayers and perform a symbolic kar seva . At noon, a teenage Kar Sevak (volunteer) was "vaulted" on to the dome and that signalled the breaking of the outer cordon. Soon after, a large number of kar sevaks demolished
492-606: A "juristic person" by the law. He was represented by Triloki Nath Pandey, a senior VHP leader who was considered Ram Lalla' s closest 'human' friend. As a new idol of the deity got installed in the sanctum sanctorum as the Mūlavirāt mūrti (lit. The main presiding deity), the Mandir Trust has informed that the Ram Lalla Virajman idol of 1949 shall henceforth be used as Utsava mūrti (lit. idol for festivals). The site
615-483: A European Jesuit missionary who lived and worked in India for 38 years (1743–1785), visited Ayodhya in 1767. He noted one Ramkot fortress — comprising the house that was considered as the birthplace of Rama by Hindus — to have been demolished by Aurangzeb (r. 1658–1707); however, "others" said it to have been demolished by Babar. A mosque with three domes was constructed in its place but Hindus continued to offer prayers at
738-522: A Hindu-Muslim clash, a boundary wall was constructed to avoid further disputes. It divided the mosque premises into two courtyards; the Muslims offered prayers in the inner courtyard. In 1857, the mahant of the Hanuman Garhi temple erected a raised platform and marked the site of Rama's birth. The Hindus offered their prayers on a raised platform, known as "Ram Chabutara", in the outer courtyard. In 1883,
861-541: A difficulty with the anagram for the date, because one of the words was missing, which would have resulted in a date of 923 AH rather than 935 AH. These incongruities and mismatches made no impression on Buchanan, who maintained that the mosque was built by Babur. In 1877, Syed Mohammad Asghar the Mutawalli (guardian) of the "Masjid Baburi at Janmasthan" filed a petition with the Commissioner of Faizabad asking him to restrain
984-425: A distinctive style which bears influences of "later Tughlaq " architecture. Mosques all over India were built in different styles; the most elegant styles developed in areas where indigenous art traditions were strong and local artisans were highly skilled. Thus regional or provincial styles of mosques grew out of local temple or domestic styles, which were conditioned in their turn by climate, terrain, materials, hence
1107-554: A formal invitation was extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the ceremony. In 2020, the national spokesperson of the Nirmohi Akhara , Mahant Sitaram Das, criticised the BJP's decision to have the temple foundation begun by Narendra Modi and said that the work of building the temple should be done only by the religious priests. A number of Hindutva proponents, including online social media influencers, raised objections over
1230-661: A lawsuit, demanding possession of the site and removal of idols from the mosque premises. In April 1984, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) initiated a campaign to gather public support for Hindu access to the Babri Masjid and other structures that had been allegedly built over Hindu shrines. To raise public awareness, VHP planned nationwide rath yatra s (chariot processions ), the first of which took place in September–October 1984, from Sitamarhi to Ayodhya. The campaign
1353-504: A mosque at the site traditionally believed by Hindus to be the birthplace of Rama comes from Jai Singh II (or "Sawai Jai Singh") – a Rajput noble in the Mughal court who purchased land and established a Jaisinghpura in the area surrounding the mosque in 1717 (as he had also done in several other Hindu religious places). The documents of Jai Singh preserved in the Kapad-Dwar collection in
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#17328546196821476-644: A mud platform that marked the birthplace of Rama. Francis Buchanan-Hamilton (Buchanan) did a survey of the Gorakhpur Division in 1813–14 on behalf of the British East India Company. His report was never published but partly reused by Montgomery Martin later. Kishore Kunal examined the original report in the British Library archives. It states that the Hindus generally attributed destruction "to
1599-522: A non-stop nine-day recitation of the Ramacharitamanas just outside the mosque. At the end of this event, on the night of 22–23 December 1949, a group of 50–60 people entered the mosque and placed idols of Rama there. On the morning of 23 December, the event organisers asked Hindu devotees to come to the mosque for a darshan . As thousands of Hindus started visiting the place, the Government declared
1722-533: A plan to construct the temple. Two days later, on 7 February, 2.0 hectares (5 acres) of land was allocated for a new mosque to be built 22 km (14 mi) away from Ayodhya City in Dhannipur village, Ayodhya . The original design for Ram Mandir was devised in 1988 by the Sompura family of Ahmedabad . The Sompuras have contributed to the design of over 100 temples worldwide for at least 15 generations, including
1845-464: A practicing Hindu. Permanent members: Nominated members: The temple trust set up by the government was initially headed by Parasaran was tasked to nominate the remaining three members. On 19 February 2020, the first meeting of trust held at the residence of Parasaran, elected Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas' chief, Mahant Nrityagopal Das Ji Maharaj as the Chairman and VHP vice-president, Champat Rai as
1968-435: A ritually auspicious date and that the ceremony did not follow proper ritual procedures. They also claimed that the function did not include a havan . Writer and activist Arundhati Roy , a noted critic of PM Modi, pointed out that the chosen date marked one year since the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir . The Pakistan Foreign Office issued a statement criticising India for commencing for constructing
2091-445: A temple dedicated to the infant Rama ( Ram Lalla ) at this spot. The VHP began to collect funds and bricks with " Jai Shri Ram " written on them. Later, the government under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi gave the VHP permission for Shilanyas ( transl. the foundation stone ceremony ) to proceed, with the then Home Minister , Buta Singh , formally conveying the permission to
2214-602: A temple on the former site of the destroyed Babri Masjid. In 2017, the Hindu Mahasabha accused the BJP, Bajrang Dal and other Sangh Parivar organisations of hijacking the Ram Mandir despite having no involvement in its long battle. In 2020, Pramod Joshi, the national spokesperson of the Hindu Mahasabha, said that the real credit of Ram Mandir belongs to Hindu Mahasabha, and that the Hindu Mahasabha should have performed
2337-467: A temple or a temple structure predated the mosque at the same site. The excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India were heavily used as evidence by the court that the predating structure was a massive Hindu religious building. The five judge Supreme Court bench heard the title dispute cases from August to October 2019. The Court observed that archaeological evidence from ASI shows that
2460-415: A temple, while Muslims were given land nearby in Dhannipur in Ayodhya to construct a mosque . The court referenced a report from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as evidence suggesting the presence of a structure beneath the demolished Babri Masjid, that was found to be non- Islamic . On 5 August 2020, the bhūmi pūjana ( transl. ground breaking ceremony ) for the commencement of
2583-473: Is expected to be completed by July 2025. On 22 June 2023, Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Misra announced that the ground floor of the three-story temple was complete and was expected to open for the devotees in January 2024. The Ram Mandir Teerth Kshetra Trust announced that Hindu astrologers had selected 22 January 2024 as the auspicious date for the consecration ceremony. In preparation for
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#17328546196822706-454: Is located at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi , the mythical birthplace of Rama , a principal deity of Hinduism . The temple was inaugurated on 22 January 2024 after a prana pratishtha (consecration) ceremony. On the first day of its opening, following the consecration, the temple received a rush of over half a million visitors, and after a month, the number of daily visitors was reported to be between 100,000 and 150,000. The site of
2829-459: Is not reliable. In 1853, a group of armed Hindu ascetics from Hanuman Garhi temple occupied the Babri Masjid. Periodic violence erupted in the next two years, and the civil administration had to step in, refusing permission to build a temple or to use it as a place of worship. Gulam Hussain led a group of Sunni Muslims who asserted that the mosque site was home to the Hanuman temple in 1855. After
2952-424: Is supposed to be the infant form of Rama , an avatar of Vishnu . Rama in that infant form was referred as Ram Lalla ( lit. ' Child Rama ' ) by Tulsidas . However, the idol of Rama that was placed in 1949 referred to as Ram Lalla Virajman ( lit. ' Installed Child Rama ' ) by local Hindus. Ram Lalla was a litigant in the court case over the disputed site in 1989, being considered
3075-576: Is the former location of the Babri Masjid , which was built in the 16th century. The mosque was attacked and demolished in 1992 . In 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered the verdict to give the disputed land to Hindus for the construction of a temple, while Muslims would be given land elsewhere to construct a mosque . In 1528, the commander of the Mughal Empire , Mir Baqi , constructed
3198-578: The Prana Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony, the Government of Uttar Pradesh earmarked ₹ 100 crore (US$ 12 million) for 'Ramotsav,' a series of religious events that spanned 826 local bodies across Uttar Pradesh along with the Ram Paduka Yatra, commencing in December 2023 and culminating in the grand celebrations from Makar Sankranti on 16 January 2024, and lasting until the inauguration of
3321-621: The Babri Masjid mosque, under the order of Babur, on the site of the Ram Janmabhoomi , the mythical birthplace of Rama. The earliest record of the mosque may be traced back to 1767, in the Latin book Descriptio Indiae , authored by the Jesuit missionary Joseph Tiefenthaler . According to him, the local population believed that the mosque was constructed by destroying the Ramkot temple, believed to be
3444-474: The City Palace Museum of Jaipur , include a sketch map of the Babri Masjid site. The map shows an open court yard and a built structure with three temple spires ( sikharas ) resembling today's Babri Masjid with three domes. The courtyard is labelled janmasthan and shows a Ram chabutra . The central bay of the built structure is labelled chhathi , which also denotes birthplace. Joseph Tiefenthaler ,
3567-653: The Hanuman Garhi Temple in Ayodhya. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath , Chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , Mohan Bhagwat , Chief of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and Chief of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra , Nritya Gopal Das and Narendra Modi gave speeches. Some priests and religious leaders, such as Swaroopanand Saraswati , complained that 5 August was not
3690-502: The Hindu epic Ramayana , Rama was born in Ayodhya . Ayodhya is among seven most sacred cities to Hindus. Three places in Ayodhya are considered as prominent puṇya kṣētra ( lit. ' virtued pilgrimage site ' ) by Hindus. They are Janmasthāna ( lit. ' The birthplace ' ), Svargadvāra ( lit. ' The gateway to Heaven ' ) and Yajñasthala ( lit. ' Place where holy sacrifice
3813-469: The Kushan period. During the early medieval period (11–12th century), a short-lived structure of nearly 50 metres with north–south orientation was constructed. On the remains of this structure, another massive structure was constructed: this structure had at least three structural phases and three successive floors attached with it. The report concluded that it was over this construction that the disputed structure
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3936-654: The Ram Lalla or Infant Lord Rama represented by the Hindu Maha Sabha for the construction of the Ram temple, one-third going to the Islamic Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the remaining one-third going to Nirmohi Akhara , a Hindu religious denomination. While the three-judge bench was not unanimous that the disputed structure was constructed after demolition of a temple, it did agree that
4059-694: The Somnath temple . The chief architect of the temple was Chandrakant Sompura, assisted by his two sons, Nikhil Sompura and Ashish Sompura, who are also architects. A new design, with some changes from the original, was prepared by the Sompuras in 2020, per the Hindu texts, the Vastu shastra and the Shilpa shastras . The temple will be 250 feet (76 m) wide, 380 feet (120 m) long and 161 feet (49 m) high. Upon completion,
4182-771: The Triveni Sangam of the rivers Ganga , Yamuna , and Saraswati at Prayagraj , the head of the Kaveri river at Talakaveri in Karnataka , and the Kamakhya Temple in Assam . Soil was also sent from various Hindu temples , gurudwaras and Jain temples across the nation, as well as from the four pilgrimage sites in Char Dham , to bless the temple. Before the ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought Hanuman 's blessing by praying at
4305-624: The Vishva Hindu Parishad and allied organisations demolished the mosque , triggering riots all over the Indian subcontinent , resulting in the death of around 2,000–3,000 people. In September 2010, the Allahabad High Court upheld the claim that the mosque was built on the spot believed to be Rama's birthplace and awarded the site of the central dome for the construction of a Rama temple . Muslims were also awarded one-third area of
4428-529: The janmasthan (Rama's birthplace) accurately but does not mention a temple at the site. These developments were apparently known to local Muslims. In mid-nineteenth century, the Muslim activist Mirza Jan quoted from a book Sahifa-I-Chihil Nasaih Bahadur Shahi , which was said to have been written by a daughter of the emperor Bahadur Shah I (and granddaughter of Aurangzeb ) in the early 18th century. The text mentions mosques having been constructed after demolishing
4551-625: The mosque started on 26 January 2021. The name "Babri Masjid" comes from the name of the Mughal emperor Babur , who is said to have ordered its construction. Before the 1940s, it was called Masjid-i Janmasthan ("mosque of the birthplace") including in official documents. The rulers of the Delhi Sultanate and their successors, the Mughals , were great patrons of art and architecture and constructed many fine tombs, mosques and madrasas . These have
4674-463: The sanctum sanctorum was constructed there. The VHP then laid the foundations of a temple on the land adjacent to the disputed mosque. On 6 December 1992, the VHP and the Bharatiya Janata Party organised a rally at the site involving 150,000 volunteers, known as karsevaks. The rally turned violent, the crowd overwhelmed the security forces and tore down the mosque . The demolition of
4797-497: The sanctum sanctorum . In August 2023, according to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, 70% of the groundwork was completed and 40% of the roof work was completed. In December 2023, the entire base, along with the six smaller temples that surround the main temple, which consists of the sanctum sanctorum, were almost completed. For its consecration, only the ground floor was opened. The temple
4920-566: The "temples of the idolatrous Hindus situated at Mathura , Banaras and Awadh etc." Hindus are said to have called these demolished temples in Awadh " Sita Rasoi " (Sita's kitchen) and "Hanuman's abode." While there was no mention of Babur in this account, the Ayodhya mosque had been juxtaposed with those built by Aurangzeb at Mathura and Banaras. The manuscript, Sahifa-I-Chihil Nasaih Bahadur Shahi , has not yet been found, and scholar Stephan Conermann has stated that Mirza Jan book, Hadiqa-yi shuhada ,
5043-560: The 'Vijay Mahamantra' – Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram , on 6 April 2020. This was said to ensure "victory over hurdles" in constructing the temple. It was officially announced by Champat Rai , the General Secretary of the Sri Ram Janmbhoomi Kshetra Trust, that 22 January 2024 would be the scheduled date for the installation of the Ram Lalla idol in the garbhagriha ( sanctum sanctorum ). On 25 October 2023,
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5166-424: The 19th century. According to the mosque's inscriptions , it was built in 1528–29 (935 AH ) by Mir Baqi , a commander of the Mughal emperor Babur . Before the 1940s, the masjid was officially known as "Masjid-i-Janmasthan" ("the mosque of the birthplace"). The mosque was attacked and demolished by a Hindu nationalist mob in 1992, which ignited communal violence across the Indian subcontinent . The mosque
5289-472: The 70-acre (28 ha) area as green space, emphasising water conservation. The temple has a total of 366 columns. The columns have 16 idols each to include the incarnations of Shiva , the 10 Dashavataras , the Chausath Yoginis , and the 12 incarnations of the goddess Saraswati . The width of the stairs are 16 feet (4.9 m). Per scriptures dedicated to the design of temples dedicated to Vishnu ,
5412-454: The ASI claimed to have found evidence indicating that a temple existed on the site. The claims were heavily disputed by critics as contradictory and unreliable. Archaeologist K. K. Muhammed maintained that remains of a Hindu temple were found in 1978, and accused several historians of averting a settlement for the dispute. Over the years, various title and legal disputes took place, such as
5535-575: The BJP "got the entire thing politicised." A number of opposition parties, as well as BJP members themselves, have criticised the BJP for using the temple to for gain political mileage. The President of the Congress , Mallikarjun Kharge , had questioned the authority of Home Minister Amit Shah , after he declared the opening date of the temple. The BJP leader Subramanian Swamy questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's involvement in Ram Mandir's inauguration. The Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised
5658-403: The Babri Masjid is uncertain. The inscriptions on the Babri Masjid premises found in the 20th century state that the mosque was built in 935 AH (1528–29) by Mir Baqi in accordance with the wishes of Babur. However, these inscriptions appear to be of a more recent vintage. There are no records of the mosque from this period. The Baburnama (Chronicles of Babur) does not mention either
5781-423: The Babri Masjid on the night of 22–23 December 1949 and the devotees began to gather the next day. By 1950, the state took control of the mosque under Section 145 CrPC and allowed Hindus, not Muslims, to perform their worship at the site. In the 1980s, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), belonging to the Hindu nationalist family, Sangh Parivar , launched a new movement to reclaim the site for Hindus and to erect
5904-444: The Babri Masjid was constructed on a "structure", whose architecture was distinctly indigenous and non-Islamic. The court concluded that no evidence was found that the structure was specifically demolished for the construction of the Babri Masjid. On 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the land to be handed over to a trust to build the Hindu temple. It also ordered the government to allot an alternative 2-hectare (5-acre) plot to
6027-580: The Delhi Sultanate was established , seen also in the Babari Mosque in the southern suburb of the walled city of Gaur, and the Jamali Kamili Mosque built by Sher Shah Suri . This was the forerunner of the Mughal architecture style adopted by Akbar. "A whisper from the Babri Masjid mihrab could be heard clearly at the other end, 200 feet [60 m] away and through the length and breadth of
6150-514: The General Secretary. Both of them were elected unanimously to the trust. Former IAS officer and Principal Secretary , Nripendra Mishra was nominated as the Chairman of the construction committee. Currently, Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj is the Treasurer and K. Parasaran is the Senior Spokesperson of the trust. Of 15, only 11 trustees have voting rights. The two officers appointed by
6273-635: The God Vishnu . and some Hindus view Rama as Para Brahman ( lit. ' The ultimate Brahman ' ). Rama holds huge significance in Hindu culture and religion. In the Rama avatar, Vishnu is not supposed to exhibit any of his divine potencies and lead life as a human. As Rama is said to have possessed sixteen ideal qualities, Hindus view Rama as Puruṣottama ( lit. ' The ideal man ' ), Vigrahavān dharmaḥ ( lit. ' Embodiment of Dharma ' ) and Ādi Puruṣa . According to
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#17328546196826396-520: The Hindus launched an effort to construct a temple on the platform. After Muslim protests, the deputy commissioner prohibited any temple construction on 19 January 1885. On 27 January 1885, Raghubar Das, the Hindu mahant (priest) of the Ram Chabutara filed a civil suit before the Faizabad Sub-Judge. In response, the mutawalli (Muslim trustee) of the mosque argued that the entire land belonged to
6519-426: The Hindus that raised a chabutara on the spot regarded as the birthplace of Rama. In the petition, he stated that Babur had inscribed one word "Allah" above the door. The district judge and the sub-judge visited the mosque in the presence of all parties and their lawyers and confirmed this fact. No other inscriptions were recorded. In 1889, archaeologist Anton Führer visited the mosque and found three inscriptions. One
6642-485: The Indian National Congress leaders, including prime minister P V Narasimha Rao and home minister S B Chavan , had ignored warnings about the demolition for deriving political benefits. In 2003, by the order of an Indian court, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was asked to conduct a more in-depth study and an excavation to ascertain the type of structure that was beneath the rubble. The excavation
6765-542: The Indian media for diverting attention from critical governance issues by overly focusing on the temple. On the occasion of Bhumi Pujan, the Ram Lalla's dress was stitched by tailors Bhagwat Prasad and Shankar Lal, a fourth generation tailor to Rama's idol. The temple construction officially started again after a Bhumi - Pujan ( transl. ground breaking ceremony ) on 5 August 2020. The three-day long Vedic ritual
6888-659: The Judicial Commissioner W. Young was also dismissed on 1 November 1886. On 27 March 1934, a Hindu–Muslim riot occurred in Ayodhya, triggered by cow slaughter in the nearby Shahjahanpur village. The walls around the Masjid and one of the domes of the Masjid were damaged during the riots. These were reconstructed by the British Indian government . In 1936, the United Provinces government enacted U.P. Muslim Waqf Act for
7011-516: The Ram Mandir on 22 January. The yatra followed the Ram Van Gaman Path, retracing Rama's 14-year exile from Ayodhya . The trust, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Ayodhya city administrators carried out extensive preparations to accommodate the influx of devotees and invited guests from all over the world. Strict security measures were enacted in and around the temple premises. The Government of Uttar Pradesh announced public holiday to mark
7134-481: The Supreme Court verdict in this regard. The central government nominated the 12 of 15 members of the trust. Kesava Parasaran , the former Attorney General who represented Shri Ram Lalla Virajmaan in the Ayodhya case , was made the acting chairman. On 19 February 2020, the trust nominated the rest of its members and elected Mahant Nrityagopal Das as the chairman. The senior trustees had signed an agreement with C.B. Sompura in 1992 for architecture design services
7257-413: The VHP leader, Ashok Singhal . Initially, the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh had agreed that the shilanya s would be conducted outside of the disputed site. However, on 9 November 1989, a group of VHP leaders and Sadhus laid the foundation stone by digging a 200-litre (7-cubic-foot) pit adjacent to the disputed land. The singhdwar ( transl. main entrance ) of
7380-507: The apparent contradiction, Führer published the date of "A. H. 930 during the reign of Babar", in his book of 1891. Writer Kishore Kunal states that all the inscriptions claimed were fake. They were affixed almost 285 years after the supposed construction of the mosque in 1528, and repeatedly replaced. His own assessment is that the mosque was built around 1660 by governor Fedai Khan of Aurangzeb, who demolished many temples in Ayodhya. Lal Das, who wrote Awadh-Vilasa in 1672 describes
7503-543: The better administration of waqf properties in the state. In accordance with this act, the Babri Masjid and its adjacent graveyard (Ganj-e-Saheedan Qabristan) were registered as Waqf no. 26 Faizabad with the UP Sunni Central Board of Waqfs . The Shias disputed the Sunni ownership of the mosque, claiming that the site belonged to them because Mir Baqi was a Shia. The Commissioner of Waqfs initiated an inquiry into
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#17328546196827626-440: The bhumi pujan, but instead had been kept away. He added that the committee for the temple was formed at the BJP's central office and the Hindu Mahasabha was sidelined. The temple trust decided to launch a nationwide "mass contact and contribution campaign" aimed at reaching 55–600 million people. Voluntary donations of ₹ 1 (1.2¢ US) and higher were accepted. On 1 January 2021, former President Ram Nath Kovind made
7749-409: The birthplace of Rama. The court observed that the Hindu claim is 'undisputed' and opined that there is clear evidence that Hindus believed that site to be Rama's birthplace. The trust was eventually formed under the name of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra . On 5 February 2020, it was announced in the Parliament of India that the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accepted
7872-476: The briskest trade are the ones playing videos on a loop of Hindu fundamentalists demolishing the mosque." Riots in the aftermath of Babri Masjid's demolition extended to Bangladesh , where hundreds of shops, homes and temples of Hindus were destroyed. Widespread retaliatory attacks against scores of Hindu and Jain temples also took place across neighbouring Pakistan , with police not intervening. Reprisal attacks against Hindus in both countries, in turn, entered
7995-417: The central court" according to Graham Pickford, architect to Lord William Bentinck (1828–33). The mosque's acoustics were mentioned by him in his book Historic Structures of Oudhe where he says "for a 16th-century building the deployment and projection of voice from the pulpit is considerably advanced, the unique deployment of sound in this structure will astonish the visitor". The date of construction of
8118-402: The central government to set up a trust to oversee and manage the construction of the temple within three months of the judgement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of the trust in the Lok Sabha on 5 February 2020. The trust was awarded the disputed 2.77-acre land as well as the 67.703-acre land acquired under the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993 following
8241-411: The construction of Ram Mandir was performed by Narendra Modi , Prime Minister of India . The temple complex, currently under construction, is being supervised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. On 22 January 2024, Modi served as the Mukhya Yajamāna ( transl. chief patron ) of rituals for the event and performed the prāṇa pratiṣṭhā ( transl. consecration ) of
8364-408: The construction of the Ram mandir was one of the worlds biggest crowd funded projects. Fundraising by the Mandir trust has ended on 27 February 2021. In 2015, the Hindu Mahasabha , among the leading organisation involved in the Ram Mandir issue, alleged the BJP-affiliate Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) of carrying out donation scam of over ₹ 1,400 crore (US$ 170 million) over the construction of
8487-525: The construction of the temple, and the fusing of the stone blocks has required ten thousand copper plates. In a culturally significant move, Thailand also symbolically contributed to the inauguration of the Ram Mandir, by sending soil to the Ram Janmabhoomi , building on their prior gesture of sending water from two rivers in Thailand to honour the temple. According to the temple trust, the final blueprint of Ram Mandir included temples dedicated to Surya , Ganesha , Shiva , Durga , Vishnu and Brahma in
8610-500: The corners. Annapurna and Hanuman temples are on the northern and southern arms. The foundation features a 14-metre (46 ft)-thick roller-compacted concrete layer resembling artificial rock, with a 21-foot (6.4 m) granite plinth for moisture protection, avoiding iron use. Accessibility is ensured with ramps, lifts, and facilities for the elderly and differently-abled. A pilgrims facility centre for 25,000 people offers medical and locker services. Environmental focus preserves 70% of
8733-402: The cutting of the sandstone was slowed down. In early 2022, a video was released by the temple trust, showing the planned construction of the temple in 3D along with other related information. In January 2023, two 60-million-year-old Shaligram rocks, 26 tonnes and 14 tonnes respectively, were sent from the Gandaki river in Nepal . These rocks were used to carve the idol of Ram Lalla in
8856-454: The demolition later blamed 68 people including senior BJP, RSS and VHP leaders for the demolition. Among those criticised in the report were Atal Bihari Vajpayee , the party's chief LK Advani, and chief minister Kalyan Singh . A 2005 book by the former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Joint Director Maloy Krishna Dhar claimed the senior leaders of RSS, BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal had planned the demolition 10 months in advance. He also suggested that
8979-410: The demolition of Babri Masjid as justification for attacks directed against India. D-Company Crime Boss Dawood Ibrahim , wanted in India for his alleged ties to the 1993 Bombay bombings which killed 257 people, is believed to have been infuriated by Babri Masjid's demolition. The site has since become a magnet for pilgrims. According to The Economist , "Among its souvenir stalls, those doing
9102-575: The design and construction of the temple free of cost, and became the contractor of the project. The Central Building Research Institute , National Geophysical Research Institute and the Bombay , Guwahati and Madras IITs have assisted in areas such as soil testing , concrete supply and design. The construction work has been accomplished with 600,000 cubic feet (17,000 m ) of sandstone from Baansi in Rajasthan . No iron and steel has been used in
9225-513: The discourse of right-wing Hindu nationalists – for example, in 1995, the VHP appealed to the United Nations to protect Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kashmir . Babri Masjid's demolition and its violent repercussions have negatively affected relations between India and Pakistan, and remain strained until the present day. The Liberhan Commission set up by the Government to investigate
9348-638: The dispute. The inquiry concluded that the mosque belonged to the Sunnis, since it was commissioned by Babur , who was a Sunni. The concluding report was published in an official gazette dated 26 February 1944. In 1945, the Shia Central Board moved to court against this decision. On 23 March 1946, Judge S. A. Ahsan ruled in favour of the UP Sunni Central Board of Waqfs. In December 1949, the Hindu organisation Akhil Bharatiya Ramayana Mahasabha organised
9471-412: The division of disputed land to the Supreme Court. In the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ayodhya dispute in 2019 , it was decided that the disputed land would be handed over to a trust formed by the Government of India for the construction of a Ram temple. The court referenced the 2003 report from the ASI, as evidence suggesting the presence of a structure beneath the demolished Babri Masjid, that
9594-537: The enormous difference between the mosques of Bengal , Kashmir and Gujarat . The Babri Mosque followed the architectural school of Jaunpur Sultanate . When viewed from the west side, it resembled the Atala Masjid in Jaunpur . The architecture of the mosque is completely a replica of the mosques in the Delhi Sultanate. Babri was an important mosque of a distinct style, preserved mainly in architecture, developed after
9717-418: The excavation concluded that there were ruins of "a massive structure" beneath the ruins of the mosque which was "indicative of remains which are distinctive features found associated with the temples of north India", but found no evidence that the structure was specifically demolished for the construction of the Babri Masjid. The report received both praise and criticism, with some other archaeologists contesting
9840-404: The first contribution towards the construction of the Ram Mandir by donating more than ₹ 5 lakh (US$ 6,000). Several leaders and notable personalities across the nation followed this. By April 2021, around ₹ 5,000 crore (US$ 600 million) was collected from donations across India. Nearly 150,000 VHP activists participated in collecting donations. The temple trust also received donations from
9963-601: The first phase of construction of the Ram Mandir in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India caused a temporary suspension of the construction. On 25 March 2020, Ram's idol was moved to a temporary location in the presence of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh , Yogi Adityanath . In preparation for the temple's construction, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organised a ' Vijay Mahamantra Jaap Anushthan ', in which individuals would gather at different places to chant
10086-541: The fortress of Rama in Ayodhya, and the Bedi, where the birthplace of Rama is situated. The first instance of religious violence was documented in 1853. In December 1858, the British administration prohibited Hindus from conducting puja (rituals) at the contested site. A platform was created for conducting rituals outside the mosque. The murtis ( transl. sacred images ) of Rama and Sita were installed inside
10209-459: The furious zeal of Aurangzabe". Yet, it was ascertained to have been built by Babur by reying upon "an inscription on its walls". The said inscription in Persian was said to have been copied by a scribe and translated by a Maulvi friend of Buchanan. The translation however contained five pieces of text, including two inscriptions. The first inscription said that the mosque was constructed by Mir Baqi in
10332-539: The government to give an alternative 2-hectare (5-acre) plot to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board to replace the Babri Masjid that was demolished in 1992. The government allotted a site in the village of Dhannipur , in Ayodhya District, 18 kilometres (11 mi) from Ayodhya City and 30 kilometres (19 mi) by road from the site of the original Babri Masjid. The construction of
10455-562: The members of the Muslim and Christian communities. In August 2021, a viewing location was created for the public to observe the construction works in the temple site. Following the groundbreaking ceremony, up to 40 feet (12 m) of debris were removed and the remaining earth compacted. The foundation was made using roller-compacted concrete . A total of 47–48 layers, with each layer 1-foot (0.30 m) high, were completed by mid-September 2021. Due to electricity supply issues in Mirzapur ,
10578-415: The middle of the garbhagriha ( sanctum sanctorum ) and on the entrance passage. The Shri Ram Darbar, located on the first floor, comprises five halls – Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthana Mandap, and Kirtan Mandap. In Nagara style, the mandapas are decorated with shikharas . Adorned with deity statues, the temple includes dedicated mandirs for Surya , Bhagwati, Ganesh , and Shiv at
10701-427: The mosque a disputed area and locked its gates. Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru directed the state's Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant to remove the idols, however Pant was not willing to remove the idols. Pant wrote in response that "there is a reasonable chance of success, but things are still in a fluid state and it will be hazardous to say more at this stage". By 1950,
10824-508: The mosque or the destruction of a temple. The Ramcharitamanas of Tulsidas (1574) and Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (1598) made no mention of a mosque either. William Finch , the English traveller who visited Ayodhya around 1611, wrote about the "ruins of the Ranichand [Ramachand] castle and houses" where Hindus believed the great God "took flesh upon him to see the tamasha of
10947-498: The mosque resulted in several months of inter-communal violence between India's Hindu and Muslim communities, causing the death of an estimated 2,000 people in Bombay (now Mumbai ) as a direct consequence, and triggering riots all over the Indian subcontinent . A day after the demolition of the mosque, on 7 December 1992, The New York Times reported that over 30 Hindu temples across Pakistan were attacked, some set on fire, and one
11070-399: The mosque. Communal riots between Hindus and Muslims ensued across India immediately following demolition of the mosque. Rioting in the immediate aftermath resulted in the deaths of an estimated 2,000–3,000 people. Six weeks of riots further erupted in Bombay , resulting in the deaths of an estimated 900 people. Jihadist outfits like Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba have cited
11193-539: The mosque. On 24 December 1885, the Sub Judge Pandit Hari Kishan Singh dismissed the suit. On 18 March 1886, the District Judge F.E.A. Chamier also dismissed an appeal against the lower court judgment. He agreed that the mosque was built on the land considered sacred by the Hindus, but ordered maintenance of status quo , since it was "too late now to remedy the grievance". A subsequent appeal before
11316-489: The mosque." The report claimed otherwise on the basis of 'pillar bases' was contested since no pillars were found, and the alleged existence of 'pillar bases' has been debated by archaeologists. Syed Rabe Hasan Nadvi, chairman of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) alleged that ASI failed to mention any evidence of a temple in its interim reports and only revealed it in the final report which
11439-422: The occasion and celebrate it like Diwali . The guests were addressed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Modi. Modi also spoke of Rama as a symbol of righteousness and unity. While Yogi Adityanath's address was steeped in religious fervor, celebrating the Ram Mandir as a victory for faith and perseverance. He praised the devotion of millions who contributed to
11562-563: The occasion. The Government of India and some state governments declared a half day holiday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to perform the Prana Pratishtha of the newly made idol in the sanctum sanctorum. In preparation, he undertook an 11-day fast, consuming only coconut water and fruit and sleeping on the ground at night. He performed the consecration ceremony on 22 January 2024 from 12:15 PM to 12:45PM IST . Prime Minister Modi urged every Indian to light up diyas to mark
11685-522: The only Hindu ceremony permitted at the site was a Hindu priest performing an annual puja . After the ruling, all Hindus were given access to the site, and the mosque gained some function as a Hindu temple. Communal tension in the region worsened when the VHP received permission to perform a shilanyas (stone-laying ceremony) at the disputed site before the national election in November 1989. A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, L K Advani , started
11808-701: The passage of the Acquisition of Certain Areas at Ayodhya Act in 1993. In 2010, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the 1.12 hectares (2.77 acres) of disputed land be divided into three parts, one going to the Ram Lalla or Infant Rama, represented by the Hindu Mahasabha for the construction of the Ram temple, one going to the Muslim Sunni Waqf Board , and one going to Hindu religious denomination Nirmohi Akhara . All three parties involved appealed against
11931-428: The results of the report. Starting in the 19th century, there were several conflicts and court disputes between Hindus and Muslims over the mosque. In 1949, idols of Rama and Sita were placed inside the mosque, after which the government locked the building to avoid further disputes. Court cases were filed by both Hindus and Muslims asking for access. On 6 December 1992, a large group of Hindu activists belonging to
12054-433: The sanctum sanctorum is octagonal in shape. The temple covers an area of 4.0 hectares (10 acres), while the remaining 23 hectares (57 acres) of land has been developed into a complex with a prayer hall, a lecture hall, an educational facility and other facilities including a museum and a cafeteria. According to the temple committee, the site has a capability to handle 70,000 visitors. Larsen & Toubro offered to oversee
12177-425: The site for the construction of a mosque. The decision was subsequently appealed by all parties to the Supreme Court , wherein a five judge bench heard a title suit from August to October 2019. On 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court quashed the lower court's judgement and ordered the entire site ( 1.1 hectares or 2 + 3 ⁄ 4 acres land) to be handed over to a trust to build the Hindu temple. It also ordered
12300-480: The state and central government, district collector of Ayodhya and the representative of Nirmohi Akhara will not have any voting rights in the proceedings of the trust. Chief of Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan Chief of Mani Ram Das ki Chavani Ram Mandir The Ram Mandir ( ISO : Rāma Maṁdira , lit. ' Rama Temple ' ) is a partially constructed Hindu temple complex in Ayodhya , Uttar Pradesh , India. Many Hindus believe that it
12423-589: The state took control of the structure under section 145 CrPC and allowed Hindus, not Muslims, to perform their worship at the site. On 16 January 1950, Gopal Singh Visharad filed a civil suit in the Faizabad Court, asking that Hindus be allowed to worship Rama and Sita at the place. In 1959, the Nirmohi Akhara filed another lawsuit demanding possession of the mosque. On 18 December 1961, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board also filed
12546-524: The temple complex became the world's third largest Hindu temple . It is designed in the Māru-Gurjara architecture of Nagara style , a type of Hindu temple architecture found primarily in northern India. A model of the proposed temple was showcased during the Prayag Kumbh Mela in 2019 . The temple's main structure has been built on a raised platform with three storeys. It has five mandapas in
12669-430: The temple grounds. The Ram Mandir was built with funds gained through international fundraising drives, involving nearly two million volunteers. Ramnath Kovind was the first to contribute, donating ₹ 500,000 on 14 January 2021, during his tenure as the 14th president of India . Over 127 million donations amounting to approximately ₹ 50 billion were received by the temple. Some media outlets in India claimed that
12792-425: The temple has been the subject of communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India, as it is the former location of the Babri Masjid mosque, which was built between 1528 and 1529. The idols of Rama and Sita were placed in the mosque in 1949, before it was attacked and demolished in 1992 . In 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered the verdict to give the disputed land to Hindus for construction of
12915-463: The temple's construction and acknowledged the divine blessings that guided the process. Mohan Bhagwat spoke of the Ram Mandir as a symbol of national pride, marking the revival of India's cultural heritage. He emphasised the importance of preserving ancient traditions and values in a rapidly modernising world. The guest list also included prominent industrialists, scientists, actors, army officers, spiritual leaders and Padma awardees . The event
13038-442: The temple's construction with regards to its design and involvement of the Muslims, claiming that they found Islamic motifs in the Ram Mandir. Champat Rai , the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, responded to these concerns by saying that temple was being sculpted by experts, and there could be no question about their religion. The vice-president of the Hindu Mahasabha, Pandit Ashok Sharma, said that
13161-502: The temple. The prana pratishtha ceremony was organised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. The temple has also attracted a number of controversies due to alleged misuse of donation, sidelining of its major activists, and politicisation of the temple by the Bharatiya Janata Party . Rama is a prominent Hindu deity who is regarded as a Pūrṇāvatāra ( lit. ' complete avatar ' ) of
13284-460: The temple. The VHP denied this allegation. In 2019, the national spokesperson of the Nirmohi Akhara , Mahant Sitaram Das, accused the VHP of carrying out a ₹ 1,400 crore (US$ 170 million) scam over the temple. Political leaders from opposition parties have also questioned the methods of fund collection. The public were warned of instances in which online scammers posed as fundraisers. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust began
13407-427: The world." He found pandas (Brahmin priests) in the ruins of the fort, recording the names of pilgrims, but there was no mention of a mosque. Thomas Herbert described in 1634 the "pretty old castle of Ranichand built by a Bannyan Pagod of that name" which he described as an antique monument that was "especially memorable". He also recorded the fact of Brahmins recording the names of pilgrims. The earliest record of
13530-441: The year 935 AH or 923 AH. The second inscription narrated the genealogy of Aurangzeb. In addition to the two inscriptions and their monograms ( tughras ), a fable concerning a dervish called Musha Ashiqan was also included. The translator doubted that the fable was part of the inscription but recorded that the scribe "positively says that the inscription was executed at the erection of this building". The translator also had
13653-450: Was a Quranic verse. The inscription XLI was Persian poetry in the metre Ramal, which stated that the mosque was erected by a noble 'Mir Khan' of Babur. The inscription XLII was also Persian poetry in metre Ramal, and said that the mosque was founded in year 930 AH by a grandee of Babur, who was (comparable to) "another King of Turkey and China". The year 930 AH corresponds to 1523, three years before Babur's conquest of Hindustan. Despite
13776-530: Was conducted from 12 March 2003 to 7 August 2003, resulting in 1360 discoveries. The ASI submitted its report to the Allahabad high court. The summary of the ASI report indicated what appears to be the presence of a 10th-century shrine under the mosque. According to the ASI team, the human activity at the site dates back to the 13th century BC. The next few layers date back to the Shunga period (2nd-1st century BC) and
13899-418: Was constructed during the early 16th century. Muslim groups immediately disputed the ASI findings. The Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (Sahmat) criticised the report saying that it said that "presence of animal bones throughout as well as of the use of 'surkhi' and lime mortar" that was found by ASI are all characteristic of Muslim presence "that rule out the possibility of a Hindu temple having been there beneath
14022-691: Was demolished. Hindu temples in Bangladesh were also attacked. On 5 July 2005, five terrorists attacked the makeshift Ram temple at the site of the destroyed Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. All five were shot dead in the ensuing encounter with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), while one civilian died in the grenade attack that the attackers launched to breach the cordoned wall. The CRPF suffered three casualties, two of whom were seriously injured with multiple gunshot wounds. Reports on two archaeological excavations in 1978 and 2003 conducted by
14145-461: Was destroyed or not during Medieval rule which eventually led to Ayodhya dispute that was resolved legally. The Trayōdaśakṣarī maṁtra ( lit. ' 13-character mantra ' ) also known as Śrī Rāma Tāraka Mantra ( lit. ' The Rama mantra for Salvation ' ) is Śrī Rāma Jaya Rāma Jaya Jaya Rāma and many Hindus believe that chanting it repeatedly lead to salvation . Tāraka means something that carries or helps
14268-438: Was found to be non- Islamic . The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgement concluded that the underlying structure beneath the mosque was not an Islamic structure, and also concluded that no evidence was found that a non-Islamic structure was specifically demolished for the construction of the Babri Masjid. Another salient aspect in the apex court's judgement is on the question on the claim of Hindus that disputed structure as
14391-617: Was held ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony, which revolved around the installation of a 40 kg (88 pounds) silver brick as the foundation stone by Prime Minister Narendra Modi . On the day before on 4 August, the Ramarchan Puja ( transl. Puja of Rama's feet ) was performed, in order to ritually invite all the major deities into the temple. On the occasion of the Bhoomi Poojan , soil and holy water were collected from several religious places across India, such as
14514-433: Was located on a hill known as Ramkot (" Rama 's fort"). According to Hindu nationalists, Baqi destroyed a pre-existing temple of Rama at the site. The existence of this temple is a matter of controversy. The Archaeological Survey of India conducted an excavation of the disputed site on the orders of the Allahabad High Court . The excavation period was short due to court time constraints, lasting only 15 days. The report of
14637-415: Was organised by Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra . Babri Masjid Babri Masjid ( ISO : Bābarī Masjida; meaning Mosque of Babur ) was a mosque in Ayodhya , India . It has been claimed to have been built upon the site of Ram Janmabhoomi , the legendary birthplace of Rama , a principal deity of Hinduism . It has been a focus of dispute between the Hindu and Muslim communities since
14760-453: Was performed ' ). Temples commemorating these events used to exist in olden days as Janmasthān temple, Svargadvār temple and Trētā-kā-Thākūr temple respectively. However, they were destroyed during Islamic rule in the medieval ages and mosques were built. While Marxist historians like Irfan Habib agree about the fate of Svargadvar and Treta-ka-Thakur temples, there is some lack of consensus among scholars whether Janmasthan temple
14883-513: Was revalidated with additional provisions. In November 2020, the trust appointed Larsen & Toubro as the design & build contractor and Tata Consulting Engineers as the project manager consultant for the construction of the temple. In February 2020, further contracts were signed with Tata Consulting Engineers and Design Associates Inc. for the development of the 67-acre temple complex. The trust will have 15 members, of which 9 are permanent and 6 are nominated members with each member must be
15006-471: Was submitted during a time of national tension, making the report highly suspect. The Allahabad High Court, however, upheld the ASI's findings. A land title case on the site was lodged in the Allahabad High Court , the verdict of which was pronounced on 30 September 2010. In their verdict, the three judges of The Allahabad High Court ruled that the 1.1 hectares ( 2 + 3 ⁄ 4 acres) of Ayodhya land be divided into three parts, with one-third going to
15129-453: Was temporarily suspended after the assassination of Indira Gandhi , but was revived in 25 places on 23 October 1985. On 25 January 1986, a 28-year-old local lawyer named Umesh Chandra Pandey appealed to a court to remove the restrictions on Hindu worship in the Babri Masjid premises. Subsequently, the Rajiv Gandhi government ordered the locks on the Babri Masjid gates to be removed. Earlier,
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