by Ashis Sinha
JNS: Lord Surya, the sun god, will perform the Tilak ceremony for Ramlala, the infant Lord Ram, on his birth anniversary (Ram Navami 17 April) at the Ayodhya Ram temple complex. The all preparations are underway for a special ceremony at the temple complex.
The successful test of the Surya Abhishek, or sun anointment, was recently conducted in the presence of scientists. During the test, Surya applied Tilak on the forehead of the deity for a full four minutes using a mirror. This significant event took place at noon, a symbolic time in the Hindu tradition.
On 17 April, on the day of Ram Navami, Suryadev (Lord Sun) will grace the forehead of Ramlala for approximately four minutes. This event holds special significance as it marks the first Ram Navami celebration after the consecration of the idol of Ramlala in the grand temple built at his birthplace.
The festival of Ram Navami is celebrated every year on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month, commemorating the birth of Lord Ram. This year, devotees are especially excited as they will witness the grandeur of the celebrations in Ayodhya, where Lord Ram has been seated in the newly constructed temple after nearly 500 years.
The consecration of Ramlala took place on January 22, 2024, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The elaborate ceremony involved diverting the sun’s rays through mirrors and passing them through a brass pipe to anoint the deity.
The Ram Mandir Teerth Kshetra Trust is making special arrangements for this year’s Ram Navami celebrations, including the live telecast of the Surya Tilak ceremony by Prasar Bharati. LED screens have been installed at over a hundred locations in Ayodhya for devotees to witness this divine event, officials informed.
