Ayodhya’s Ram Temple opening celebrations have been awe-inspiring: HAF statement

In response to the highly anticipated consecration ceremony for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya, India that took place on January 22, 2024, HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla made the following statement:

“Today’s consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya marks not just the return of a place of worship that has been significant to Hindus for millennia, but an example of how the law, science, and India’s pluralistic ethos together delivered a fair and equitable resolution to one of many contentious disputes over sacred spaces in India.

The celebrations across the globe of this special moment have simply been awe-inspiring, as has been learning about the diverse ways in which Sri Rama and the Ramayana have been sources of ethical guidance, solace, and perseverance for generations of the global Hindu diaspora.

May the case of Ram Janmabhoomi serve as an example amongst a small yet growing list of sacred space reparations, of indigenous communities around the world successfully seeking justice for historical conquests and colonialism.”

The last time a Hindu temple was on the site was in the 16th century

The new Ram temple and surrounding complex, the completion of which will take several years, is being built on an ancient site of Hindu worship. The final Hindu temple on the site was destroyed in the early 16th century by the first Mughal emperor for the construction of a mosque, known in modern times as the Babri Masjid. Archaeological evidence proves the mosque had no foundations of its own and was built upon a Hindu temple.

Since the early 19th century there have been Hindu and Sikh efforts to worship Lord Ram on the site. During British rule, the outer areas of the site were given to Hindu and Sikh devotees, with the inner areas remaining for Muslim prayer. Even prior to the establishment of the modern state of India in 1947, there have been a number of court cases concerning the site. In 1949, the government declared the mosque a disputed site, leading to the discontinuation of the mosque’s use. In the early 1990s this mosque — which had not been in use for half a century — was torn down after a rally at the site turned violent. In 2019, the Indian Supreme Court weighed in, allowing the construction of a Hindu temple on the site to proceed and granting significant land nearby for a new mosque.

The mosque replacing the Babri Masjid will the largest in India

As part of the Indian Supreme Court’s ruling on the site in 2019, land nearby was set aside for the construction of a new mosque, replacing the Babri Masjid. This new mosque will become the largest mosque in India. To be named the Masjid Muhammad Bin Abdullah, some 9000 worshippers will be accommodated at one time. Construction is planned to begin soon.

The site is considered to be the traditional birthplace of Lord Ram

As the traditional birthplace of Lord Ram, archeological and documentary evidence shows that the site has been recognized as a place of spiritual importance for Hindus since time immemorial. Thus, this is an important event for Hindus of all traditions.

Seeking restorative justice to re-establish a Hindu temple that had been destroyed as a result of iconoclasm a few hundred years ago has great symbolic and emotional resonance for Hindus in contemporary times. The trauma that this destruction brought has been passed down through generations and continues to impact the psyche of Hindus.

The destruction of thousands of Hindu temples by Muslim rulers and invaders in India, including major Hindu places of worship in Varanasi and Mathura, and the sometimes denial or downplaying of the amount of destruction that occurred, has contributed historically and continues to contribute to Hindu-Muslim tensions in India to this day.

Archeology shows continuous Hindu worship on the site for thousands of years, until the early 16th century

The most recent excavations by the Archeological Survey of India — done with representatives of both sides of the dispute present and with one of the lead archeologists being Muslim — show that the Ram Janmabhoomi site has been in continuous use as a sacred site by Hindus and adherents of other Dharma traditions since the second millennia BCE.

There is no evidence that the site was used for anything other than sacred purposes during this period, meaning there is no evidence of homes or other dwellings on the site. Excavations have discovered Hindu sandstone carvings and pillars, as well as Shivalinga on the site.

The most recent Hindu temple on the site dated back to the 12th-century and was the largest of temples that had occupied the area.

This temple was destroyed by Babur, the first emperor of the Mughal Dynasty, for the construction of a mosque in 1528. Excavations also show that this mosque had no foundations of its own and was built directly on top of the Hindu temple that preceded it.

The courts have been ruling on the temple site for more than a century

Though sometimes presented as being a recent conflict, the fact is that this site has a long history of Hindus and Sikhs attempting to reclaim it, dating back to the early 19th century. Furthermore the conflict has been ongoing regardless of the political party in power following India’s independence. Here are some key events in the re-establishment of a temple for Lord Ram on the site.

1) He is an embodiment of dharma, or righteousness

The world is a volatile place, prone to be thrown out of balance when those consumed by lust and greed accumulate too much power. Because of this, Vishnu, known as the god of preservation, is said to descend in various avatar forms, each with a unique role in helping to repair universal stability whenever it is needed.

The more extreme the manifestation of lust, greed, and power is, the greater the manifestation of love and goodness is required, and according to ancient texts, such a requirement came during the reign of Ravana, who was a tyrannical king of unfathomable proportions.

A slave to his senses, he was completely consumed by his desire to rule and control all, causing chaos and pain throughout the universe without anyone who could check him. To thus save the suffering and restore balance to the universe, Vishnu incarnated as Ram, a divine king who not only exceeded him in battle, but emerged as his spiritual counterpart, revealing that true strength comes not from an insatiable thirst for power, but from discipline aimed towards the good of all. As such, Ram is known as the perfect embodiment of dharma, or righteousness, whose timeless example shows what it means to selflessly perform one’s sacred duties, even at the cost of personal desires.

2) He is a symbol of devotion

Exiled to the forest after his step-mother forced her husband to banish him so her own son could inherit Ayodhya’s throne instead, Ram goes through an extraordinary series of trials and tribulations, each of which seems insurmountable, yet becomes possible through the incalculable power of love and friendship.

Famously depicted in Hinduism’s popular epic The Ramayana, the greatest of these challenges comes when Ravana, overcome by Sita’s (Ram’s wife) beauty, steals her away to his kingdom in Lanka. Scorched by the fire of grief and separation, Ram, assisted by his loyal brother Lakshman, embarks on a quest to find the love of his life, forging an alliance with the Vanaras, a powerful race of forest-dwellers who become won over by his extraordinary nobility, honor, and virtuous character. Especially captivated by Ram’s compassion, humility, and unconditional commitment to others, Hanuman, the strongest of them, evolves into his greatest devotee, performing one miraculous feat after the next in service to him and Sita.

Inspired by such feats, all drawn to Ram’s cause ride the wave of Hanuman’s dedication and sincerity to immeasurable heights, illustrating that at the core of dharma resides the inexorable pillar of devotion. Reaching its peak at the inconceivable love Ram and Sita share with each other, this wave continues to be ridden by followers all over the world, empowering them to serve the divine couple and their devotees in ways beyond what could have possibly been imagined.

3) He is an exemplar of spiritual pluralism

Though Ram is an object of immense devotion, worshiped by countless adherents over thousands of years, he is by no means the kind to monopolize the adulation. As devotion begets devotion, the reverence he receives is of the utmost ardor only because he is the greatest champion of it to all, including that of other gods, who have their own loyal followings.

When, for example, he was engaged in what turned out to be a long and arduous battle with Ravana, Ram, during a break in the fight, recited a prayer known as Aditya Hridayam, appealing to Surya, the Sun, for help. Experiencing an immediate change in his mind and body, which became infused with the deity’s radiant power, Ram took up his bow and re-engaged the enemy with renewed enthusiasm, bringing a conclusive end to Ravana’s reign of terror.

And after, when he hoped to cleanse himself of the karmic debt generally attached to the violence of war and death, Ram performed a formal worship of Shiva in Rameshvara, establishing two lingas in the god of transformation’s honor. Today, those lingas continue to be worshiped at that site as the main attraction of the renowned Rameshvara Temple, where pilgrims from all over bask in Shiva’s limitless compassion, highlighted and enhanced by the exceptional model of Ram’s transcendent devotion.

4) His story marks the victory of good over evil

Ram’s exile, while tragic as it happened, was actually a blessing in disguise, for it led to his killing of Ravana, who had become a scourge on not just the earth, but the universe. Gone, however, from a kingdom where he was widely beloved, the divine light of his presence was sorely missed, casting a shadow of sorrow on all he left behind.

Yearning for his return from the moment of his departure, Ayodhya’s citizens brimmed with anticipation when they learned, after 14 long years, their king and queen were finally coming home — and after defeating Ravana! Thus charged with an exultant joy that knew no bounds, they swiftly prepared for their arrival, exuberantly lighting lamps throughout the city in their honor.

A breathtaking display of their adoration, amplified by the many years of bereaved separation, the lighting of lamps is a tradition that continues to this day, particularly by those who wish to tap into the same mood of devotion. Known as Diwali, or “a row of lights,” this tradition shines as one of Hinduism’s most popular holidays, reminding all who participate that light dispels darkness, knowledge prevails over ignorance, and true goodness always outlasts the misguided onslaughts of evil.

5) His birth is celebrated on Ram Navami

Generally speaking, Ram’s earthly appearance, which falls on the ninth day of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra (March-April), is like a lot of India’s other major celebrations, with devotees finding different ways to engage as much of their being in meditation on his life and qualities.

This, among other things, includes fasting, singing spiritual songs, enacting devotional dramas, performing puja (worship) to his deity, cooking a feast in his honor, and listening to narrations of his various pastimes. And, of course, in places like Ayodhya, Rameshvara, and Bhadrachalam, where a number of these pastimes are believed to have taken place, the celebrations happen in a major way, often involving chariot processions and elaborate charitable endeavors.

Being, however, that The Ramayana has been such a timeless beacon of inspiration, what makes festivals like Ram Navami especially unique is its global appeal and participation. Indo-Caribbean communities especially, like those in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, where Ram’s story provided the courage, strength, resilience, and fortitude needed to keep their culture alive, are an extraordinary example.

Though, as indentured servants struggling to survive, they were severely exploited and pressured to give up their faith, the epic, along with the observances connected to it, played an essential role in helping them maintain their Hindu identity and traditions. As such traditions have grown, expanding to numerous countries by those who practice them, Ram has become more than just a deity of Hinduism, but a universal hero of love, integrity, and spiritual valor.