Ayodhya is as holy to Hindus as Mecca and Madinah are to Muslims.
# Padma Shri, KK Muhammed ( Author of An Indian I Am)
In 1976, the discovery of Hindu motifs (from the 11th century) within the Babri Mosque by Prof BB Lal and his archaeological team including KK Muhammed marked the beginning of the Ramayana sites. The mosque's pillars were initially sourced from a temple, featuring intricate Hindu sculptures and embellishments like the Purana kalasha and makara parnala. This era marked a significant conflict between the Babri Mosque and Hindu worshippers at Ram Janambhumi In 1990, riots erupted in the northern part of India after Hindu nationalists stormed a mosque to build a temple on its site. Two years later, on December 6, 1992, a large group of Hindu nationalists demolished the three-story mosque within a few hours. Following the demolition, a 5 feet by 2 feet inscription fell from the mosque walls, later identified by experts as the revered Vishnu Hari Shila through epigraphy and numismatics analysis. Numerous attempts were made to establish the foundation of Babri as a Hindu temple, with KK Muhammed's dedication to archaeology being acknowledged through the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2019.
Upon arriving in Ayodhya, it became evident that the city was undergoing continuous development and its residents were not business-minded. By evening, just before sunset, we had arrived at our accommodation named Arundhati, conveniently situated near the station. We waited at the hotel, anticipating the arrival of our in-laws from Varanasi. I had a feeling that we wouldn't gain entry into the temple as it was nearing 7 PM and the following day was Tuesday. The locals had cautioned us against visiting Hanuman Garhi on Tuesdays due to the expected crowds. My father-in-law knew a police officer in Varanasi who had a contact in Ayodhya. That night, he was assigned near Hanuman Garhi temple and assured us of a meeting and a visit to the temple. Travelling with our elderly great-grandmother made our pace slow as we navigated through a crowd of people. Desperately seeking a wheelchair, we were relieved to come across a kind individual who offered his assistance.
Hanuman Garhi holds a significant place in Ayodhya's religious and cultural landscape, drawing both devotees and tourists. According to tradition, it is customary to visit this temple before paying homage to Lord Rama. Legend has it that when Lord Rama departed for Golak, he entrusted the protection of Ayodhya to Hanuman ji, making him the guardian of the city. With Dheera by our side (a given name that echoes the divine Hanuman) we followed the same route suggested by our ancestors. The VIP entry enabled us to have a valuable minute of darshan. Dheera and the wheelchair attendant lifted our great-grandmother, allowing her a glimpse of Bajrangbali. Embark on a virtual tour of this temple by following this link.
As we stepped into the Ayodhya temple, we couldn't help but notice the ongoing construction work, which only emphasized its grandeur. Despite having Dheera with us, it still took some time for us to reach the main temple for the VIP darshan. Although we had to deposit our mobile phones, Dheera's privilege allowed us to capture some beautiful moments inside with his phone. The temple architecture follows the Nagara style (similar to the Khajuraho temple complex, and the Konark Sun Temple and Mahabodhi Temple). After the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony in Jan 2024 the sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who dedicated seven months away from his family to meticulously chiselling and carving the 'shyam shila' that would embody Ram Lalla, was astonished by the transformation.
Dheera selflessly assisted us, enabling us to complete our darshan by 10 o'clock before temple closing time. Later, we had a delightful dinner in Arundhati.
The following day, we set off for Saryu River, where Lord Rama attained samadhi. Stay tuned for more details on the attractions near the ghat.