Surya abhishek of Ram Lalla on Ram Navami? 20 ancient marvels that did it already

The innovative feature of Surya abhishek is likely to be a reality this Ram Navami, where the sun’s rays will illuminate Ram Lalla‘s murti in the Ayodhya temple around noon, blending spirituality with scientific advancements.

CBRI to enable Ram Lalla’s Surya abhishek

The experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee are currently stationed in Ayodhya to ensure the success of the Surya abhishek event.

The CBRI scientists have not confirmed their ability to carry out the project on Ram Navami. They updated Nripendra Misra, the trust’s chairman, on the preparations for the Surya abhishek of Ram Lalla on this auspicious day. “No scientist of the CBRI is willing to commit that the project will be implemented on this Ram Navami,” said a member of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust.

Anil Mishra, a member of the trust, had previously mentioned that four high-quality mirrors and lenses would be utilized for the project. Two mirrors have already been placed on the ground floor of the temple, with the remaining two to be installed on the temple’s second floor.

The CBRI scientists participated in a meeting of the Ram Temple Construction Committee at the end of the month to inform the chairman about the project’s readiness.

On the day of Ram Navami, around noon, the sun’s rays will directly illuminate Ram Lalla in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. Prof Pradeep Kumar Ramancharla and Prof Devdutt Ghosh from the CBRI, Roorkee, were present at the committee’s meeting in Ayodhya on 9 March. They are the directors of the CBRI in Roorkee, who are supervising the project.

Currently, the temple’s ground floor is accessible to devotees, while construction on the first floor is ongoing.

Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, expressed optimism about the possibility of the sunlight falling on Ram Lalla this Ram Navmi. The efforts are ongoing to make this celestial event happen.

Currently, the ground floor of the temple is accessible to devotees while construction is progressing on the first floor. The temple’s foundation was laid based on the CBRI’s recommendations, ensuring structural integrity and longevity with the institute’s expertise, which is why it is entrusted with Surya abhishek.

During the Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya on 23 October 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested to the trust that the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple should be designed in a way that allows the sun’s rays to directly fall on the idol on Ram Navami, similar to the Konark temple in Odisha. That would be akin to Surya abhishek.

10 of many temples in India where the deity is sunlit on specific dates

There are several temples in India renowned for their architectural and astronomical significance, where sunlight aligns with specific features or idols on particular dates of the calendar, a feat the CBRI is trying to replicate for the Surya abhishek of Ram Lalla. Some of the most notable ones are

The following are 10 of many temples in India known for their unique architectural features that align with specific dates of the calendar, allowing sunlight to illuminate certain areas or idols:

1. Konark Sun Temple, Odisha: This temple is dedicated to the Sun God and is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with intricate carvings. The temple is aligned in such a way that the first rays of the sun illuminate the main entrance at dawn on the equinoxes.

2. The Vidyasankara Temple in Sringeri boasts a remarkable celestial display known as the Zodiac Pillars or rashi stambhas. Within the temple grounds, these pillars create a truly unique spectacle. In total, there are 12 pillars, each representing one of the twelve zodiac signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. The ingenious temple builders of that era strategically positioned these pillars in a manner that makes sunlight illuminate the corresponding zodiac sign pillar each month, casting a shadow on the respective sign. This arrangement resembles a calendar, adding to the temple’s allure.

3. Ranakpur Jain Temple, Rajasthan: This temple is famous for its intricate marble architecture and 1,444 intricately carved marble pillars. The sunlight creates an enchanting play of light and shadow within the temple, especially during the winter solstice.

4. Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple, Andhra Pradesh: This temple is renowned for its exquisite architectural features and intricate carvings. The temple’s pillars are designed in such a way that one can witness the shadow of a hanging pillar disappearing at noon.

5. Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple, Telangana: Dedicated to the Sun God, this temple in Telangana is famous for the phenomenon known as ‘Arudra Darshan.’ On the day of the festival Arudra Darshanam, the sun’s rays fall directly on the idol of the sun god.

6. Martand Sun Temple, Jammu and Kashmir: Although in ruins now, thanks to Muslim marauders, this temple in Kashmir is known for its architectural grandeur and was dedicated to the Sun God. It is believed that the temple was designed in such a way that the first rays of the sun would illuminate the central idol.

7. Galtaji Temple, Rajasthan: Also known as the Monkey Temple, this temple complex in Jaipur has numerous temples and water tanks. On Makar Sankranti, thousands of devotees gather here to take a holy dip in the tanks when the sun’s rays fall directly on the temple.

8. Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala: This temple in Thiruvananthapuram is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On Vishu, a Malayalam New Year, the sun’s rays directly illuminate the idol through the eastern entrance, creating a spectacular sight.

9. Mukteshwar Temple, Odisha: This temple is known for its unique architecture and intricate carvings. On the day of Makar Sankranti, the sun’s rays pass through the entrance and fall directly on the deity inside.

10. Kailasa Temple, Maharashtra: Carved out of a single rock, this temple in Ellora is dedicated to Lord Shiva. On Mahashivaratri, the sun’s rays fall directly on the main shrine, creating a divine atmosphere.

These temples showcase the ancient Indian understanding of astronomy and architecture, where the movements of celestial bodies were integrated into religious and cultural practices.

9 ancient, 1 modern demonstrations of this science and technology in the West

1. Stonehenge, a renowned ancient monument few know the full history of, is aligned with the summer solstice. The Heel Stone, part of this 5,000-year-old Neolithic structure, is illuminated by the rising sun just before the summer solstice.

2. The Pyramids of Giza, dating back 4,500 years, are known for their alignment with the cardinal points. At sunset on the solstice, the area between the Khafra and Khufu pyramids is highlighted when viewed from the Sphinx. During the equinoxes, the sunset occurs near the half-man, half-lion statue.

3. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, located in a secluded canyon in northwestern New Mexico, contains large kiva structures built by the Ancestral Puebloan people between CE 850 and 1250. Witness the sunrise at Casa Rinconada, a “great kiva,” on the summer solstice day (and a few days before and after) to observe a rectangular beam of light shining through a window and settling in a niche.

4. In May 2023, archaeologists in Andalusia, southern Spain, announced the discovery of a 5,400-year-old tomb in an area known for its megaliths. During the solstice sunrise, decorative rocks on the walls of a chamber deep within the tomb are illuminated.

5. The Sun Tunnels, an artistic creation by Nancy Holt built between 1973 and 1976 in the Great Basin Desert in northwestern Utah, consists of four large concrete cylinders. Each cylinder is aligned with the sunrise and sunset on both the summer and winter solstices.

6. A notable petroglyph at the prehistoric Puerco Pueblo features a shaft of sunlight projecting onto a spiral solstice marker on a boulder, reaching its centre around 9 am local time. This phenomenon occurs every morning for approximately two weeks surrounding the summer solstice.

7. During the summer solstice, at the break of dawn, the initial beams of sunlight penetrate the ancient megalithic temple of Hagar Qim on the Mediterranean island of Malta. This temple, constructed between 3600 and 3200 BC, features a grand elliptical oracle hole in its monumental walls. Through this opening, the sun’s disk is projected onto a stone slab, creating a mesmerizing sight.

8. In Kintyre, UK, the three Ballochroy Standing Stones perfectly align with the setting sun on the day of the solstice. As the sun descends behind the mountains on the Isle of Jura, this alignment creates a captivating spectacle.

9. Sometimes, solstice alignments can be found in plain view, and Kensington Gardens is no exception. This historic location, which has been home to members of the British monarchy since 1689, holds a fascinating secret. In 2017, a physics professor calculated that one of the main avenues extending from its Round Pond is precisely oriented to welcome the sunrise on the summer solstice.

10. Situated northwest of Cedar City in southern Utah, there exists a remarkable 180 m V-shaped gap amidst the mountains, the Parowan Gap, Iron County, Utah, in the US. When viewed from the east, the sun seemingly descends along this gap during sunset. This extraordinary phenomenon can be witnessed on any evening, depending on the viewer’s position. However, cairns, which were placed by the Fremont and Paiute Native American people approximately 10,000 years ago, mark the exact locations to stand during the summer and winter solstices.