The collection comprises six stamps depicting Ram Temple, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Jatayu, Kevatraj, and Ma Shabri. The design incorporates a gold leaf of sun rays and Chaupai, lending a majestic character to the miniature sheet. Reflecting the five physical elements known as ‘Panchabhutas’ (sky, air, fire, earth, and water), the design signifies the perfect harmony of essential elements for all manifestations.
The accompanying stamp book aims to showcase the international influence of Lord Ram on various societies. The 48-page book features stamps issued by over 20 countries, including the US, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Cambodia, and organisations like the UN.
In anticipation of the upcoming ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Mandir on January 22, the idol of Lord Ram was placed in the temple’s ‘Garbha Griha’ on Thursday. The preceding symbolic ‘Parisar Pravesh’ of a replica of the main idol occurred on Wednesday, accompanied by Vedic chants.
Elaborate rituals, including a ‘Kalash Pujan’ and a special puja in the sanctum sanctorum, paved the way for bringing the idol inside the temple on Thursday with the assistance of a crane amid chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram.’
Transported to the temple in a truck, the idol is expected to be officially installed in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday, according to Shri Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairperson Nripendra Mishra.
The meticulous seven-day rituals essential for the consecration ceremony will continue until January 21. On the day of the ‘Pran Pratishtha,’ scheduled to commence at 12:20 p.m. on January 22, minimal essential rituals will be performed, overseen by 121 ‘acharyas’ responsible for conducting the sacred proceedings. The ceremony is expected to conclude by 1 p.m.
On the contrary, several influential figures have come forward to counter the objections raised by one of the shankaracharyas, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth in Uttarakhand. Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati had expressed concerns about the ceremony, citing the incomplete state of the temple construction and alleging political motives by the BJP.
Rejecting these claims, Nripendra Mishra, the chairperson of the Shri Ram Mandir Construction Committee, said that the temple is indeed complete. He clarified that the ground floor, housing the garbha griha and five mandaps dedicated to Lord Ram, is fully constructed. The ongoing construction pertains to the first floor, designated as Ram Darbar, and the second floor, intended for various rituals and ceremonies.
Adding to this defence, Alok Kumar, the VHP international working president, drew a parallel with the construction of the Somnath temple under Congress leadership. He added that after the completion of the Garbha Griha, the consecration was performed by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, emphasising that similar processes have historical precedence.
