Near Ram temple, 21 youths train and compete to become its priests

In the bitter cold, the 21 young men sleep on a chatai spread on the floor of a big hall with some blankets and quilts for cover.

It’s a strict schedule, one that sees them being trained in pronunciation of mantras, knowledge of shastra, character building, yoga asanas.

“We get up around 4 am to prepare food for these students as they have to be ready for their training. They begin their day with yoga and exercises, after which the training starts around 7 am and continues until noon. After a break, the classes start again,” said a staff member, working for these Archaks, as the students took a small nap during the break.

According to the staff member, many of these trainees are from different parts of Uttar Pradesh and some from Bihar.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Acharya Mithilesh Nandini Sharan, one of the teachers of the trainee Archaks, who was also part of the selection process, said they received around 2,700 applications from different parts of the country and about 300 applicants were shortlisted for the final interview.

Based on their “conduct”, “dedication” and background, 23 were selected. Later, two were found to be from families whose members were already working for the existing Ram Lalla idol, so they were dropped, and 21 remained.

“These Archaks will have to follow a hard routine. They will have to get up at 3 am and prepare for the rituals, which will require standing for over two-and-half hours at a stretch, with continuous preparations for the shringar. While they will work under senior priests, it is important that they are physically and mentally fit to perform daily rituals. It was for this reason that the age limit was kept below 30 years… Bahut parishram ka kaam hai. Youth behtar kar payega (It’s very hard work, the youth will be able to perform better),” he said.

All students have already undertaken training at different gurukuls but since their “ucharan” (recitation) is different, it is being corrected.

Acharya Sharan said while Acharya Keshav is training the students on the Vedas, Acharya Satyanarayan Das has been instructing them on the “prakriya” (the process to be followed). Acharya Jaya Kant, he said, has been delivering lectures on the correct “ucharan” and making them aware about the different processes, and their meaning.

In the evening, these students listen to prominent mahants of Ayodhya, including Mahant Kamal Nayan Das and Swami Ramanand Das, who narrate kathas from the Valmiki Ramayan and Ramcharitmanas.

The students get a stipend of Rs 2,000 every month for the six-month training course which ends in May this year. All expenses and other arrangements have been made by the temple Trust.

Acharya Sharan said the students will be handed certificates at the end of the training and have been told that only some of them will become priests at the Ram temple. The rest are likely to be selected for the remaining temples that will come up in the complex. For now, it’s hard work.