In Ayodhya, rituals begin for consecration of new Ram temple

Speaking to The Indian Express, Arun Dixit, one of the priests performing the rituals, confirmed that Mishra had been “nominated” the ‘pradhan yajman’, and would be present at all the ceremonies over the next few days. Dixit’s father, Laxmikant Dixit of Varanasi, is the head priest of the rituals.

On Tuesday, Mishra began by taking a dip in the Saryu river, amid chanting of mantras, and then taking ‘panchgavya’ (cow milk, curd, ghee, gobar and gau mutra), after which he began a fast.

He then performed the ‘Prashchita’, ‘Sankalpa’ and ‘Karmakuti’ puja, which lasted for about eight hours, at the place where the Ram Lalla idol selected for the temple’s sanctum sanctorum was sculpted by sculptor Arun Yogiraj.

According to experts, the ‘Prashchita’ and ‘Sankalpa’ puja are part of the rituals to offer penance. The ‘Karmakuti’ puja, they said, was to seek forgiveness for any shortcomings during the sculpting of the idol.

While the ‘havan’ was performed by Mishra and his wife, Yogiraj, the sculptor, was also present during the ritual. The idol was then given ghee and honey, after which its eyes were covered with a piece of cloth for the remaining rituals, till the completion of the consecration ceremony on January 22.

“Today is the start of the pujan vidhi (rituals). The Pran Pratishtha rituals will be complete on January 22 at 12:20 pm, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mishra told reporters after taking a dip in the Saryu river at the start of the rituals.

“The ‘anushthan’ (ritual) has started and will continue till January 22, the day of the consecration ceremony. Eleven priests are performing the rituals invoking all gods and goddesses,” Ram temple chief priest Satyendra Das said.

On Wednesday, the rituals include ‘teerth pujan’, ‘jal yatra’ and ‘gandhadhivas’.