Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Ram Lalla To Be Consecrated At 'Garbh Griha'; Its Significance, Structure And Design Explained

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Garbh Griha: The grand Ram temple being built in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh is set to open for devotees after the conclusion of 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration ceremony), which is scheduled for January 22, 2024. As part of the crucial ceremony, an idol of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) will be consecrated at the 'Garbh Griha' (Sanctum Sanctorum) of the currently under-construction Ram temple.

As per temple officials, the consecration ceremony will be held over a span of seven days, starting on January 16. On the final day, January 22, after the morning puja, the deity of Ram Lala will be consecrated in the 'Garbh Griha' during 'Mrigashira Nakshatra' in the afternoon.

Significance Of 'Garbh Griha'

'Garbh Griha' refers to the sanctum sanctorum of any Hindu or Jain place of worship. It is the most crucial part of a temple as it houses the primary deity's idol and is hence considered the centre of divinity of the religious structure

Ram Mandir 'Garbh Griha' Structure

Upon completion of construction, the 'Garbh Griha' of Ayodhya Ram Mandir will reportedly be the largest of the sanctum sanctorum of Hindu temples around the world. The 'shikhara' (peak) is the most prominent feature of a Hindu 'mandir' built under the Nagara style, which is the dominant form of temple architecture in North India. It is the top-most point of the structure and stands right above the 'Garbh Griha'.

The under-construction 'shikhara' of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir will have an external height of 161 feet after completion. Hence, it can be assumed that the 'Garbh Griha' will have a height between 150 and 161 feet. The sanctum sanctorum of Ayodhya Ram Mandir will have a maximum length of 20 feet and a width of as many feet at the widest expanse, according to a CNN News18 report.

Temple With Biggest 'Garbh Griha' As Of Now

Currently, the honour of having the largest 'Garbh Griha' among the Hindu temples open for devotees in India is held by Gujarat's Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple. The temple has a sanctum sanctorum that measures 15 feet in length and 15 feet in width.

Other Physical Features Of Ram Temple

The temple complex is being built on 110 acres of land. The main temple stands on an area of 2.7 acres, as per the temple trust. Meanwhile, the built-up area of the under-construction temple building is 57,000 sq ft.

The ground floor of the three-storey main temple will house the sanctum sanctorum. Upon completion, each of the three Ayodhya Ram Mandir floors will be 20 ft in height.

(With inputs from ANI)