The grand spectacle of Ayodhya Ram Temple is due today, on the occasion of Ram Navami, when Ram Lalla will be adorned with Surya Tilak. After the consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, devotees from all over the country are gathering there every day. However, this year's Ram Navami festival is going to be very special for Ram devotees, where they will get to witness Lord Ram's Aurya Abhishek through a scientific apparatus. To make sure the apparatus worked well, a successful Surya Abhishek was conducted yesterday, at 12:00 noon, in the presence of scientists, where the Sun applied Tilak on the forehead of the deity, through a mirror.
A video of the successful testing of Surya Abhishek has also been shared on social media, which is leaving devotees emotionally overwhelmed.
About The Unique Sun Ray Apparatus:
Inspired by the 13th century Sun temple at Konark in Odisha, a group of scientists, astronomers and technologists from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, IIT Mumbai, and IIT Roorkee was formed to look into the technical aspects. They have done calculations to make sure that the rays of the Sun grace the Ramlala idol at the same time each Ram Navami. They also studied the Surya and Chandra calendars to calculate the position of the Sun on Ram Navmis, and tailored the design changes in the temple structure to coincide with these calculations.
The 'Surya Tilak' system designed by a team of scientists led by S K Panigrahi, consists of lenses, mirrors, and other components that have been scientifically arranged to ensure that the rays of the sun delicately touch the forehead of Ram Lalla precisely at 12 noon for two to two-and-a-half minutes on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami every year.
Mechanism Behind The Sun Ray Apparatus For Surya Tilak:
The apparatus, comprising reflective mirrors and lenses arranged within a gearbox, will channel sunlight from the temple's third floor near the shikara into the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) at the appointed hour.
Constructed from durable materials like brass and bronze, the apparatus is engineered based on the lunar calendar to accurately position the Sun on Ram Navami each year. Its design prioritises longevity and low maintenance, featuring springs-free components for prolonged functionality.
Additionally, traditional Indian alloy Pancha Dhathu has been incorporated into the Surya Tilak apparatus.
Former ISRO scientist Manish Purohit explained the mechanisms behind Surya Abhishek, highlighting three key considerations: archaeoastronomy, the Metonic cycle, and analemma which ensure precise alignment of the Sun's rays with Ram Lalla's forehead on Ram Navami.
Going into details, he told India Today that Archaeoastronomy is a practice used to design monuments utilising celestial positions while analemma is a figure-eight curve that tracks the Sun's changing position yearly due to Earth's tilt and orbit.
Lastly, the Metonic cycle is a period of around 19 years during which the phases of the Moon realign with the same days of the year. This cycle was consulted to ensure the coming together of the date of Ram Navami and the 'tithi' it falls on, said Manish Purohit.
Surya Tilak On Ram Navami:
Surya Abhishek is a symbolic purification ritual where the Sun's rays are directed onto the deity's forehead, and it holds added significance because Lord Ram is believed to be from the Ishvaku lineage who are considered descendants of the Sun, or Suryavanshis.
Today, on the day of Ram Navami, Surya Dev will apply Tilak on Ram Lalla's forehead for almost 2.5 minutes. As per media reports, this will be telecasted live on Doordarshan for the entire nation to watch, while in Ayodhya, LED screens have been installed in more than a hundred places for people to witness this magnificent and divine event.
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