The Ram Temple at Ayodhya: A Global Hindu Cultural Symbol

Jakarta (Atnews)--Humanist Putu Suasta, who had time to travel to India seven times, is also happy to witness the Pran Pratishtha Ceremony at Ram Temple, Ayodhya, India, Monday (Jan 22).

The event was attended by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as well as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chairman Mohan Bhagwat. There were biggest celebrities of India, including Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and the family of Mukes Ambani.

Hindus all over the world also celebrated Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha. Moreover, a huge billboard of Shri Ram adorned Times Square in New York. Besides, such festive celebration was also seen in temples throughout England, where the Indian community is one of the largest diaspora groups.

Additionally, the Government of Mauritius has announced the granting of a special two-hour time to Hindu public officials on January 22 in order they were able to participate in local events commemorating the Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lalla in the Indian temple city of Ayodhya.

Mauritius led by Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, a small country in East Africa, has a population of just 1.30 million people, where 48.5 percent of the population is Hindu. It is the only country in Africa where the majority of the population is Hindu. Similar celebrations was also held in Dubai where the majority of the population is Muslim.

According to Suasta, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya reminds of the greatness of Shri Ram who bequeathed noble and dignified values to the lives of all living creatures.

For the people of Indonesia, and Bali in particular, the great story of Shri Ram has been described in the Itihasa Ramayana which has had an influence on the life of people, apart from the Mahabharata.

Itihasa is part of the Vedic scriptures which means “real occurrence.” The stories in the Itihasa book are spread throughout mainland India to Southeast Asia. During the kingdom era in Indonesia (Nusantara), the two Itihasa books were translated into Old Javanese, and even adapted to suit local culture.

In addition, the story in the Itihasa book was made into a puppet performance and composed into a kekawin or long narrative poems.

Apart from that, the Mahabharata and Rāmayaṇa developed and provided inspiration for various forms of culture and artistic expression, especially in Java and Bali, ranging from sculpture and relief in temples, dance as well as painting to performing arts such as shadow puppet and human puppet.

Meanwhile, the Book of Rāmayaṇa compiled by Maharishi Valmiki consists of 24,000 slokas and has seven parts called Sapta Kanda.

The Ramayana is also found in Javanese literature in the form of kakawin Rāmayaṇa, including in Malay that can be found in the form of Hikayat Seri Rama whose content is different from the kakawin Rāmayaṇa in Old Javanese and Balinese, namely puppet and Ramayana ballet whose scenes in the Ramayana are expressed in the form of paintings and sculptures exploring Hindu-inspired architecture. The Ramayana epic has also been incorporated into puppet culture in the Indonesian archipelago, such as in Java and Bali.

Apart from that, in several countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines, et cetera, the story of Rāmayaṇa is appointed as an artistic performance. Even in the Angkor Wat temple, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the story of the Mahabharata and Rāmayaṇa is complicatedly engraved on a stone wall along 200 meters and was created 1100 years ago.

It is estimated that during the time of the ancient Mataram kingdom or around the 9th century the Rāmayaṇa epic was adapted to kakawin, engraved on temple reliefs and put into drama stories.

The relief of Prambanan Temple shows Sita is being kidnapped by King Ravana who is riding a giant winged plane. Meanwhile, Jatayu on the top left tried hard to help Sita. This story also inspired President Soekarno who was fascinated by the Ramayana, Especially with one of the characters, namely Jatayu, the son of Aruna and nephew of Garuda.

Sukarno glorified the figure in the form of garuda, a large mythical bird. So, based on inspiration of Soekarno, the national aviation company of Indonesia was named Garuda. Similarly, the Garuda was also adopted to coat of arms of Indonesia so that it has even become a source of pride for the Indonesian people.

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya has become a cultural symbol of Hindu revival in advancing human civilization according to the Vedic Scriptures.

“We can learn a lot from India, especially from leadership of PM Modi in building the spirit of Hindus who have had an advanced civilization for thousands of years as described in the Itihasa like Rāmayaṇa and Mahabharata, belonging to the Puranas,” he said.

Moreover, when PM Modi met with the Indian diaspora in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 Indonesia Summit in Bali, Tuesday (Nov 15, 2022), he stated that India and Indonesia have a shared heritage and cultural relationship.

Modi also admitted to singing along with traditional Indonesian songs, the Bali Jatra Mahotsav being celebrated 1500 km away from here, right in Cuttack, India. The Bali Jatra Mahotsav celebration is a symbol of celebrating thousands of years of connecting India-Indonesia trade.

Apart from that, Suasta appreciated the pilgrimage of Rishi Agastya and Rishi Markandeya who had establish the Sanatana Dharma civilization in Java and Bali. They invited the Balinese people to work together to weave the great Santana Dharma culture in Bali and India as well as grow in advancing a supreme human civilization.

On that occasion, PM Modi expressed his appreciation to Agus Indra Udayana, currently a Brahmin priest with the name Ida Rsi Putra Manuaba, who has received the Padma Shri Award 2021. As well as giving appreciation to Cultural Artist and Arts Maestro from Bali, Prof. Dr. I Wayan Dibia, who received the Padma Shri Art Awards 2021 as well.

Suasta, an alumnus of UGM and Cornell University, stated that the success of rebuilding the Ram Temple after 550 years of Hindu people carried out a historic struggle to make it happen.

This historical struggle was appreciated by the Global Hindu Community for leadership of PM Modi in realizing the historical task of leading India to glory with the largest Hindu community in the world.

The temple was built on the site of a 16th century mosque that was demolished in 1992 after a long legal battle in the State Courts over several decades. The Federal Supreme Court of India finally decided in 2019 to legally give ownership of the land to a foundation.

Modi previously laid the foundation stone for a one-hectare Hindu shrine in a 28-hectare complex. Overseen by former chief of staff of Modi, Nripendra Misra, the construction of the temple cost around INR 15 billion or USD 181 million, which came from contributions and donations from Indian citizens and the Hindu diaspora.

The excitement of Pran Pratishtha Ram Temple is broadcast live on television, and can also be accessed via streaming on YouTube and social media. Moreover, according to Modi, the moment of January 22, 2024 will be recorded in history.

After years of struggle and countless sacrifices, finally Shri Ram (Lord Ram) has arrived at his birthplace. Construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is in fulfillment of a decades-long Hindu nationalist promise.

The temple-building movement helped propel the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to political prominence in the 1990s. There was a festive atmosphere as tens of thousands of chanting Hindus waved flags and beat drums - military helicopters showered flower petals on the temple.

It included a saffron flag with a line drawing of Lord Ram in the city decorated with marigold flowers, as well as banners with the faces of Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

It was also explained that Shri Ram was born during the Treta Yuga era, a descendant of the Surya Dynasty or Suryavangsa. He came from the Kingdom of Kosala whose capital was Ayodhya. Born as the eldest son of King Dasarata and Kosalya, he is seen as Maryada Purushottama, which means “Perfect Man.”

Having grown adult, King Shri Ram won the prestigious competition and married Sita, the incarnation of Lakshmi. Shri Ram has twin sons, namely Kusha and Lava.

Shri Ram killed King Ravana for kidnapping his wife Sita. After Ravana was defeated, Sita returned to the arm of Shri Ram and they returned to Ayodhya with Lakshmana, Sugriva, Hanuman and other monkey soldiers. In Ayodhya, they were welcomed by Bharata and Kaikeyi. There the monkeys were given gifts Shri by Ram for their services.

The event of victory against Ravana and the demons is commemorated as 10 days of Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra.

Ram Leela is performed in various villages, towns and cities in India. The event on the return of Shri Ram to Ayodhya and the day of his inauguration is celebrated as Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights.

The celebration is an important and famous festival in India. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Diwali is known as Hari Deepavali, and is celebrated during the seventh month according to the Hindu solar calendar. Diwali celebrations in Malaysia are similar to traditions in the Indian subcontinent. In Nepal, Diwali is known as Tihar and is celebrated during the October/November period.

Meanwhile, birthday of Shri Ram and his marriage to Sita are commemorated by Hindus in India as Rama Navami. The celebration falls on the ninth day of the Hindu lunar calendar, or Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Nawami.

In conclusion, the rebuilding of the Ayodhya Temple became a binding ritual, cultural and spiritual resultant for one and a half billion Indian Hindus and the entire Hindu Diaspora spreading across the planet Earth. Welcome to Ayodhya! (GAB/ART/001)