Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir anticipates a rare celestial phenomenon coinciding with Ram Navami on April 17. Devotees visiting the temple will witness an extraordinary annual occurrence where sunlight will cast a divine ’tilak’ on the new Ram Lalla idol’s forehead. Termed ‘Surya Tilak’ and hailed as a blend of science, engineering, and spirituality, the temple trust officials and scientists behind the mechanism emphasize its exclusivity to Ram Navami, celebrating Lord Ram’s birth.
Chief scientist R. Dharamraju of CSIR-Central Building Research Institute, responsible for the Surya Tilak Mechanism, explained its functioning. Using lenses and reflective mirrors, sunlight is channeled from the third floor to the sanctum-sanctorum, adorning Lord Ram’s idol’s forehead with a sunlit tilak precisely at noon on Ram Navami for four minutes.
Champat Rai, the Ram Temple trust’s general secretary, highlighted the significance of greeting Lord Ram with a Surya Tilak on his birthday, given his lineage as a Suryavanshi. This intricate engineering marvel symbolizes the divine link between heaven and earth, meticulously crafted by technicians and scientists from various institutions.
Assuring the precision of the Surya Tilak formation, temple officials mention the meticulous arrangements made to align with the lunar calendar’s Ram Navami schedule. The mechanism’s design incorporates 19 gears to ensure timely anointment without relying on batteries or iron components, underscoring its intricate craftsmanship and spiritual significance.
