Mesmerising and breathtaking ‘Surya Tilak’ or ‘Surya Abhishek’ ritual held in Ayodhya’s Ram Temple at noon of April 17 on Ram Navami captivated all those who attended the event at the temple, as well as those who watched it virtually.
The forehead of Ram Lalla deity was illuminated after a ray of Sun touched the point in a phenomenon that lasted for approximately two-and-a-half minutes.
For the unversed, this year’s Ram Navami is the first since the consecration of Ram idol at the Ayodhya temple on January 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Assam to address an election rally in Nalabari when the ‘Surya Tilak’ of Ram Lalla was held in Ayodhya. However, he watched the ritual from his campaign venue and said, “Like crores of Indians, this is a very emotional moment for me.”
“The grand Ram Navami in Ayodhya is historic. May this Surya Tilak bring energy to our lives and may it inspire our nation to scale new heights of glory,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Ram Navami is a significant festival among Hindus as it marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ram, considered to be the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Ram Lalla’s ‘Surya Tilak’ in Ayodhya
Lord Ram is considered as the Suryavanshi king of Ayodhya and on the day of his birth, as per the Hindu mythology, he was blessed with the ‘Surya Abhishek’ a phenomena where Sun rays were captured and diverted via a series of optical apparatus.
‘Surya Abhishek’ is a term that combines two words – Surya, meaning the Sun and Abhishek meaning a purifying ritual.
The science behind ‘Surya Tilak’ ceremony
The mechanism in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir for the Surya Tilak Ceremony has been designed rather cleverly. While the mechanism to bring the sunlight to the ‘garbha griha’ (sanctum sanctorum) was designed and developed by CBRI (Central Building Research Institute), the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, worked on the optics of the hand-operated machine.
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, were tasked with creating ‘Surya Tilak’ mechanism in Ayodhya.
They developed a special apparatus comprising mirrors and lenses too make it possible for the rays of the Sun to be directed onto the forehead of Ram Lalla’s idol in Ayodhya mandir
The team conducted two successful trials in preparation for ‘Surya Abhishek’ ceremony that took place on Ram Navami.
A report by PTI explained how the mechanism worked. It quoted Dr S K Panigrahi, a scientist at CSIR-CBRI Roorkee, who was associated with the project, who explained that the Sun rays that enter the Ram Mandir initially fall on a mirror installed on the top floor of the temple. From there, it will then be directed to another mirror on the second floor of the temple using three strategically placed lenses.
After the sun beam hits a mirror on the Ram Lalla’s temple, it will be directed to the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Mandir, illuminating the sanctorum in the process.
Apparatus used for ‘Surya Abhishek’ of Ram idol in Ayodhya
As per reports, the apparatus that was used for ‘Surya Abhishek’ of Ram Lalla’s idol in Ayodhya consisted of a gearbox fitted with reflective mirrors and lenses.
Its purpose was to reflect sunrays from the third floor near the shikara into the ‘garbha griha’ at the specified time.
The components used in the tilak apparatus were made of brass and bronze. These metals were chosen for their durability and resistance to corrosion.
Reports further said, that the array of four lenses and four mirrors were set put in a series and at specific angles to ensure that the sunbeam to reaches the forehead of Ram Lalla’s idol.
“The opto-mechanical system consists of four mirrors and four lenses fitted inside the tilt mechanism and piping systems. The complete cover with an aperture for the tilt mechanism is placed at the top floor to divert the sun rays through mirrors and lenses to the Garbha Girha,” a report by NDTV quoted Dr Pradeep Kumar Ramacharla, Scientist and Director at the CBRI, Roorkee as saying.
“The final lens and mirror focus the sun rays on the forehead of Shree Ram facing east. The tilt mechanism is used to adjust the first mirror’s tilt, sending the sun rays towards the north direction to the second mirror to make the Surya Tilak on every year’s Shree Ram Navami. All the piping and other parts are manufactured using brass material,” Dr Ramacharla said.
“The mirrors and lenses are of very high quality and durable to sustain a long period. The inner surfaces of pipes, elbows, and enclosures are black powder-coated to avoid scattering of sunlight. Also, at the top aperture, an infrared filter glass is used to restrict the Sun’s heat waves from falling on the idol’s forehead,” he added.
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