Surya Tilak: Unveiling the Scientific Marvel of the Ayodhya Ram Temple
At noon today, a momentous occasion unfolded at the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya. As the auspicious festival of Ram Navami commenced. A groundbreaking event marked the anointment of the Ram Lalla idol’s forehead with a beam of sunlight, known as ‘Surya Tilak’.
Harnessing cutting-edge scientific prowess, a team of ten esteemed Indian scientists orchestrated this unique phenomenon. Through meticulous engineering and design, they created a specialized instrument to achieve this feat. At precisely 12 noon, a 5.8-centimeter beam of sunlight illuminated the deity’s forehead. For approximately 3 to 3.5 minutes, captivating onlookers with its divine radiance.
Commissioned by the temple trust, scientists from a prominent government institution crafted a sophisticated apparatus comprising mirrors and lenses, aptly named the ‘Surya Tilak mechanism’. This technological marvel, a fusion of precision optics and mechanical ingenuity, stands as a testament to India’s scientific prowess.
Surya Tilak: Unveiling the Scientific Marvel of the Ayodhya Ram Temple
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Ramacharla, a distinguished scientist and Director at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI). Elucidated the intricacies of the optomechanical system. “The system comprises four mirrors and lenses intricately fitted within a tilt mechanism and piping system,” he explained to NDTV. “Through a series of precisely calibrated adjustments, sunlight is directed towards the idol’s forehead. Symbolically anointing it with the divine essence of the sun god.”
Collaborating with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP), Bengaluru, the team meticulously engineered the mechanism. To ensure precise alignment of sunlight rays from the temple’s third floor to the inner sanctum (Garbha Griha). Leveraging established principles of solar tracking and employing specialized components, they orchestrated a seamless convergence of science and spirituality.
Dr. Pradeep Chauhan, another eminent scientist from CBRI, expressed confidence in the flawless execution of the ‘Surya Tilak’ ritual. Intricate arrangements, including the deployment of 19 gears, were meticulously planned to synchronize with the fixed date of Ram Navami. Adhering to the lunar calendar, without reliance on modern utilities.
Furthermore, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, renowned for its expertise in positional astronomy, played a pivotal role in reconciling the lunar and solar calendars. Dr. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of IIA, highlighted their contribution, emphasizing the ceremonial significance of the Sun’s rays in anointing the idol of Ram Lala on every Ram Navmi.
Ram Navmi at Ayodhya Ram Temple
The collaborative effort involved a dedicated team of scientists and experts from CSIR-CBRI and IIA Bengaluru, along with the manufacturing expertise of Optica, a Bengaluru-based company. Mentored by Prof. R. Pradeep Kumar of CSIR-CBRI and guided by luminaries such as Dr. Annapurni S. from IIA, the project culminated in a spectacle that seamlessly merged tradition with modern innovation.
While similar mechanisms exist in some Jain temples and the iconic Sun Temple at Konark, each engineered differently, the ‘Surya Tilak’ at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya stands as a beacon of India’s rich cultural heritage and scientific acumen, illuminating the path towards a harmonious coexistence of tradition and progress.
