“How ancient is the city of Ayodhya? Can you estimate its antiquity? To the extent that even in Indian Vedas and scriptures, it has earned high praise. The city is explicitly mentioned in the Atharvaveda. In our cultural traditions, Ayodhya has always been recognized as the birthplace of Lord Rama. We have read about the religious history of Ayodhya in the Ramayana, but there is also a disputed page in its history, involving the Babri Masjid and events associated with it. Currently, there is an atmosphere of celebration throughout India due to the worship of Lord Rama’s idol. During this festival, why not reflect on the alleys of history once?”
Today, we will discuss those days when decisions were made to determine the form of the Ram Temple in the present time. Many believe that this dispute has been ongoing for 70 years, but its foundation was actually laid in the 16th century. However, even before this, there were disputes between temples and mosques in the city of Ayodhya, but we can trace modern history from the year 1528.
Between 1528-29, the construction of the Babri Masjid took place.
The dispute over Ayodhya surrounded the Babri Masjid from all sides. It began in 1528 when Babar’s general Mir Baqi laid the foundation of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. This mosque was considered an important site during the Mughal era. Modern documents also mention the Babri Masjid, as seen in the book ‘Ayodhya: A History’ published in 1932, which states that Babar himself ordered Mir Baqi to build the mosque after declaring Ayodhya as the birthplace of Lord Rama and instructing to demolish the temple and construct the mosque at the site.
How was the Babri Masjid built?
The mosque, constructed by Babar’s soldiers, was called the ‘Babri’ Masjid. However, there is still controversy over whether the Babri Masjid was built using materials from a temple or if it was constructed by demolishing a temple. Several books present various perspectives on this issue, but there is a lack of precise information about the time of this event in history.
The first signs of controversy emerged when the mosque was built, and 300 years later, the dispute reignited. The dispute began when a controversy arose between 1853 and 1855 regarding the protection of temples in Ayodhya. According to the Indian History Collective’s report, Sunni Muslims attacked the Hanumangarhi temple, claiming that it was built as a mosque, although no evidence supported this claim.
Sarvapalli Gopal’s book ‘Anatomy of a Confrontation: Ayodhya and the Rise of Communal Politics in India’ extensively discusses this event. The book mentions that during that time, the Hanumangarhi temple was under the control of the ascetics, and they easily removed the Muslim group.
Ram Mandir Dispute:
A complaint was filed against this with the then Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. At that time, Ayodhya was under the control of the Nawabs, and a committee was formed to resolve the issue. The committee’s investigation report clearly stated that there was no mosque there. At that time, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had also prevented another attack on the Hanumangarhi temple.
Attempts were made by the British government to reconcile. According to a report, in 1858, a Nihang Sikh group entered the Babri Masjid, performing a havan (ritual fire worship). The first FIR against this event was filed, stating that the name of Ram was written on the walls of the mosque in Ayodhya, and there was a platform adjacent to it.
In 1859, the British government separated both parties peacefully to worship at different places by building a wall. This marked the first use of the term ‘Ram Chabutra.’
In 1885, the case of Ram Lalla came to the Supreme Court for the first time. According to the ASI report, Mahant Raghuvir Das had filed a petition to build a temple on the Ram Chabutra, but this petition was rejected. However, Raghuvir Das did not accept defeat and pleaded before the judge of the British government, but he was also dismissed. Despite this, the case remained dormant for the next 48 years, with peaceful opposition continuing.
In 1930, a new chapter began in Ayodhya. In 1936, a dispute arose between two Muslim communities, Shia and Sunni, claiming rights over the Babri Masjid. This dispute lasted for ten years between the two communities. In this dispute, the judge ruled in favor of the claims of the Shia community, rejecting the claims of both communities.
The demolition of the Babri Masjid
After the year 1947, there was a significant change in the politics of Ayodhya. In modern times, whenever Ayodhya is mentioned, the term politics is inevitably associated with it. However, its commencement occurred after the partition. The creation of Pakistan took place, and now there was active participation of the Hindu Mahasabha in Ayodhya.
Books by Krishna Jha and Dhirendra Jha, including ‘Ayodhya – The Dark Night,’ discuss this topic, stating that at the end of 1947, the Hindu Mahasabha organized a meeting where the occupation of the Babri Masjid was discussed. Subsequently, in the first elections, Congress made the Ram Mandir an issue.
After Congress took up this issue, no other party could gain traction on it, and Congress also won in Faizabad.
In 1949, the idol of Ram Lalla was found inside the Babri Masjid. The situation was very tense at that time. There were rumors that the Hindu side had taken possession of the Babri Masjid, but this had not happened before. Legal assistance was sought to improve the situation, but one night in 1949, a claim was made that the idol of Ram was found there.
The Babri Masjid and the idol of Ram
Following this event, the situation became so serious that then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru took notice. Within just 6 days, a lock was put on the Babri Masjid. At that time, the Hindu side claimed that the idol of Ram Lalla had manifested itself there before independence, but this claim was dismissed.
In 1950, two separate cases were filed again, and the Hindu side demanded permission to worship Ram Lalla. Although the court granted permission, the inner gate was kept closed.
In 1959, the Nirmohi Akhara filed a third case, claiming rights to the land of the Babri Masjid. Similarly, in 1961, the Muslim side filed a case in which the UP Sunni Waqf Board said that they should have rights to the structure of the Babri Masjid, and the idols of Ram should be removed from there.
The dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi flared up again in 1984. This time, Ayodhya witnessed its biggest political turmoil. It was the time when the Ram Janmabhoomi movement began. Lal Krishna Advani, a senior leader of the BJP, was chosen to lead this movement.
In 1986, on the orders of the Rajiv Gandhi government, the gate inside the Babri Masjid was opened. In fact, at that time, lawyer YC Pandey had filed a petition in the Faizabad Sessions Court, stating that the Faizabad City Administration had decided to close its gate, so it should be opened. At that time, permission was also given for worship and darshan to the Hindu side, and the Babri Masjid Action Committee protested against it.
The foundation stone of the Ram Mandir was laid in 1989. At that time, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi gave permission to the Vishva Hindu Parishad to perform the foundation laying ceremony at the disputed site. After that, the name of Ram Lalla reached the Allahabad High Court for the first time, where the Nirmohi Akhara (1959) and Sunni Waqf Board (1961) presented their claims on the Ram Janmabhoomi.
In 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished
On December 6, 1992, the day arrived when the Babri Masjid was demolished. This day is recorded as a significant event in Indian history, where kar sevaks laid the foundation for a makeshift temple.
Ten days after the destruction of the mosque, the Prime Minister appointed retired High Court Justice M.S. Liberhan to lead a committee tasked with preparing a report on the demolition of the mosque and the related communal riots.
In January 1993, the government of Narasimha Rao took control of the land in Ayodhya and declared 67.7 acres as the property of the central government.
In 1994, the Ismail Faruqui judgment was delivered, in which the Supreme Court, by a 3:2 majority, upheld the constitutionality of the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act and stated that any religious place could be subject to government control.
In 2002, demands for the construction of the Ram Temple increased, and in April 2002, the Ayodhya title dispute case began, with hearings held in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.
In August 2003, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started excavation at the site of the mosque, claiming evidence of a temple from the 10th century underneath.
In 2009, 17 years later, the Liberhan Commission presented its report, which did not lead to any significant actions.
On September 30, 2010, a historic judgment was pronounced in the Ayodhya case, where the Allahabad High Court divided the land into three parts, giving one-third to the Nirmohi Akhara, one-third to the Sunni Waqf Board, and one-third to the deity Ram Lalla Virajman.
In 2017, Chief Justice Khehar suggested an out-of-court settlement, sparking renewed discussions.
In 2018, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, but implementation was deferred. At that time, the Supreme Court declined to review the decision under the pretext of a larger bench.
Finally, in 2019, a historic decision was made. Chief Justice Gogoi formed a bench of five judges, overturning the 2018 verdict. After a two-day hearing on March 8, 2019, talks of resolving the land dispute were initiated again.
Until November 2019, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Hindu side, ordering the construction of the Ram Temple through a trust. Additionally, 5 acres of land were given to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya. By December, several petitions on this issue were filed, and the Supreme Court dismissed them.
In February 2020, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust was established, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha.
The Sunni Waqf Board accepted 5 acres of land, and in August 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ram Temple.
Now, on January 22, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the idol of Ram Lalla.
How to Reach Ayodhya Ram Mandir
Ram Mandir Ayodhya is well connected by all the modes of transportation i.e. road, train, and airways. You can reach the Ayodhya location:
- By Air:
- Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham (17 km)
- Gorakhpur Airport (139 km)
- Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow (156 km)
- By Train: The trains are well-connected to Ram Mandir railway station in Ayodhya from all the major cities in India.
- Ayodhya Junction (2.5 km)
- Gorakhpur Junction (113 km)
- Lucknow Junction (144 km)
- By Road: There are public buses by Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation and private buses, and taxis are available for Ram Mandir station. Regular buses are available from Lucknow, Delhi, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur to reach the Ayodhya location.
There are many accommodations for devotees and tourists visiting Ayodhya like Dharamshalas and hotels in Ayodhya.
Conclusion:
As India prepares for the historic inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, it stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Hindu community and their devotion to Lord Ram. Beyond being a religious site, it is a symbol of unity, justice, and cultural heritage—a place where faith and history intertwine. Whether you plan to visit for spiritual reasons or to witness the architectural marvel, the Ayodhya Ram Mandir promises an enriching experience for all.
Heartfelt Congratulations on the Inauguration of the Ram Mandir from Tridexone
Check Out more Blogs Here.