Ritual fire to remain lit till consecration ceremony

Apart from the starting of the Yagya, the remaining rituals were also performed on the idol, including “Aushadhadhivas, Kesaradhivas, and Ghritadhivas” Priests involved in the rituals said the fire, which has been lit in the kundas, will be “akhand (continuous)” till the consecration ceremony, and priests will be there to ensure that it continues to remain lit. (Picture credit: Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Trust)

The rituals for the day began early this Friday around 9 am with the lighting of the fire, as part of the “Aranimanthan”, where the fire was lit by rubbing two woods with the help of a cloth.

Apart from the main “yagya shala”, nine kundas (pitchers) of different shapes have been prepared, which were lit on Friday, as part of the “kunda puja” from the fire taken from the “Aranimanthan”.

Apart from the starting of the yagya, the remaining rituals were also performed on the idol, including “Aushadhadhivas, Kesaradhivas, and Ghritadhivas”.

Explaining these rituals, one of the priests performing them said under “Aushadhadhivas”, the idol was covered with water in which 8-10 different types of “aushadhi” (medicines), as written in the “shastras”, were soaked. The idol was then covered with kesar-soaked water and paste made of kesar alone, as part of the “Kesaradhivas” ritual. As part of the “Ghritadhivas”, the idol was soaked in “pure cow ghee” that has come from Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

There was continuous chanting of mantras and the rituals ended with “Dhanadhivas” of the idol in the evening aarti. As part of the Dhanadhivas, about 25-kg of rice was poured on the idol slowly to cover it completely.

Priests involved in the rituals said the fire, which has been lit in the kundas, will be “akhand (continuous)” till the consecration ceremony, and priests will be there to ensure that it continues to remain lit.

Earlier in the day, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust clarified, “Invitation card alone does not guarantee entry into Pran Pratistha Utsav on January 22.”