The case of alleged theft of offerings in the Ram temple complex of Ayodhya continues to be in the headlines. Ram devotees are deeply saddened by this incident. Meanwhile, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has started a 10-day special atonement and purification ritual to restore the sanctity and dignity of the temple. In accordance with faith and religious traditions, it symbolizes an apology to God and a resolution that such an incident should not happen again in the future.
A total of 70 Vedic Acharyas are involved in this special ritual going on simultaneously in the sanctum sanctorum, parkota and various places of the temple complex. The temple premises are being purified through Vedic chanting, Rudrabhishek, Havan, Ramarchan and other religious rituals. According to religious belief, after theft, desecration or any other inappropriate incident in the temple, atonement and purification rituals are considered necessary, so that the sanctity and religious dignity of the temple is maintained.
Mahant Govind Dev Giri, treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, had recently said that the biggest atonement for any mistake is that it should not be allowed to be repeated, that is, the incident should not happen again. He said that the Trust has started implementing new arrangements to further strengthen the security and system of offerings, so that the possibility of any such incident in future can be eliminated.
Recently, Mahant Govind Dev Giri had told that he himself will conduct special chanting, recitation of stotras and religious meditation every day as a form of atonement at personal level. He had said that it is extremely painful for such an incident to happen at the place where Lord Shri Ram resides. Therefore, this special ritual is being performed with the aim of removing the defects and restoring the spiritual purity of the temple.
Shri Ram Temple is not just a grand building but also the center of faith of crores of devotees. In such a situation, it is the supreme responsibility of the Trust to maintain the dignity, decorum and sanctity of the temple and in this spirit this penance ritual has been organized.
