Ram Temple at Ayodhya in 2009
BY: SUN STAFF
Patit Pawan Ram
Sep 10, INDIA (SUN) — Ayodhya is considered to be one of the 7 Muktistalams of India, and is believed to be a component of Vaikuntham, given to Manu by Vishnu, and installed on the banks of the Sarayu. Ayodhya is very closely associated with the story of Lord Rama, and has long been a center of pilgrimage. Located in Uttar Pradesh, Ayodhya is situated on the right bank of the river Saryu, about 6 km. from Faizabad.
Ten years ago, fundamentalist Hindus destroyed the 16th century Babri Muslim mosque, which they claimed had been built on the site of a former Hindu temple erected where Lord Rama was born. That act sparked nationwide riots in 1992. Thousands of deaths have been blamed on that incident since 1992, and terrorist acts continue to this day, as Muslim fundamentalists continue to attack the Hindus.
Plans have been underway since that time by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a prominent hard line Hindu group, who are preparing to rebuild the Ram temple, placing it at the center of this bloody religious dispute.
In yesterday's edition of the New India Press, we read the following article about plans for completion of the new Ram temple by 2009:
"State propaganda secretary of the RSS Krishna Jaganathan has asserted that Ram temple will be built at Ayodhya in 2009. Addressing a public meeting near Rangaswamy temple tank here last night, he said that the message of Ramayana was relevant to the society, especially when the threat of AIDS was looming large.
Prevention of AIDS would be possible if the values propagated by Lord Rama were followed by the youth. Stressing that Hinduism was the essence of Indian culture and a way of life, Jaganathan said that Hindu scriptures and values should be taught in schools.
Denying that worship of Vinayaka was alien to Tamil Nadu, he said the term ‘Pillaiyar’ was being used by Tamils for thousands of years. The term Vatapi Ganapathy did not mean that Ganesh was brought from Vatapi, the Chalukyan capital. Vatapi was a giant, who was killed by Lord Ganesh, he explained.
He said Vande Mataram was the real national anthem, which inspired patriotism and national unity. But this was being opposed by a section of people, who refused to consider the motherland as divine.
“India will be a secular country only as long as Hindus are in the majority here. Everyone is aware of that,” he added.
Caste names were used to glorify a community and not to divide the society, he said. Only politicians were exploiting castes for narrow political gains. All kinds of fraudulent and immoral activities were being justified in the name of caste, he said.
Lashing out at films, he said films were corrupting the minds of the society, especially youth, by blatant depiction of obscenity. The films were also spreading messages against Hinduism and destroying the culture of the country in the name of women’s liberty.
“Despite all the hurdles, Hindu dharma will triumph,” he added."
