‘Hanumanji came to see Ram Lalla,’ Ram Mandir trustees describe monkey’s visit

A remarkable incident at the newly built Shri Ram Janmbhoomi temple on New Year's Day has been recounted as a divine blessing by the temple trust. According to a post by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, a monkey mysteriously entered the inner sanctum where the Ram Lalla idol resides.

The incident occurred around 5:50 pm on January 1st. A monkey entered through the southern gate and made its way towards the vestibule housing the utsav idol, an older representation of the deity. Concerned security personnel rushed to safeguard the idol. However, the monkey calmly retreated and exited through the eastern gate, passing through crowds without incident.

The temple trust said security staff viewed the monkey's visit as a divine blessing, speculating it may have been Lord Hanuman himself coming to see Ram Lalla. Monkeys are closely associated with Hanuman, the devoted vanara god and Ramayana figure.

आज श्री रामजन्मभूमि मंदिर में हुई एक सुंदर घटना का वर्णन:

आज सायंकाल लगभग 5:50 बजे एक बंदर दक्षिणी द्वार से गूढ़ मंडप से होते हुए गर्भगृह में प्रवेश करके उत्सव मूर्ति के
पास तक पहुंचा। बाहर तैनात सुरक्षाकर्मियों ने देखा, वे बन्दर की ओर यह सोच कर भागे कि कहीं यह बन्दर उत्सव…

— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) January 23, 2024

Monkeys have been a recurring symbol throughout the Ram temple movement's history. Notably, during the 1990 Ram Janmabhoomi unrest, a monkey perched atop the Babri Masjid's central dome next to saffron flags, guarding them from removal.

This latest incident is now being cited as yet another divine sign favouring the new temple and the fulfilment of devotees' decades-long Ram Mandir aspirations.