Science meets Sanatana: This is how technology contributed to Ram Lalla's surya tilak at Ayodhya Ram Mandir 

Many Indian temples, such as Ram Temple, carry out the Surya Tilak rites, which involve using special technical techniques to create sunshine for the gods at certain times.

Author
Bhaskar Chakravorty
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At the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a momentous event was seen on Ram Navami 2024. This is the first time the Surya Tilak rite has been carried out since the Ram Lalla statue was installed in January. At precisely noon, sunlight is focused onto the idol's forehead by the use of modern technology in this ceremony. The ceremony, which represented the blessings of the Sun God, lasted for around five minutes. This explains how the sun's rays came to rest on the forehead of Ram Lalla's idol.

The science meets the relegion!

An optomechanical system, specifically engineered to converge and focus sun rays on the idol's forehead, is the basis of the entire system. The project's experts at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee were aware of the extreme heat produced when sunlight is focused into a single spot using a system of lenses and mirrors.

An infrared filter positioned to absorb heat at the aperture

In order to combat this, the system includes an infrared filter made of a substance that absorbs heat. High-energy photons that might normally heat the idol are blocked or deflected by it. This filter is positioned directly at the aperture. The sanctum sanctorum, or "garbhagriha," has an aperture on the first floor that allows sunlight to penetrate. The Sun's rays enter the "garbhagriha" from the top through the infrared filter in the aperture when it is "at the correct spot."

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Light beams sky high!

The light beams are concentrated into a single beam that lands on Ram Lalla's forehead thanks to the arrangement of four lenses and an equal number of mirrors positioned within the brass pipes at a particular angle. Black powder has been applied to the inside surfaces of pipes, elbows, and joints to prevent light from scattering.

Notably, the complete system operates without the need for batteries or electronic gadgets. With only minor modifications, the manually driven system can be utilized for many years to come.