Ram Lalla anointed with “Surya Tilak”, PM Modi gets emotional

On the occasion of Ram Navami, the consecrated idol of Lord Ram in Ayodhya temple was anointed with a unique tilak ceremony which had a ray of sunlight directed on the forehead of Ram Lalla as "Surya Tilak".

This was made possible with the help of scientists from CBRI- Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP), Bengaluru who designed a system to channel the sun’s rays onto the idol’s forehead for about six minutes, starting from 12 noon.

The system includes an intricate network of lenses and mirrors which channeled the ray of sunlight from the third floor of the temple to the sanctum sanctorum, aka, Garbha Griha where the idol of Ram Lalla is consecrated.

Using cutting-edge scientific expertise, a 5.8 centimeter beam of light hit the deity's forehead. The event was commissioned by temple trust and the remarkable phenomenon was achieved by an instrument especially designed for this. 

A team of ten esteemed Indian scientists stationed at the Ram Mandir ensured the success of this auspicious event on Ram Navami. For approximately 3 to 3.5 minutes starting at 12 noon, sunlight was precisely directed onto the statue's forehead using a combination of mirrors and lenses.

Employing a special gearbox and using reflective mirrors and lenses, the team orchestrated the precise alignment of sunlight rays from the temple's third floor to the inner sanctum (Garbha Griha) using established principles of solar tracking, reported NDTV.

Technical support from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and the manufacturing expertise of Optica, a Bengaluru-based company, further helped the project's execution, it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the ‘Surya Tilak’ ritual amid his busy election schedules. He was in Assam’s Nalbari to address a mega public rally. The Prime Minister took to X and post pictures where he is seen watching the unique event on his handheld.

“After my Nalbari rally, I watched the Surya Tilak on Ram Lalla. Like crores of Indians, this is a very emotional moment for me. The grand Ram Navami in Ayodhya is historic. May this Surya Tilak bring energy to our lives and may it inspire our nation to scale new heights of glory,” PM Modi posted on X.