Sign In
Learn bits
History & Culture
Mahesh

23/01/24 06:37 AM IST

Ayodhya temple is a study in sandstone

In News
  • A new landmark of India — both structural and spiritual — has risen on Ayodhya's horizon on January 22 in the form of a new-age architectural marvel of elegant sandstones, diligently carved by craftspeople with dedication and devotion to Lord Ram.
Architectural design
  • Standing on 2.7 acres of land in the temple town, the temple is 161 feet tall, 235 feet wide, and has a total length of 360 feet.
  • It has been constructed in one of the two distinguishing temple-building styles from ancient India – Nagara – following all the Vedic rituals with an amalgamation of modern technology.
  • The built-up area of the temple is nearly 57,000 square feet and is a three-floor structure.
  • It stands on a raised plinth, with the most sacred part of the temple called ‘garbha griha’ or the sanctum sanctorum, towered over by the tallest shikhara or the mountain peak on the third floor.
  • A total of five such shikharas are constructed over five mandapas.
  • It also has 300 pillars across the mandapas, and 44 teak doors have been installed.
  • Nearly two lakh bricks inscribed with Lord Ram's name in different languages and collected over 30 years are being integrated into the temple.
  • The insides of the sanctum sanctorum were decorated using Makrana marble, the same stone used to build the Taj Mahal.
  • The temple is built using granite, sandstone, and marble with a lock and key mechanism, which ensures a lifespan of up to 1,000 years. Notably, no cement or mortar has also been utilised in its construction.
  • The area was first excavated to a depth of 15 metres, and 47 layers of engineered soil were laid to make a solid base.
  • A 1.5-metre thick M-35 grade concrete raft was laid, and a 6.3-metre thick plinth of solid granite stone was placed on top to make it sturdy.
  • ISRO technologies have also been used in the construction.
  • A special ‘Surya Tilak’ mirror, a lens-based apparatus, was designed by a team of scientists from CBRI and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
  • It will be used for a ceremonial anointment of Lord Ram on every Ram Navami day at noon with the sunlight on the idol's forehead.
Source- The Hindu

More Related Current Affairs View All

23 Sep

Quad grouping

'Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the United States, where he will participate in the fourth Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware.' Quad s the grouping of four de

Read More

21 Sep

India Achieves Tier 1 Status in Global Cybersecurity Index 2024

' India has secured Tier 1 status in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).' The GCI is a comprehensive assessm

Read More

21 Sep

A new White Revolution

'Operation Flood, launched in 1970, ushered in the White Revolution and transformed the dairy sector in India.' Dairy cooperatives procured 660 lakh kg of milk per day in 2023-2

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps