The historic Ram

The FP News Service this weekend reported that archaeologists have found a footprint on black stone in a trench at the excavation site in Ayodhya, India. (Free Press Journal, March 23, 2003) Archaeologists have found in Ayodhya one footmark on a four inch by three inch black stone, one small human head wearing a turban on stone and one and half inch long copper piece during excavation in the acquired land.

Lawyers representing Hindu parties think the footmark could be a replica of “Charan Paduka” (footwear) of Lord Rama in stone. Digging work was carried out on Saturday  in four trenches - No. 3, 6, 7 and 8. The footprint on black stone was found in trench number six while the one-inch long human head on stone, a broken ball, an iron rod, grass pieces and a bracelet were found in the other trenches. A “moonga”, precious stone was found in trench number K-3. Sources said that a floor of a courtyard was also discovered in K-7. The archaeological value of these artifacts and articles would be determined after they are subjected to carbon dating tests.

Some experts believe that the “Mrid Bhand” recovered during digging could be more than 2000 years old. The terracotta red sigrine figure was found from a depth of four feet. A wall has also surfaced. The wall has also appeared in trench number four and therefore archaeologists guess that the wall is 15 feet long and one foot wide. The Tojo Vikas International’s Ground Penetrating Radar survey had also indicated that remains of an ancient building could be found at this spot.

The survey was done in December-January without digging the ground. Meanwhile, the VHP has expressed anger at the inclusion of nine Muslim labourers in the gang of 48 labourers. In January, the Archaeological Survey of India commissioned a Delhi geo-science company, Tojo Vikas International, to map the disputed site for pre-masjid structures using ground-penetrating radars. The radars showed up what are called “anomalies” that are thousands of years old appearing in stratified layers. This lead to the conclusion of the presence of a Ram temple pre-dating the Babri Masjid, and prompted Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to announce the discovery of new temple evidence in the Himachal election campaign - leading to an uproar in the Indian Parliament.

The Indian Supreme Court as a result of this finding reserved its judgment on the undisputed 67.7 acres surrounding the disputed site. A new Muslim organisation, the Islamic Council of India, says the undisputed acres must be immediately de-acquired for temple construction. But the hearing lost some of its earlier import in view of the order of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court to excavate a limited area around the site of the makeshift temple to determine the presence of pre-Babri Masjid structures. The VHP and the sadhus and sants are only partly happy with this order. At this point in time, the construction of Ram Temple in the city of Ayodhya (in the state of Uttar Pradesh), is the biggest hot-potato in India. This temple has completely altered the course of politics in India. This is because Lord Ram’s Temple-Site, is a bone of contention between Hindus and Muslims in India.

The city of Ayodhya, in which the temple is located, is very closely connected with the life-story of Lord Ram. Lord Ram’s story is described in the timeless Indian epic “Ramayana.” Amongst the seven Muktistalams identified by the Hindus, the city of Ayodhya is at the top of the list. Acknowledged as one of the holiest cities of India, the city of Ayodhya has been venerated since times immemorial. Because of its recognition as Ram Janam-Bhoomi (birthplace of Ram), the city of Ayodhya is also known as “The Holy Land.” Lord Ram is believed by Hindus to be the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. At the present time, the Hindus are planning to construct a temple in honour of Bhagwan (Lord) Ram. Though Ayodhya has at least 55 other Hindu temples, none of them has the esteem of Ram Temple; we seldom hear a word about them. The attention of Indian and western media is focussed on Ayodhya and Ram Temple alone, the milestones on Ayodhya and on Ram Temple unfold themselves, almost on a daily basis. Many experts have shared their opinions and investigations on this subject. However, inspite of plenteous information on the subject, there is no shortage of controversial issues on the topic of Lord Ram’s Temple.

Controversy/conflict relative to the site of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya arises because the site is claimed both by Hindus and Muslims. Hindus say the disputed site is the birthplace of their Bhagwan (Lord) Ram. Muslims say that it belongs to them, since a mosque built by the Mughal Emperor Babar in the 16th century stood at this site. Hindus believe that Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya, as described in the holy book of Ramayan, and had a Ram Temple built in Ayodhya. But Hindus never forgot the site of Lord Ram’s temple, they continued their efforts to regain this site. After trying unsuccessfully for centuries, the Hindus finally destroyed Babar’s mosque in 1992, and now want to re-build Lord Ram’s Temple at this site. This is not acceptable to the Muslims who want to re-build the mosque of Babar, whom they regard as their hero, because he defeated and destroyed the Kafir (Infidel) Hindus and their exemplars.

Hindus never gave up their demand to regain the holy land (the birthplace of Lord Ram). Historians record that since 1528 (the date of destruction of Lord Ram’s Temple by Babar), there have been at least 76 armed conflicts, and well over 300,000 Hindus have sacrificed their lives to restore the Ram Janama Bhoomi Temple. These demands continued even during the British regime in India. After independence, a request was made to Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, to officially and legally turn over the site of Lord Ram’s birthplace to the Hindus. Instead of making a decision, Nehru dumped this hot-potato on the Indian Supreme Court. In the meantime, the Hindus continued to worship at the site.