Key Points:
- Celestial Event: The Surya Tilak ceremony, where sunlight graces Ram Lalla’s forehead, occurred at exactly 12 noon in Ayodhya.
- Architectural Marvel: This phenomenon is enabled by a sophisticated mirror and lens system inside the Ram Mandir.
- Massive Devotion: Thousands of devotees gathered to witness this divine moment on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami.
Ayodhya: The holy city of Ayodhya witnessed a spiritually significant event on April 6, 2025, as the Surya Tilak ceremony of Ram Lalla took place during the Ram Navami celebrations. At exactly 12 noon, a beam of sunlight illuminated the forehead of the Ram Lalla idol inside the sanctum sanctorum of the newly constructed Ram Mandir. This marked the second occurrence of the Surya Tilak since the temple’s consecration.
The Divine Moment
The Surya Tilak is a celestial phenomenon symbolizing Lord Ram’s divine connection with the Sun God. Enabled by an intricate arrangement of mirrors and lenses designed by Indian scientists, sunlight is directed precisely onto the forehead of the deity at noon every year on Ram Navami. This year, the rays remained on the idol for about four minutes, creating an ethereal glow that left devotees awestruck.
Architectural and Scientific Brilliance
The temple’s design incorporates advanced optics to achieve this unique event. Sunlight first reflects off a mirror placed on the temple’s upper floor, passes through three lenses, and is redirected to another mirror before finally illuminating Ram Lalla’s forehead. This alignment requires meticulous calculations to account for changes in the sun’s position each year.
Dr. S.K. Panigrahi from CSIR-CBRI Roorkee, who contributed to this project, explained that this mechanism ensures a 58 mm tilak forms on the idol’s forehead annually during Chaitra Navami.
Grand Celebrations in Ayodhya
Ram Navami festivities in Ayodhya began early in the morning with rituals such as Abhishek, Shringar (decoration), and Chappan Bhog (offering of 56 dishes). The temple was adorned with vibrant flowers and lights, while devotees thronged to take holy dips in the Saryu River before visiting the temple. The Surya Tilak ceremony was broadcast live on platforms like Doordarshan and social media for those unable to attend in person.
Significance for Devotees
For millions of devotees present at the temple or watching remotely, this event was not just a scientific marvel but also a deeply spiritual experience. The Surya Tilak is seen as a divine blessing symbolizing Lord Ram’s birth and his eternal connection with cosmic energy.
As the day concluded with hymns and prayers echoing across Ayodhya, devotees left with renewed faith and reverence, cherishing this celestial celebration of Lord Ram’s birth anniversary.
