‘Ashubh ghadi’: Shankracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati questions timing of Ram Temple construction

As Ayodhya gears up to start the construction of Ram Temple on August 5, revered seer Shankracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati has raised questions on the timing, calling it "ashubh ghadi" or inauspicious time to begin the work. 

Preparations are currently underway in Ayodhya for the "bhoomi pujan" ceremony at the Ram Temple site. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple on August 5, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust said on Wednesday. 

"We don't want any position or to be a trustee of the Ram Temple. We only want that the temple should be built properly and the foundation stone should be laid at the right time, but this is an 'ashubh ghadi' (inauspicious time)," Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati said. 

"We are Ram devotees, we will be happy if anyone builds the temple of Ram, but for that- appropriate date and auspicious time should be chosen. There should not be politics in this. Due to politics, the issues of Hindus get knocked down. The temple was being built with the public's money, their opinion should be sought as well," he said while speaking to ANI.

Notably, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust has proposed two dates in August for laying the foundation stone of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Trust had invited Prime Minister Modi to lay the foundation stone of the temple either on August 3 or 5.

Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple on August 5, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust said on Wednesday. 

Swami Govind Dev Giri, the treasurer of the trust, said that social distancing norms will be ensured at the programme, with not more than 200 people attending the ceremony.

The Prime Minister will visit Hanuman Garhi, Ram Lalla temple, plant a tree and later do the `bhoomi pujan` at the Ram Temple site.  

All chief ministers will be invited to the programme, he added.

The trust was formed by the government for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya in line with the Supreme Court`s ruling on November 9 last year.

A five-judge Supreme Court bench led by then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi ruled in favour of Ram Lalla and said the entire disputed land spread over 2.7 acres will be handed over to a trust formed by the government, which will monitor the construction of a Ram Temple at the site.

Giri said the main saints from Ayodhya and across the country, social workers and political leaders will be invited for the event.

He said that the temple will be ready within three and a half years. 

The height of Ayodhya's grand Ram temple would be 161-feet, an increase by 20-feet from the previous design which was prepared in 1988, according to Nikhil Sompura, architect and the son of C Sompura, chief architect of the temple.

(With ANI inputs)