Ram temple will elevate Ayodhya as 'maha teerthraj', say devotees

Ayodhya: Buoyed by the Supreme Court verdict in favour of Ram temple, pilgrims visiting Ayodhya on the occasion of Kartik Purnima on Tuesday said it would elevate the status of the temple town among pilgrimages in the country.

“At present, Ayodhya is known as teerthraj (king of all pilgrimages) because the birth of Lord Ram is celebrated here every day.

But the construction of Ram temple will turn this place into maha teerthraj (emperor of all pilgrimages),” said Mahant Girishpati Tripathi of Tewari Mandir.

Citing a chaupai (verse) from Ramcharitamanas, he said, “Jai din ram janam shruti gavahi, teerath sakal tahan chali avahi” (the day song on the birth of Lord Ram was sung, all pilgrimages of the world came to Ayodhya.”

Elated over SC judgment, Mainarani Pathak, a pilgrim from Gorakhpur, said: “Ram Lalla is worshipped in all temples of Ayodhya.

The city reverberates with the chant of bhaye pragat kripala deen dayala, Kaushalya hitkari every day. The absence of Ram’s temple at his birth place (Ramjanmabhoomi site) was strongly felt by devotees. Now that the temple will come up at that spot, Ayodhya is set to witness grand celebrations.”

“Followers of Ram associated with Ayodhya are known as naam upasaks, meaning they chant Ram’s name with everything. This chanting generates positive energy in devotees,” said Ashok Kumar, a retired government employee.

Hailing the apex court order, Devendra Pandey, a pilgrim from Basti, said, “Ram temple will become the signature monument of Ayodhya.”

Hirawati Devi, a teacher from Sultanpur, said the Supreme Court order has fulfilled her long pending wish.

Sanskrit scholar Shashi Sharma said the fate of Ayodhya will change for better now. “The end of land dispute marks a new beginning for Ayodhya. I am hopeful that Ayodhya will now move ahead on the path of progress,” she said.