How a beam of sunlight was directed on Lord Ram’s forehead in Ayodhya temple

Source– This post on How a beam of sunlight was directed on Lord Ram’s forehead in Ayodhya temple  is based on the article “How a beam of sunlight was directed on Lord Ram’s forehead in Ayodhya temple” published in “The Indian express” on 16th April 2024.

Why in the News?

A three-minute-long Surya Tilak ceremony was performed in Ayodhya’s newly built Ram temple, marking the occasion of Ram Navami. The ritual symbolises the Sun God’s blessings.

How did technology help Ram Lalla’s Surya Tilak?

1. The system is an optomechanical setup designed to focus sunlight directly onto an idol’s forehead using a specialized arrangement of lenses and mirrors.

2. It was developed by scientists from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee.

3. It includes an infrared filter made from heat-absorbing material at the aperture to block high-energy photons, protecting the idol from heat damage.

4. This aperture allows sunlight to enter the sanctum sanctorum (‘garbhagriha’) precisely when aligned.

5. The sunlight, passed through the filter, is then concentrated via four lenses and mirrors inside brass pipes angled to direct a single beam onto the idol.

6. To minimize light scattering, the interior surfaces of these components are coated with black powder.

7. The system operates without batteries or electronic devices and can be manually adjusted to ensure longevity and continuous use.

Surya Tilak in other temples in India

a) Suriyanar Kovil Temple (Tamil Nadu): It was built between 11th-12th centuries, sunlight illuminates specific areas throughout the year, including the deity Suriyanar and his consorts.

b) Nanarayanaswamy Temple (Andhra Pradesh): Sunlight bathes the Matsya avatar of Lord Vishnu from feet to navel progressively during the five-day Surya Puja Mahotsavam festival.

c) Mahalakshmi Temple (Maharashtra): During the biannual Kiranotsav festival, rays of the sun grace the feet of Goddess Mahalaxmi’s idol.

d) Koba Jain Temple (Gujarat): Each year, during the Surya Abhishek event, the forehead of the Mahaveerswami statue is lit by direct sunlight for three minutes precisely at 2:07 pm.

e) Unav Balaji Surya Temple (Madhya Pradesh): This temple is designed such that during its annual festival, the first rays of the sun align perfectly to illuminate the deity in the innermost sanctum.

f) Konark Sun Temple (Odisha): The architectural design of this temple allows the sun’s first rays to enter the main entrance and reach the deepest sanctum.

g) Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple (Karnataka): On Makar Sankranti, sunlight penetrates this cave temple, lighting up the Nandi and subsequently the Shivlingam.

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