E-Paper
PM Modi visits Tamil Nadu's Dhanushkodi, performs 'pranayama', day before Ram temple event: ‘…to be at Arichal Munai’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also performed puja at Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Arichal Munai, near Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu, as part of his Ramayana-connect tour in the state, and paid floral tributes at the seashore. The visit comes a day before the pran-pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya where Modi will be the chief guest.
It is widely believed that Dhanushkodi is the point where Lord Ram took the vow to defeat Ravana.
Modi also performed puja at Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple. The name Kothandarama means Rama with the bow. It is located in Dhanushkodi. It is said that this is where Ravana's brother Vibhishana first met Lord Ram and asked him for refuge. Some legends also say that this is the place where Lord Ram conducted the coronation of Vibhishana.
Later, taking to social media X (formally Twitter), Modi said, “Had the opportunity to be at Arichal Munai, which holds a special significance in Prabhu Shri Ram’s life. It is the starting point of the Ram Setu.”
Pran-pratistha ceremony of Ram Mandir
These visits have great significance as Modi is set to visit Ayodhya on Monday for the pran-pratishtha of Ram Mandir.
Earlier on Saturday, the prime minister visited Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli and Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram in the southern state.
In view of the the grand event in Ayodhya, that would be attended by nearly 8,000 VIP guests, the Uttar Pradesh Police force beefed up security in the temple town.
Additional director general (ADG) Lucknow Zone Piyush Mordia said patrolling on the Saryu River is being done through boats and drones are flying high for aerial surveillance.
The idol of Lord Ram Lalla has been placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in Ayodhya. The idol of 'Ram Lalla' is carved by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj. The idol is 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes. The idol portrays Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus also crafted from the same stone.
A '56 bhog prasad' that would be offered to Ram Lalla 'first' after the pran-pratishtha ceremony has also reached the city from Lucknow.
(With inputs from agencies)
