DHARMACHARYAS DECIDE

YUGABAD 509I beginning with Shri Krishna Janmashtami being the silver jubilee year of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, a camp of the divisional-level workers of the VHP was organised at the Triveni Sangam, Paryag (1989) with a view to formulating the programme of silver jubilee celebrations. Meetings of the Kendriya Marg Darshak Mandal, Dharmastan Mukti Yagna Samiti and the Dharma Sansad (Religious Parliament) were also held m this occasion. There Shri Ram Janmabhumi Mukti Yagya &unit! decided to perform the SILANYAS foundation stone laying ceremony of the proposed Shri Ram temple at JANMABHUMI on the auspicious occasion of Devothani Ekadashi, falling on 9th November 1989. This decision was endorsed by the Kendriya Marg Darshak Mandal, the Dharma Sansad as well as the mammoth conference of revered saints. The saints asked the VHP to formulate and effectively execute a country-wide-programme of Shri Rain Shila Pooja and Construction of Shri Ram Temple at Ayodhya, involving all sections of the people. Maryada Purushotam Ram, being the centre of reverence of Hindus all over the world, the workers of Vishva Hindu Parishad started deliberating as to how the entire society could be involved in the construction of the temple. Out of this collective thought Shri Ram Shilla Poojan Yogana emerged as Amrit (nectar).

In Bharat there are about 6 1/2 lakh units comprising one lakh population each. The Organisation of Vishva Hindu Parishad had covered about eighty percent of these units by the beginning of the "Silver Jubilee Year." During the silver jubilee year, it was proposed to extend to all the units comprising 10,000 population. In the meanwhile, the scheme relating to the construction of temple on Shri Ram Janma Bhumi emerged. The immense reverence of the people towards Lord Ram and construction of a grand temple at his birth place are subjects which inspire the heart of every Hindu, so that Hindus from every village could rally for this sacred work. It was therefore decided that units consisting of 20M population each should bring "Shri Ram Shila" for laying the foundation of this grand temple and send the same to Ayodhya. In the same camp at Prayag population units were identified as (i) PRAKHANDA i.e. a unit comprising population of one lakh (ii) khanda, a unit of 10,000 population and (iii) a upakhanda of 2,000 population. It was also decided to nominate a convenor for each of the said units.

In Bharath, which is predominantly a religious country, there are many individual donors who can undertake to finance the entire construction of the proposed grand temple. Since the temple is to be constructed at the birthplace of Shri Ram, every Hindu would like to participate because of his great devotion to the Lord. Keeping in view this urge of the people, it was decided to fix offering norms of Rs 1.25, Rs. 5 - and Rs'10 per head, per small and large family respectively and coupons for these amounts were prepared accordingly.

A programme was chalked out according to which "Shri Ram Shilla Worship" was to be organised at each upakhanda with effect from 30th-September. Later it was thought that all the "Ram Shillas" from all these sub- blocks be collected at the Division Centre where, Shri Ram Mahayagya for three to five days be organised. Later on, the Ram Shillas were to be transported to Ayodhya, so that foundation laying ceremony of the temple could be held at the place and time fixed.

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PRE-PLANNING

Twenty-two states of India with 22 convenors were divided into ten zones with a view to provide guidance. A convenor for each zone was also appointed.

TRAINING

For effective implementation of the scheme, training centres were set up for Regional Convenors at Delhi, provincial convenors at Nagpur and for the district level convenors training facilities were provided at the state centres. Thus appropriate training courses were held at 213 places in different states of the country in five months ending with October 1989. In order to ensure that accounting of the funds of the Trust was done uniformly in the entire country, the Financial Manager Shri Huprikar ji did extensive touring to provide guidance and training in account keeping.

RAM SHILLA WORSHIP BY SAINTS

It was decided that Ram Shilla Poojan be Organised at all important religious centres of the country involving the cross section of our pluralistic society where blessings of the great Saints and Acharyas should be secured. Some of the great religious saints who gave their blessings were: -

HH BRAHM RISHI SHRI DEORAHA BABA - PARYAG BRINDABAN

KACHI KAM KOTI JAGAT GURU ELDER SHANKARACHARYA SWAMI CHANDRA SEKHRENDRA SARASWATI

JYOTISH PEETHADHISHWAR VARISHTHA SHANKRACHARYA REV SWAMI SHANTANAND JI MAHARAJ - BADRIDHAM 19 Aug 89

GOVARDHAN PEETHADHISWAR JAGAT GURU SHANKRACHARYA SHRI NIRANJAN JI MAHARAJ, JAGANNATH PURI - JODHPUR 2nd Aug 1989

BHAGWAN SHRI SATYA SAI JI MAHARAJ - ANDHRA PRADESH 7 Sep 89

JYOTISH PEETHADHEESHWAR JAGAT GURU- SWAMI VISHNU DEVANAND JI MAHARAJ - 24August 1989 Jabalpur

RAM CHANDRA KESHAV DODGER MAHARAJ - Sanavan, GUJARAT

JAIN MUNI REV ACHARYA TULSI JI - Lanoo- Rajasthan -22nd Aug 89

SRI SWAMI KRISHNA NAND JI SARASWATI- President Dashnami Akhada, JAMMU Ist Sep 1989'

ACHARYA MANDLESHWAR SWAMI MANGLA NAND ji, Chairman, Bharat Sadhu Samaj

JAGAT GURU SHANKRACHARYA SWAMI ABHINAV VIDYA TIRTHA Pushpgiri Mathandhreshwar Andhra Pradesh-Vijaywada

MURARI BAPU JI – LONDON - 27 August 1989

MS INDIRABETI - BALLABH COMMUNITY Vadodra

SRI PRAMUKH SWAMI JI--SWAMI

NARAYAN SAMPRADAYA, Karnawati, Gujarat

SRI RAM SUKH DAS JI MAHARAJ, Bikaner

JAIN MUNI REV ACHARYA SUSHIL MUNIJI - London 27 Aug 1989

JAGAT GURU SHANKARACHARYA SWAMI BHARATI TIRATH Shringerimath

VIRAKT SHIROMANI REV SRI SWAMI BUSUDEV GIRI JI MAHARAJ-Banswada, Bhilwara, Rajasthan

PRATIWADI BHAYANKAR REV SHRI PARAMHANS RAM CHANDRA DAS JI-Digamber Akhara Ayodhya 5 Sept 89

SRI NARAYAN JOHAR SWAMIGAL JI JIVERMATH Rajamundri (A-P)

SMT UMA BHARTI JI Teekamgarh, 27 Aug, 89 London

SWAMI BHAVYANAND JI-RAM KRISHNA MISSION 27th August 1989 London

SRI SWAMI SUNDER CHAITANYANAND JI Rajamundri (A.P.)

JAIN MUNI REV MUNI NANA LAL JI MAHARAJ Swetambar Kanod (Udaipur) 12 Sept 1989

JAGAT GURU NIMBARKACHARYA RADHASARVESHWARA Kishengarh, 10 Sept 89

SRI RAMCHANDRA VIR JI-VIRATNAGAR Rajasthan 4 Septl989

SRI JAGAT GURU MADHWACHARYA SRI SWAMI VISHWESH TIRTHA JI - Madras

SRISHIVOMTEERTHJIMAF"WDEWAS9Jul89

SRI SHIV MUNI-ARYA SAMAJ, DAYANAND Saraswati Janmasthan-Ajmer

SRI SODBI SWAMI BRAHMA NAND JI MAHARAJ- Prem Mandir Ajmer 12 Sept 1989

GORAKH PEETHADHEESHWAR SRI MAHANT AVEDYA NATHJI Ayodhya-5 Sept 1989

MAHA MANDLESHWAR SWAMI SATYA MITRANAND GIRI JI London 27 Aug 89

BHARAT SEWASHARAM SANGH-Calcutta

SRI SWAMI KALYAN DEV JI - Garhmukteshwar 12 August 1989

MAHANT SWAMI GIRIDHAR NARAYAN PURI MAHARAJ, PANCHAYATI MAHA NIRVANI Akhara Kamal Daksha Mandir, 5 Sept 1989

BOUDHA BHIKSHU GYAN JAGAT JI

Thus Saints from all the different sect, of the Hindu religion relating to Budhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Vaishnav and backward communities participated in the Ram Shilla Poojan.

While the scheduled Ram Shilla Poojan began on 30th September, Poojan was performed at Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamnotri in Badridham earlier i.e. on 17 September 1989 because of closure of road communication thereafter. Vishva Hindu Parishad Maha Mantri (General Secretary) Shri ASHOK SINGHAL JI alongwith some workers and saints had reached Badri-Narayan on 17th September. "SHILLA POOJAN" was accomplished there by Sankracharya and Head Pujari of the ancient most sacred Badri Narayan temple. Thereafter the Poojan process spread to almost all the villages. On the way Shobha Yatra was taken right upto the Tibet border.

"SHILAS" FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES

On the 26th, 27th and 28th of August 1989 a historic conference of Hindus residing in Europe was held in London. A delegation of 300 representatives led by HH Swami Chinmayananda Ji and including illustrious religious leaders like Jain Muni Sushil Kumar ji, Mahamandaleshwar H.H. Swami Satya Mitra Nand ji, Avichal Dass ji from Gujarat, Shri Murari Bappu ii participated. The Lord Mayor of London had also graced the occasion. Shilas were received from 39 foreign countries. These included United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Spain, West Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Israel, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, Surinam, South Africa, Botswana, Mauritius, Kenya, Nepal etc. these Shillas were not of the same material. Some were of stone, some of metals while others were of fibre material. The "Shila" from China was made of stone called Vajramani (Jade) which is very costly.

SHILLA POOJAN IN INDIA

As noted earlier the "Shilla Poojan" in the country had commenced from 30th Sept 1989. However, at some places the worship was done at Durga Pooja Mandap. It was contemplated at the meeting of the State Convenors held in July 1989 that out of 3,45,800 upkhandas Poojan would be possible at 2,30,383 places. However, "Shri Rain Shilla" which was the foundation stone of the Grand Temple to be constructed on "Ram Janmabhumi, " had such deep impact on the minds and the hearts of the people that it became possible to perform the Poojan at more the targeted number of places viz. 2,97,705 instead of 2,30,000 places. An estimated 11 crore people from all over India had participated in this grand Poojan. State-wise break-up is as follows: -

COLLECTED AMOUNT

As per the accounts, the amount collected for the construction of Temple totalled Rs 8,29,31,000. State wise details are as under:-

"Sri Ram Shillas" consecrated and brought from upakhandas were collected at Divisional Centres where "Shri Ram Mahayagyas" were performed. At some places, the Mahayagya was performed for 5 days and at other for 3 days. During the yagnas exhibitions and conferences were also conducted. In all 4,251 Mahayagyas" were performed in the country in which ,ver 3 crore people had participated. Region-wise details are given below:-

After the performance of the Mahayagyas, the Consecrated "Sri Ram Shillas" were taken to Ayodhya on RATH (Decorated Tracks). Each region was given separate routes for this purpose. "Shri Ram Shillas" from northern region had reached Ayodhya before the Foundation stone ceremony day. The Shillas from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Indraprastha, Rajasthan, U.P., Bihar etc were received at Ayodhya on 6th Nov 1989. The workers of he Bajrang Dal accompanied the Rath carrying the 'Rain Shillas". The Ram Shilla from other places reached Ayodhya after the foundation laying ceremony had taken place. The volunteers of "Bajrang Vahini" accompanying the Rath reached Ayodhya as if bringing with them the inner reverence of the Hindu masses for 3hri Rani. They had received enthusiastic warm welcome on the way.