Ayodhya reverberates with Ramarcha pooja and Nishan poojan ahead of Bhoomi Pujan

Preparations are on a war footing in Ayodhya for the Bhoomi Poojan of Rama temple. Before the main ritual tomorrow, there would be Nishan poojan and Ramarcha pooja at Hanuman Garhi which are special.

Ayodhya: The process of Bhoomi Pujan has started at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi with Ganesh Poojan. The Ramarcha pooja and Nishan poojan at Hanumangarhi before the main ritual is very special. Ramarcha Pooja, starting at 9 am at the birthplace of Lord Rama, will run for 4 hours. According to Vedic custom, six priests will perform this ritual.

The ritual of Bhoomi Pujan for the construction of Ram temple will run for three days. The ritual starts on the second day with Nishan Poojan at Hanumangarhi. With this, Ramarcha puja will be done for about four hours at the birthplace of Lord Rama. This is the main worship program in the ritual of Bhoomi Pujan. Through this, all the deities along with Lord Rama will be worshipped. Ramcharcha Puja is also special because it was manifested in Ayodhya itself.

ETV Bharat spoke to Ramanand Das, the saint of Ayodhya about the importance of these rituals. He said that Shri Ram Vallabhasharan Ji Maharaj, who was the chief saint of Ayodhya, had initiated the Ramcharcha Pooja in Ayodhya. Shri Ram Vallabha Sharan Ji Maharaj was the founder of Ayodhya's chief Shri Ram Vallabhakunj. Ramanand Das, a disciple of the saint who started the Ramarcha Pooja, is performing the ritual of Ramarcha Pooja.

The temple of Sant Ramanand Das Ayodhya, which conducts Ramarcha puja at the original sanctum sanctorum of Ramlala, is the chief priest of the Shri Ram Kunj Katha Mandap. He said that Ramarcha Pooja started in Ayodhya 100 years ago. Ramarcha Puja was initiated by the chief saint of Ayodhya, Shri Ram Vallabhasharan Ji Maharaj. Acharya Ramanand Das said that in Ramarcha Pooja, three veils of Lord Rama are worshipped in the form of Tripad Vibhuti. After this Angi Bhagwan is worshipped.

Read: Faces behind Ram Janambhoomi Movement

In this, Lord Shri Ram's parents Chakravarti King Dasharatha, Kaushalya, Kaikei, Sumitra, Hanuman, Sugriva and all the deities are worshipped. After Ramarcha Pooja, the Gods had revealed themselves to the kings. Darshan Acharya Ramdas says that the method of worship in the scriptures is old, but to make it accessible to the public, Shri Ram Vallabhasaran Ji Maharaj, the founder of Sri Rama Vallabhakunj and the saint of Ayodhya, initiated this special worship after doing penance. Through the Ramarcha Pooja, many kings of those days had become his disciples and seen God. Ramarcha pooja is now famous all over the world. At present, this puja is being done all over the country.

Importance of Nishan poojan at Hanumangarhi

The Nishan poojan is done in Hanumangarhi just before the Ramarcha Puja at the birthplace of Lord Rama. Lord Hanuman is worshipped in this Nishan poojan. It is believed that Lord Hanuman is the protector of Ayodhya and the deity of Kalyuga. Hanumangarhi is considered to be the first residence of Bajrangbali. Hanuman, the god of Kaliyuga sits in front of Rama's court. It is believed that Lord Hanuman is the king of Ayodhya in Kalyug after Lord Rama.

The entire Ayodhya can be seen from Hanumangarhi. It is believed that Bajrangbali guards the entire Ayodhya from this place. In this case, before starting any work, Nishan poojan in Ayodhya, the worship of Hanuman’s flag assumes special significance.