Ayodhya: Ayodhya is known as the birth place of Ram, but it has also two other prominent temples Vijay Raghav Mandir and Ammaji Mandir that are unique and not known to many. Both these temples stand apart for the simple reason that no lights have been used inside them for ages. In fact, through out the year it is the darkness that prevails in the sanctum sanctorum.
People who visit Ayodhya to worship Lord Ram, also unfailingly visit Vijay Raghav Mandir and Ammaji Mandir. The uniqueness of these temples are they are worshipped as per the South Indian rituals and no light has been used in the sanctum sanctorum.
The chief priest of Amma Ji temple Venkatcharya Swami unwinds the mystery, "Garbha Griha means uterus. When the baby is in the womb, no artificial light is provided to it. Even in today's modern context, X-ray or city scan of a pregnant woman is avoided. Similarly, Lord Ram does not have any problem in the sanctum, so light is not installed. It is possible that due to that light, God has to face an accident, so all temples in the south are also lighted in the sanctum."
"In south India, the light is not used inside the sanctum sanctorum of many temples," Swami said, adding, "There is another temple in Vibhishan Kund locality. It is believed that this temple was set up in 1954. Shri Dharacharya Ji is the mahant of this temple. For the past 15 years, the continuous recitation of the devotional song in the name of Lord Rama has been going on in the temple."
"Light is not allowed in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum here too as the deity is treated as a foetus. Light is avoided to ensure that no harm is caused to Lord Shri Ram," he added.
Mahant of the Vijay Raghav Raj Temple, Dharacharya Maharaj said, "The temple of Vijay Raghav Raj Maharaj was established in 1904. More than 100 years have passed since then, the light is not in the sanctum sanctorum here."
"Earlier there was no arrangement of light in the entire temple. But, gradually light became a part of daily life, so light is now used everywhere except the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. However, we still use well water instead of drinking electric pump water. Even in Ram Ji's Prakriti festival, no electric bulbs are used for the decoration of the deity at all," Dharacharya added.
According to mythological traditions, Ayodhya situated on the banks of Saryu River, which is the kingdom of Suryavanshi and Raghuvanshi kings. People from across the world come to pay their obeisance to Ram Lala, but most of the people do not know the unique features of these two temples.
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