Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, hailed the construction of the Ramanathaswamy temple here as a significant contribution to strengthening the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.

The chief minister commenced his Ayodhya visit on Thursday by participating in the Maha Kumbhabhishekam and ‘prana pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ramanathaswamy temple. After offering prayers at the newly-consecrated Shivalinga of Lord Mahadev, Yogi performed the circumambulation ritual at this South Indian-style temple. 

He expressed joy over the establishment of the temple, emphasising the deep historical connection between Ayodhya dham and Tamil Nadu, a relationship that has endured for thousands of years.

He said, “Thousands of years ago, when Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram set out to search for Mother Sita in Sri Lanka, he worshipped Lord Shiva after building the bridge in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.”

According to Chief Minister Yogi, this serves as a reminder of India’s unity, where spiritual consciousness continues to rise. He remarked that these efforts are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat vision, further reinforcing the idea of national oneness.

He also highlighted that India has always been unified from North to South and East to West, with the country’s scriptures and holy sites serving as enduring proofs. “Governments may have changed over time, but the nation’s saints have always upheld the strength and continuity of the spiritual traditions of India,” he remarked.

Referring to the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, two editions of which have been successfully held in Varanasi, Yogi noted that following Kashi, Ayodhya dham had now also forged a connection with Tamil Nadu, thanks to Ayyaji’s efforts.

He emphasised that while organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad work tirelessly to unify the nation, some individuals attempt to divide the country for short-sighted political gains. In this context, the temple’s establishment marks a significant step towards realising the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, he said.

Chief Minister Yogi highlighted that Ayyaji’s efforts for national unity mirror the work done by a Tamil Nadu monk centuries ago, who played a pivotal role in uniting Sanatan dharma under one thread.

Yogi emphasised that Ayodhya dham was poised to become a beacon of inspiration and a spiritual centre for the followers of Sanatan dharma worldwide. “It will become one of the most spiritual and beautiful cities globally with renewed energy,” he said, adding that the city’s transformation will serve as a new guiding light.

RSS Sar Karyavahak Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi,  Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, spiritual saint Ayya ji, Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, zila panchayat chairperson Roli Singh, MLA Ved Prakash Gupta, Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, Swami Ram Sharan Das, Mahant Awadhesh Das, Jagat Guru Dineshacharya and saints from Tamil Nadu, local public representatives and other dignitaries were present in the programme. Yogi and Bhaiyyaji Joshi were also presented with angavastram and memento during the programme.

Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who arrived in Ayodhya on a one-day visit on Thursday, offered prayers to Lord Hanuman and worshipped Ram Lalla at  the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

Despite his busy schedule, the chief minister also visited the Shri Ram Gaushala Samiti on Karsevakpuram Parikrama Marg, where he personally fed and cared for the cows, demonstrating his commitment to cow protection. He also planted trees on the Karsevakpuram campus, promoting environmental conservation.

He also visited Ram Katha Park before heading to the newly established Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in Ramsevakpuram. The chief minister also took part in the ‘Bharatatma Ashok Ji Singhal Veda Award-2024’ distribution function held at Karsevakpuram.

Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi had visited Ayodhya on August 6 and offered prayers to Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman and reviewed the ongoing development projects in the city. During that visit, he also inspected various development and construction works underway for Ayodhya’s progress.