Historic significance demands Ram temple at Ayodhya: Jeeyar

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NewIndPress.com

 

Monday March 22 2004 00:00 IST

 

VIJAYAWADA: Stating that a solution to the vexed Ayodhya issue remained elusive

due to politicisation, Tridandi Sriman Narayana Ramanuja China Jeer has stressed

the need for the construction of a ''grand'' Ram temple at his birth place and

preserve it as a world heritage monument because of its historic significance.

 

''just like Jerusalem and Mecca, the holy places of Christians and Muslims,

respectively, historic significance demands that the revered Sarayu river and

its surroundings, the birth place of lord Ram, is preserved for posterity,'' he

told a press conference here on Saturday night.

 

Explaining the need for a temple at Ayodhya, he said worship of lord Ram was now

part of world history. ''it is a faith that Ram was born at Ayodhya, just as

people believe Jesus was born near Jerusalem, and this cannot be questioned,''

he remarked, adding that even places associated with several great

personalities, like Mahatma Gandhi (Porbandar) and Rajiv Gandhi (Sriperumbadur)

were preserved and cherished.

 

''There is a need to preserve places associated with lord Ram - a role model for

the entire humanity - by people at large for future generations.''

 

Describing Ram as 'ideal human being', who faced trials and tribulations with

grit and determination, evoking veneration even among ''devatas and rishis'',

the Vaishnavite Seer said the lord was held in high esteem even in Muslim

countries like Indonesia and the people there loved to hear the

'Ramcharitmanas'.

 

He said people, cutting across religious lines, had veneration for lord Ram in

the past. But now the (ayodhya) issue had been politicised and thus complicating

it and ''vested interests'' had made it seem like an issue between religious

communities, the Vaishnavite saint lamented. Jeer begins nine-day pooja to river

Krishna for bountiful rains

 

UNI VIJAYAWADA: Tridandi Sriman Narayana Ramanuja China Jeer has begun a special

pooja to the revered river Krishna to propitiate the rain god for bountiful

rains to ensure bumper crops and cattle wealth.

 

The jeer started the nine-day pooja on Sunday to coincide with the Telugu New

Year 'Ugadi'.

 

In the wake of two consecutive droughts in the Krishna command areas, said to be

the worst in the 150-year history of Krishna delta region, the pooja would also

be a ''repentance'' for upsetting the fragile ecological balance, which resulted

in droughts, the Jeer told reporters here.

 

The pooja would be performed till Sri Ramanavami on March 30, marking 'Krishna

Vasantotsavam' to propitate Lord Varuna- the rain god.

 

As part of the religious ritual, homams would be performed in five gaint

'Homakuntas' of 54 ft X 54 ft, as was laid down in the religious text

'Bhagavatam' and in the sacred four vedas and 'jalasamvrithi' matras would also

be recited, the vaishnavite religious head said.

 

Over 108 cows were being worshipped in the expansive dry riverbed as panacea for

the imbalance in the ecological system caused by the pollution of air, water and

earth, he said.

 

The Jeer, recited 24,000 slokas of the 'Valmiki Ramayanam' and 'Vishnu

Sahasranamam', praying for a copious flow in Krishna river for the benefit of

all sections of society, including farmers.

 

In all, 2.5 lakh people were provided with food during the Rs one-crore event,

sponsored mainly by industrialist G Gangaraju, the Vaishnavite saint added.