Ram Navami is celebrated with grandeur across India, but Ayodhya offers a unique spectacle where the streets are adorned with flowers and filled with chants praising Lord Ram. After a long-awaited 500 years, the newly constructed Ram Temple is celebrating its first Ram Navami, creating immense excitement among devotees. A special highlight of the celebration is the “Surya Tilak” ceremony on Lord Ram’s idol, which uses a sophisticated method to direct sunlight onto the deity’s forehead.
Understanding the Technology Behind Surya Tilak:
On the day of Ram Navami, during noon, sunlight will fall on the forehead of Lord Ram’s idol, facilitated by an elaborate setup involving mirrors and lenses. This project, known as the “Surya Tilak Project,” is spearheaded by Dr. S.K. Panigrahi from CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee. This initiative aims to mark the idol’s forehead with sunlight as a symbolic gesture of divine blessings. The exact time for this phenomenon is scheduled yearly during Ram Navami at noon when the position of the sun aligns perfectly for the ceremony.
How Will the Surya Tilak Occur?
The CSIR Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore, has developed a mechanism to channel sunlight from the third floor of the temple to the sanctum sanctorum where the idol resides. This design includes an optical system composed of mirrors and lenses, validated through a prototype tested in Bangalore in March 2024.
The Opto-Mechanical System Explained
The system comprises four mirrors and four lenses fitted within a tilting mechanism and piping system. This setup is housed at the top floor of the temple, where it captures sunlight and directs it towards the deity’s forehead using these optical elements. Every year, the initial mirror’s angle is adjusted to accommodate the sun’s changing position, ensuring that the light precisely marks the forehead of Lord Ram’s idol. The components of the system, including piping and other parts, are made of durable brass, and the high-quality mirrors and lenses are designed for longevity.
This innovative application of scientific principles to traditional religious ceremonies highlights the fusion of technology and spirituality, enhancing the celebratory experiences of devotees during significant festivals like Ram Navami.
