Know How: ‘Surya Tilak’ to light-up Ram Lalla’s forehead every Ram Navmi

The inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya this year introduced a unique scientific system aimed at adorning the idol of Ram Lalla with a ‘Surya Tilak’ on every Ram Navami, beginning in 2024.

Ram Navami, celebrated on the ninth day of the first month of the Hindu calendar, usually falls in March-April, marking Lord Rama’s birth anniversary. This year, Ram Navami falls on April 17.

The system involves an intricate network of lenses and mirrors within the temple premises, directing a ray of sunlight onto Ram Lalla’s forehead to create the revered ‘Surya Tilak’ as a symbol of reverence and celebration.

How ‘Surya Tilak’ will be projected on Ram Lalla’s idol

The ‘Surya Tilak‘ project aims to illuminate Lord Ram Lalla’s idol with natural sunlight precisely at 12 pm on every Ram Navami. This event, lasting “three to four minutes, potentially extending to around six minutes,” is made possible by a collaboration between Optica and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bangalore.

• The project features precision lenses and mirrors that harness natural sunlight, creating the divine symbol during this auspicious occasion.
• A sophisticated lunar calendar gear mechanism is at the core of the project, aligning with Ram Navami Day each year.
• The optical path, piping, and tip-tilt stages have been engineered without springs for longevity and hassle-free maintenance.
• The system, fabricated and installed using only “Pancha Dathu,” can sustain for 100 years with easy optic replacements, ensuring continuous operation and reverence.

Following a successful trial run of the ‘Surya Abhishek’ for Ram Lalla, the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust is confident that the sun rays will fall directly on the deity on April 17, Ram Navami. Experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, are ensuring the smooth execution of the event.

The project involved technical assistance from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru and collaboration with Optica. Pradeep Kumar Ramancharla and Devdutt Ghosh, Directors of CBRI, Roorkee, oversaw the project, leveraging their expertise to ensure structural integrity and longevity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested during the Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya on October 23, 2022, that the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram temple should be designed to allow direct sunlight on the idol on Ram Navami, similar to the Konark temple in Odisha.