Ayodhya:
Mahant Prem Das became the first major seer of Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya to step outside the premises of the revered temple in more than 300 years as he led a procession in the Ram temple on the Akshaya Tritiya festival.
Das visited the newly protected Ram temple in a grand ‘Shahi Julos’ (royal procession) in a historical and emotional departure from a centuries-old religious tradition, which during his lifetime refused to leave the 52-Biga complex of Hanuman Gari.
Thousands of Naga Sadhus, devotees and disciples joined the procession, showing elephants, horses, camels and music performance by local mandals. The spiritual journey began on the banks of the Saryu River, where Mahant Prem Das and others performed a ritual bath before proceeding to pray in the Ram temple.
“This tradition has been followed for 288 years, since 1737,” said Mahant Sanjay Das, a senior view of Hanuman Garhi.
“The role of the Mahant is to dedicate himself completely to Lord Hanuman. Once he anoints the seat, he lives and dies inside the temple complex. His body can leave only after death.” Mahant Ramkumar Das, the head of Nirvana Akhara, told PTI that due to visiting the Ram temple due to the deep desire of the presiding seer, he was “allowed a lifetime”.
In 1925, according to the constitution of Hanuman Garhi, these traditions were recognized and implemented by the Naga Sadhu.
Sanjay Das said, “Even in civil matters, the courts have respected this tradition.”
“If necessary, a representative of Akhara appears in the court. In fact, in the 1980s, the court himself held the session inside Hanuman Gari, to record the statement from the Mahant,” he said.
However, the recent decision was not taken lightly. It came only after the ‘Panch’ (governing members) of Nirvana Akhara – the respected religious body, who oversees Hanumangarhi, unanimously allowed Mahant’s wish to visit Ram Lalla’s temple.
Mahant Ramkumar Das, the head of Nirvana Akhara, said, “The deep desire for the presiding seer to visit the Ram temple was hearty. After the discussion of the ritual and spiritual consent, Akhara allowed a lifetime once.”
The procession took Akhakar’s ‘Nishan’ (insignia) with immense reverence and symbolism. Along with the Mahanta, there were large groups of disciples, local shopkeepers and worshipers of the temple, who saw the incident as a powerful expression of religious unity and devotion.
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