‘In Ayodhya every delay became divine design’

Ayodhya was quiet that morning, yet beneath its sacred soil, something stirred – a secret waiting centuries to be revealed. The land bore scars of history, echoes of chants, and the weight of a dream deferred. For generations, millions had whispered the same prayer: “When will Ram Lalla return to His home?” Then on Nov 9, 2019, the Supreme Court delivered a verdict that fell like a divine whisper, ending a century-old litigation. This judgment was accepted by all contesting parties, and with it, the vision of a grand temple moved from hope to certainty. An autonomous Trust was formed to undertake the construction and management of the temple.

Yet, as the foundation rituals began, the world plunged into chaos. Covid closed borders and locked down cities. Could a temple rise when the world itself seemed to crumble? Yes. The first stone was laid. Workers masked their faces, but not their devotion. Every hammer’s strike was a heartbeat of faith. The temple would not wait.
But beneath Ayodhya’s soil lurked a challenge no one foresaw. The modern piling technique – trusted by engineers – failed. The ground refused to yield. Days turned into nights of restless calculations. And then, like a revelation, a forgotten wisdom resurfaced: Engineering Fill, which is a foundation of layered stones, compacted and tested to endure eternity. The decision was bold but it worked. The earth relented.

Complementing this, the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) undertook a Paleo-channel study, mapping ancient subterranean river paths beneath the temple site. This helped finalise the foundation approach. Concrete was abandoned. Stone became the soul of the temple. Granite for strength, Bansi Paharpur sandstone for grace. Even this choice was fraught with peril. Environmental hurdles loomed, permissions dangled in uncertainty, Rajasthan’s mines held the key, and time was slipping away.

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