Carved stones being shifted from Nyas workshop to Janmabhoomi

Shifting of the carved stones (shilas) from Sri Ram Janmnabhoomi Nyas Karyashala (workshop) in Ayodhya to Ram Janmnabhoomi for construction of Ram temple began on Friday with full Vedic rituals.

Engineers of Larsen and Toubro, the company carrying out construction of Ram temple, started the shifting process with the help of cranes and trucks.

Earlier, priests performed special puja in presence of saints and Anil Mishra, member of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust.

On the first day, four slabs were shifted. Gradually all stone slabs will be shifted to be used in the ground floor of the temple.

“Shifting of shilas (carved stones) from Karyashala to Ram Janmabhoomi began today (Friday). These shilas will be relocated to a makeshift workshop at Ram Janmabhoomi where they will be cleaned before being put to use,” said Anil Mishra, member of the Trust.

There are piles and piles of carved stone pillars, ceiling and floor slabs and slabs for steps— all of red stone, at the Karyashala.

Devout Ram-worshippers who visit the Karyashala every day from all over the country touch the slabs with their foreheads in reverence. Iron will not be used in temple construction.

The ‘shilanyas’ for Ram temple took place on November 10, 1989. On August 30, 1990, the Karyashaala was set up, and stone consignments started coming in from Rajasthan.

“It is a historic moment for us. For decades we have waited for the construction work of Ram temple to start and shifting of these shilas to Ram Janmabhoomi from the Karyashala,” said Sharad Sharma, regional spokesperson, VHP, who operates from Karsevakpuram, Ayodhya.

The Karyashala has two giant stone cutters to shape stones into slabs of the desired size. There is a shed as a workplace. In the middle of the workshop is a wooden model of the proposed temple and on one side, there are quarters for workshop staff and artisans.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had presided over bhumi pujan ceremony for Ram temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on August 5 last.

The Supreme Court on November 9 last had ruled in favour of Ram temple ending decades old Ayodhya title suit dispute.

Following orders of the Supreme Court, the Centre constituted Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust for construction of Ram temple.