Ramanandi Worship Method and Shankaracharyas' Absence Spark Debate at Ram Mandir Event
The consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is set for January 22, 2024, with Ramlalla to be installed in the new sanctum sanctorum. The worship rituals will be performed according to the methods of the Ramanandi sect, which follows an egalitarian ideology and emphasizes the worship of Lord Vishnu. The sect's founder, Ramanand, played a pivotal role in popularizing Ram Bhakti and challenging caste and gender distinctions. The Vishishtadvaita philosophy, attributed to Acharya Ramanuja, will guide the worship practices in the temple, emphasizing the integral connection between the individual and the divine. The deity will be worshipped in the form of a child, and the meticulous care provided to Ramlalla will continue even after consecration.