17 March 2026, Ayodhya
Amma arrived in Ayodhya today to take part in the Shri Rama Yantra Pratishta at the Shri Ram Temple. Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, officially invited Amma to be present during the installation ceremony, along with the President of India, Smt Draupadi Murmu.
The auspicious ceremonies will take place on Thursday, March 19, coinciding with the start of Chaitra Navratri, the Hindu New Year. Amma will share the dais with Droupadi Murmu, the President of India; Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh; and Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Around 1,200 people accompanied Amma from Amritapuri on a specially arranged train to Ayodhya and back. They included Amma’s disciples, ashram residents, and devotees from across the world.
Amma was received at Ayodhya railway station by the King of Ayodhya, Yatindra Mishra. At her place of stay, she was welcomed with purnakumbh by Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, and Dinesh Chandra, international patron of Vishwahindu Parishad.
In the evening, Amma visited the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, stepping on the sacred ground at 5:13 pm for the first time. Champat Rai received Amma and guided her directly into the sanctum sanctorum. Amma performed arati to the Ramlala—the beautiful, majestic five-year-old form of Sri Ram carved in black stone, 2.5 to 3 billion-year-old black granite stone known as Krishna Shila. She then went to the second floor and performed arati to Sri Rama in the darbar, where idols of Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Bharata, Shatrughna, and Hanuman are placed. Amma performed the arati there too while the pujaris chanted Vedic mantras.
After darshan in the temple, Amma walked around the temple, observing the Ramayana incidents carved on the walls and in the form of statues. Champat Rai explained each and every aspect of the temple to Amma. She inquired about the work and effort of the volunteers who sacrificed for the temple’s construction. Amma admired the beauty of this sacred temple, built through the unity of artisans and laborers from across the country, all serving Sri Rama selflessly.
Amma was then taken around the temple complex in an electric buggy. She visited small temples dedicated to various rishis, viewed the entire temple complex from a small mountain area, and saw the large statue of Jatayu.
Observing the statue, Amma commented,
“Jatayu knew he would not be able to win against the might of Ravana. He had no weapons, yet he fought to protect Sita Devi. His wings were cut by Ravana, and he fell. Later, he was able to give the direction and whereabouts of Ravana to Sri Rama. A few drops of water were given to dying Jatayu by Sri Rama, and he breathed his last with his head on Sri Rama’s lap. Sri Rama also performed the final rites for Jatayu. Whatever little power we may have, we must fight against adharma. Even failure in such a struggle is considered success. This is the message we receive from Jatayu.”
The entire temple visit lasted about 62 minutes. Amma then returned to a hall where all the ashram group and devotees were waiting to join her for a meditation and bhajan session.
-Kannadi
