The Science Behind the ‘Surya Tilak’ Ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple

A team of ten esteemed Indian scientists is stationed at the Ram Mandir. Using cutting-edge scientific expertise, a 5.8 centimetre beam of light hit the deity’s forehead. A team of ten esteemed Indian scientists stationed at the Ram Mandir ensured the success of this auspicious event on Ram Navami.

For approximately 3 to 3.5 minutes starting at 12 noon, sunlight was precisely directed onto the statue’s forehead using a combination of mirrors and lenses. Commissioned by the temple trust, scientists from a leading government institution devised a sophisticated apparatus consisting of mirrors and lenses. Dr Pradeep Kumar Ramacharla, Scientist and Director at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, explained the intricate workings of the optomechanical system.

The opto-mechanical system consists of four mirrors and four lenses fitted inside the tilt mechanism and piping systems. All the piping and other parts are manufactured using brass material. The mirrors and lenses are of very high quality and durable to sustain a long period.

The ‘Surya Tilak’ mechanism involved collaboration between scientists from CBRI, Roorkee, and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP), Bengaluru. Technical support from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and the manufacturing expertise of Optica, a Bengaluru-based company, further helped the project’s execution. Given the fixed date of Ram Navami based on the lunar calendar, intricate arrangements involving 19 gears were implemented to ensure the timely occurrence of this auspicious ritual, all without relying on electricity, batteries, or iron-based components.

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru has devised a solution to reconcile the apparent disparity between the lunar and solar (Gregorian) calendars, ensuring that the Sun’s rays could ceremoniously anoint the idol of Ram Lala on every Ram Navmi. The team from CSIR-CBRI includes Dr SK Panigrahi, Dr RS Bisht, Mr Kanti Solanki, Mr V. Chakradhar, Mr Dinesh, and Mr Sameer. Prof. R. Pradeep Kumar, Director of CSIR-CBRI, mentored the project.

From IIA Bangalore, Dr Annapurni S., Director of IIA, Er S Sriram, and Professor Tushar Prabhu are the consultants. Mr Rajinder Kotaria, Managing Director of Optica, and his team, Mr Nagraj, Mr Vivek, and Mr Thava Kumar, are actively involved in the execution and installation process. A similar ‘Surya Tilak’ mechanism already exists in some Jain temples and at the Sun Temple at Konark, but they are engineered differently.