Ram temple to use stone from 'Ashok Vatika' where Goddess Sita was held captive

The construction of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya is in full swing and the sacred temple will now be constructed with something that is auspicious to the followers of Lord Ram.

A stone from Sita Eliya, a place where goddess Sita is believed to have been held captive, will be brought from Sri Lanka and used in the construction of the Grand Ram Temple.

The stone is expected to be brought to India by Sri Lankan High Commissioner-designate to India, Milinda Moragoda.

A stone from Sita Eliya in Sri Lanka will be used in the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Sita Eliya is the place where goddess Sita is believed to have been held as a captive.

The stone is expected to be taken to India by Sri Lankan HC-designate to India,Milinda Moragoda pic.twitter.com/3epop9zoYK

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2021

It is interesting to note that a temple dedicated to Goddess Sita is situated in Sita Eliya, the place where she was held captive by the demon king Ravana. It is also the place where goddess Sita regularly prayed to Lord Rama to rescue her.

The foundation stone of the Grand Ram temple in Ayodhya was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2020. Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has been entrusted with the task of Ram temple construction in Ayodhya.

Construction of the Ram Temple is likely to be completed in three years, Champat Rai, general secretary of the trust, had said earlier this month.

The Ram Janmbhoomi trust had purchased a 7,285 square feet of land right next to the Ram Mandir premises in early March, in line with its plan to extend the temple complex area to 107 acres from the current 70 acres. Reportedly, the trust had paid Rs 1 crore for the new plot of land at a rate of Rs 1,373 per square foot.

The work to fill the foundation of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya commenced on Monday. The excavation work for the construction of the temple started in January 2021, in which all the bad soil and debris were removed.

Meanwhile, the fundraising campaign for Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya which spanned over 45 days collected Rs 2,100 crore, the Trust said.

"The fundraising campaign has ended with generous contributions from all cross-sections of the people, including residents of far-flung villages of India, blurring religious barriers. Total donations received has crossed Rs 2,100 crore by Saturday evening," Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri said.

Located on the banks of Sarayu river, Ayodhya is one of the major pilgrim towns in India.