Lord Ram, who is also known as the son-in-law of Mithila
where, after breaking the Shiva’s bow, which was a condition for wedding, was
married to Goddess Sita, the daughter of Janak, then king of Mithila.
The people of Mithilanchal comprising several districts of
Bihar are clamouring for the nomenclature of the new temple to be built should
be ‘Siya Ram Mandir’ or ‘Ram Janaki Mandir’ instead of singular Sri Ram. Janaki
is yet another name of the goddess Sita.
With the unanimous five member bench of the Supreme Court
pronouncing its historic verdict on the Ram Janmboomi issue on 9th November
2019, it is very clear that a Mandir, not a masjid will be rebuilt on the site
where Lord Ram as incarnation of Vishnu was brought into the world in the treta
epoch.
At the birthplace existed a temple which was converted into a
mosque in 1528 under the rule of the emperor Babar will see a restoration in a
way as late as in 2019. In the 1928 edition of the Faizabad Gazetteer well
recorded this fact of the destruction of the ancient temple of Ram on the site.
Remarkably, the British Rule which documented all these was in place during the
publication of the Gazetteer, which also brought on record before the apex
court.
However, the apex court in its ruling has mentioned the
historical wrongs cannot be corrected by courts.
The Supreme Court Ayodhya Verdict running through 1045 pages,
in biblical nature may be regarded
as legal magnum opus which every citizen
of the country must possess, study and understand. It has taken several verses
of the Ramayana which is now recognized and certified by the apex judicial body
of the country. It should be incorporated into the curriculum of higher
education in the country.
This is a great example of tolerance practised in Hinduism
over eras. What the wrongs committed by then emperor Babar is ,however, being
settled by the courts of law at the present moment. Hindus have always
demonstrated a great sense of faith in judicial processes in the country. It
reaffirms the world view that Hindu Dharma is a great philosophy, practice for
mankind, human civilisation and co-existence. The bonding and sense of living
together are the basis of Indian cultural ethos and values.
At the same time, female members of society are pointing their
fingers towards the approach of male chauvinism. They have begun to raise the
voices for equality in all aspects. Fairly good! However, this is India wherein Hinduism, the
pairings like Radha-Krishna, not Krishna-Radha, Siya- Ram or Sita Ram, not Ram
Siya are enchanted in all rituals all the time.
What lies in Indian cultural ethos is to give due respect to
women folks. The Manusmriti, an ancient legal text among the many Dharmasatras
of Hinduism at its verses 3/56 say, यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः
। यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः। Where women are worshipped, there
lives God. Wherever they are not worshipped, all actions fail.
Such are the Indian verses, virtues and practices. No yagya,
the sacrament is supposed to be complete unless both of male and female partake
in the rituals and ceremonies.
“A house without a woman cannot run properly. She often
handles the work at home and even outside efficiently. Hence, attaching due
respect to the female completes the life cycle. Moreover, creation of mankind
is subject to both partners- male and female”, says Gauri Rani from Bihar
settled in Delhi with her boutique.
The naming of the upcoming temple needs consideration given
that Indian verses, philosophy and recognition of women’s role in human life
and the concept of social equilibrium. Moreover, it is more significant when
the government has begun to lay emphasis on women education and their
participation in every walk of life, be it jobs, politics, administration,
management or business houses.
The writer of this article, Dr Birbal Jha is noted author and
the Chairman of Mithilalok Foundation working for socio-cultural and economic
development.