The ‘Surya Tilak’ ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir is a remarkable blend of ancient tradition and modern science. This ritual involves directing a beam of sunlight onto the forehead of the Ram Lalla idol precisely at noon on Ram Navami, symbolizing divine blessings.
Mechanism Behind ‘Surya Tilak’:
A team from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, designed an opto-mechanical system to achieve this phenomenon. The system comprises a series of mirrors and lenses arranged to capture and direct sunlight onto the idol’s forehead. Given that the temple is still under construction, an interim setup with four mirrors and two lenses was implemented. Once the temple is complete, the final design will incorporate four mirrors and four lenses, permanently installed to ensure the annual occurrence of the ‘Surya Tilak’ on Ram Navami.
The system is meticulously calibrated to account for the sun’s position, which varies each year due to the lunar calendar’s influence on the festival’s date. Detailed astronomical calculations ensure that the sunlight is accurately directed to form a 75-millimeter circular mark on the deity’s forehead at the designated time.
This integration of scientific precision with religious tradition exemplifies how modern technology can enhance and uphold cultural practices.
NehaScope 
The ‘Surya Tilak’ ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir is a remarkable blend of ancient tradition and modern science. This ritual involves directing a beam of sunlight onto the forehead of the Ram Lalla idol precisely at noon on Ram Navami, symbolizing divine blessings.
Mechanism Behind ‘Surya Tilak’:
A team from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, designed an opto-mechanical system to achieve this phenomenon. The system comprises a series of mirrors and lenses arranged to capture and direct sunlight onto the idol’s forehead. Given that the temple is still under construction, an interim setup with four mirrors and two lenses was implemented. Once the temple is complete, the final design will incorporate four mirrors and four lenses, permanently installed to ensure the annual occurrence of the ‘Surya Tilak’ on Ram Navami.
The system is meticulously calibrated to account for the sun’s position, which varies each year due to the lunar calendar’s influence on the festival’s date. Detailed astronomical calculations ensure that the sunlight is accurately directed to form a 75-millimeter circular mark on the deity’s forehead at the designated time.
This integration of scientific precision with religious tradition exemplifies how modern technology can enhance and uphold cultural practices.
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