This is the current affairs of 21 to 23 January 2023. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Who led (chief host) the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ritual of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya Ram Temple?
a. Yogi Adityanath
b. Mohan Bhagwat
c. Narendra Modi
d. Anandi Ben Patel
Answer: c. Narendra Modi
– The ‘Prana Pratishtha’ ceremony of the idol of Lord Ram’s child form (Ram Lalla) took place on January 22, 2024.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the chief guest.
– In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, along with him were Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandi Ben Patel, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, and the temple priests.
– After the Prana Pratishtha ceremony, the unveiling of the idol of Ram Lalla took place.
– The idol of Ram Lalla is 51 inches tall.
What does Prana Pratishtha mean?
– Prana Pratishtha is the ritual that transforms an idol into a deity, endowing it with the ability to accept prayers and bestow blessings. This process involves various stages for the deity to undergo.
– The Prana Pratishtha ceremony lasts for several days.
– The ritual for the idol of Ram Lalla began on January 16 and concluded with the Prana Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024.
– The procedure of Prana Pratishtha is mentioned in the Vedas, and various Puranas like Matsya Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, etc., provide detailed descriptions of it.
Is there any idol that does not require Prana Pratishtha?
– Two divine objects – Shaligram found in the Gandaki River and Shivling found in the Narmada River, specifically Narmadeshwar, do not require Prana Pratishtha because they inherently possess divinity.
(Note – This information is based on the reference from Dr. Sundar Narayan Jha, Professor in the Department of Vedas at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, New Delhi, as mentioned by the Indian Express.)
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2. Name the sculptor of the idol of Ramlala of Ayodhya Ram temple?
a. Vinod Yogiraj
b. Arun Yogiraj
c. Ganesh Bhatt
d. Satyanarayan Pandey
Answer: b. Arun Yogiraj
– Arun Yogi Raj resides in Mysuru, Karnataka. He has 15 years of experience in making sculptures.
– The idol of Lord Ram’s child form, Ram Lalla, is made of black stone.
– Arun Yogi Raj has an MBA and, after working for some time, joined the family tradition of sculpting idols.
– He has around 15 years of experience in idol-making, having learned the craft from his father.
– Yogi Raj initially crafted a 12-foot idol of Adi Shankaracharya, placed in Kedarnath, and a statue of Subhash Chandra Bose, installed near India Gate in Delhi.
Three Sculptors and Three idol
– Three idol of Ram Lalla were crafted for the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple. All three idol are 51 inches tall.
– The idol depict Ram Lalla in his child form seated on a lotus throne.
– One idol has been installed in the sanctum sanctorum, crafted by Arun Yogi Raj.
– The remaining two idol will be placed in different locations within the temple.
Three Sculptors
– Arun Yogi Raj (Mysuru, Karnataka) crafted a idol from black stone, which is installed in the sanctum sanctorum.
– Ganesh Bhatt (Bengaluru, Karnataka) also crafted a statue from black stone.
– Satyanarayan Pandey (Jaipur, Rajasthan) crafted a idol from marble.
Before creating the idols, three things had to be kept in mind according to the trust’s guidelines:
– First, Ram should be in his child form.
– Second, there should be a divine glow on his face.
– Third, despite being a child, he should appear regal.
Why is the idol of Ram Lalla black?
– The description of Lord Ram’s child form is found in the Balakanda of Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas.
– It depicts the dark complexion, smile, and the beautiful features of the rest of Ram’s body.
– The idol of Shri Ram Lalla in the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is to some extent similar to this description.
– When creating the idol of Ram Lalla, the sculptor kept all these aspects in mind.
– The mention of these features is in the 5 couplets of the Balakanda of Ramcharitmanas. The idol has been crafted according to these descriptions.
Ram Lalla adorned with 5 kilograms of gold jewelry
– The 200-kilogram idol is adorned with 5 kilograms of gold ornaments. From the nails to the forehead, the deity is adorned with precious gemstones. Ram Lalla wears a gold crown on the head.
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3. The idol of Shri Ramlala installed in Ayodhya Ram temple is made from how many years old rock?
a. 1 billion years
b. 2 billion years
c. 3 billion years
d. 4 billion years
Answer: c. 3 billion years
– Newspaper ‘The Hindu’ has quoted C. Srikantappa, UGC-Emeritus Professor (Retired) of the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Mysore, as saying about the stone.
– The rock used to carve the idol of Ramlala is the oldest rock in South India.
– The rock for the idol was taken from an active mine at Guggegowdanpura in Mysuru district.
– The rocks around Mysuru are part of the Archaean Dharwad Craton.
– Similar rocks are also found in other parts of India.
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4. Name the architect of Ayodhya Ram temple?
a. Chandrakant Sompura
b. Ashish Sompura
c. Rajendra Vishwakarma
d. a and b
Answer: d. a and b (Chandrakant Sompura and Ashish Sompura)
– Chandra Kant Somapura (77 years) and his son Ashish Somapura (49 years) have designed the Ram Temple.
– Chandra Kant Somapura’s father, Prabhashankar, was an architect for the Somnath Temple in Gujarat.
– He does not have any formal degree in architecture, but he is a renowned temple architect for several famous temples in India and around the world.
Design of Ram Temple 30 Years Ago
– Chandra Kant Somapura designed the first concept for the Ram Temple nearly 30 years ago.
– At that time, he was invited to Ayodhya by the then-president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, Ashok Singhal. (This was when the Babri Masjid still existed.)
– After the Supreme Court’s verdict on November 9, 2019, regarding the Ram Temple, Chandra Kant Somapura’s son, Ashish, also joined the design work.
– As the available space had increased, significant changes were made to the design.
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5. In which style is the architecture of Ayodhya Ram temple?
a. Nagara Style
b. Dravidian Style
c. Vesara Style
d. Chalukya Style
Answer: a. Nagara Style
Temple Architectural Styles in India
– In India, two main styles of temple architecture are predominantly observed: the Nagar style in North India and the Dravidian style in South India.
– The third style is the Vesara style, which is a blend of Nagar and Dravidian styles.
Nagar Style
– The Somnath Temple, Konark Sun Temple, and Lingaraj Temple in Odisha are some famous temples in this style.
– The temple architecture of the Nagar style emerged in the 5th century CE at the end of the Gupta period in North India. It is often seen combined with the Dravidian style, which emerged in South India around the same time.
– Nagar temples are built on elevated platforms, with the sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha) containing the deity being the most sacred part of the temple.
– Above the garbhagriha is the shikhara (literally ‘mountain peak’), which is the most distinctive feature of Nagar style temples.
– Nagar style temples often have a circumambulatory path around the garbhagriha and one or more halls (mandaps). Intricate carvings and sculptures often adorn their walls.
Facts about Ayodhya Ram Temple:
– Style of Construction: Nagar Style
– Estimated Cost of Construction: 18,000 crores
– Total Land Area: 70 acres
– Main Temple Area: 2.7 acres
– Total Constructed Area: 57,400 sq. ft.
– Total Length of the Temple: 360 ft
– Total Width of the Temple: 235 ft
– Total Height of the Temple, including Shikhara: 161 ft
– Number of Floors: 3
– Height of Each Floor: 20 ft
– Number of Columns in the Temple Base: 160
– Number of Columns in the First Floor: 132
– Number of Columns in the Second Floor: 74
– Number of Platforms and Mandaps in the Temple: 5
– Number of Gates in the Temple: 12
– Stone Used for Construction: Rajasthan’s Sand Pink Stone
Other Temples in the Temple Complex Alongside Ram Lalla:
– Ganesh Temple
– Sun Temple
– Shiva Temple
– Bhagavati Temple
– Hanuman Temple
– Annapurna Temple
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6. Who is the President and General Secretary of Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’?
a. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and Champat Rai
b. Champat Rai and Swami Ajayananda
c. Mahant Nritya Gopaldas and Vijay Kumar
d. None of these
Answer: a. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and Champat Rai
– The government established the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
– Its chairman is Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
– The trust has 15 members, out of which 12 were nominated by the Indian government, and 3 were elected during the first meeting.
– Its secretary is Champat Rai.
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7. To which company was the construction work of Ayodhya Ram Temple entrusted?
a. Gammon India
b. GMR GROUP
c. Larsen and Toubro
d. Reliance Infrastructure
Answer: c. Larsen and Toubro
– The responsibility for this was entrusted to Larsen & Toubro, and Tata Consulting Engineers Limited is managing the project.
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8. Some key questions and answers
When was the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Temple?
– January 22, 2024 (Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as the chief guest).
Where is the Ayodhya Ram Temple located?
– The temple is situated on the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
When is the construction of the Ram Temple expected to be completed?
– The foundation of the main temple complex, along with six smaller temples surrounding it, including the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), has been completed. The construction of the first and second floors of the temple is expected to be completed by December 2024.
Who is building the Ayodhya Ram Temple?
– Larsen & Toubro is responsible for the construction, and Tata Consulting Engineers Limited is managing the project. Architect Chandrakant Sompura (81) and his son Ashish (51), based in Ahmedabad, have designed the temple complex.
How much land has been allocated for the Ram Temple?
– The temple trust has been allocated a total of 70 acres of land, with the main temple complex occupying 2.7 acres.
Is the Ayodhya Ram Temple financially supported by the central government?
– The construction of the Ram Temple is funded through public donations and government funding, among other sources. The estimated cost of construction is 18,000 crore rupees.
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9. Who inaugurated the sixth edition of Khelo India Youth Games?
a. Prime Minister
b. President
c. Home Minister
d. Sports Minister
Answer: a. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Khelo India Youth Games 2023’ on January 19, 2024, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.
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10. What is the mascot of the 6th Khelo India Youth Games 2023?
a. Elephanta
b. Veera Mangai
c. Penguin
d. ‘Binbin’ and ‘Nini’
Answer: b. Veera Mangai
About Veera Mangai
– Rani Velu Nachiyar, affectionately known as Veera Mangai, was an Indian queen who played a crucial role in resisting British colonial rule.
– Veera Mangai led a war against British colonial rule, showcasing the bravery and spirit of Indian women. She became a symbol of the courage and determination of women, representing the strength of female power.
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11. Which state is hosting the 6th Khelo India Youth Games?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Tamil Nadu
d. Rajasthan
Answer: c. Tamil Nadu
– This is the Khelo India Youth Games 2023, scheduled to be held in the year 2024.
– The cities of Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchi have been selected for the National Games program.
– The Khelo India Youth Games are set to take place from January 19 to January 31, 2024.
– It is the first time that the Khelo India Youth Games are being organized in South India.
How many athletes participated?
– In this edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, more than 5600 athletes participated.
– The event spanned across 15 venues for 13 days.
– It featured 26 disciplines and over 275 competitive events.
Note:
– The previous edition, Khelo India Youth Games 2022 (Fifth edition), was hosted in Madhya Pradesh.
– Duration: January 30 to February 11, 2023.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA):
– President: P.T. Usha
– Established: 1927
– Headquarters: New Delhi
– Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports: Anurag Thakur
