SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Dec. 24: Over 62 saints of all religious and spiritual traditions have been invited from Jharkhand to the mega Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha event in Ayodhya on January 22.
They include 20 tribal priests, like Santhal Gurubaba, Safahod, Baiga, Pahan, and Pujar, and heads of religious and spiritual organisations.
Dhoni, Deepika invited
Besides, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra has also extended invitations to cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, ace archer Deepika Kumari and two industrialists. Two politicians- former Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Karia Munda and Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker Harivansh- have also been invited.
List of saints
The list of invitees includes Ram Akhand Das of Ramrekha Dham Simdega, Sardar Panda Gulab Nand Ojha of Baidyanath Dham, Shri Malay Sarkar from Thakur Anukul Chandra’s organisation, Swami Niranjananand from Rikhiya Peeth, Swami Bhuteshanand from Bharat Sevashram Sangh, Purnanand Maharaj from Advaita Sansthan Tupudana, and Sadhvi Sucheta Chaitanya from Chinmay Mission Bokaro.
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The list also includes Mrityunjay Baba from Ram Baba Ashram Seraikela, Sadhvi Gyananand from Kabir Gyan Mandir Giridih, Bal Krishna Baba from Maharishi Mehi Ashram Chutiya, Mahant Suryanarayan Das Mahatyagi from Sankat Mochan Mandir, Ranchi, Ancient Ram Temple, Mahant Gokul Das from Chutiya, Mahant Om Prakash Sharan from Tapovan Temple, and Laxmi Puri Ji from Rangdih Temple, Govindpur, Dhanbad.
Tribal saints
The list of tribal saints and priests includes Shashibhushan Das, Simdega, Chhattarsingh Munda, Khunti, Vijay Marandi Maharaj, Dumka, Guruwari Hembrom, Sadhvi Sivadasi, Gumla, Rekha Hembrom, Dumka and Baba Motilal Pahariya.
VHP Jharkhand-Bihar regional secretary Virendra Vimal said that tribals are part of the Sanatan dharma. “80 per cent of them are Hindus. Even those who have been converted due to economic reasons are not full Christians,” he said and added that they would also return to the Hindu fold once they begin learning the tenets of the Ramayana and the Gita.
Vimal pointed out that the massive turnout at the Ulgulan delisting mega rally, held in Ranchi today, is a testimony to it. The RSS wing Tribal Suraksha Manch, which organised the rally, has demanded the government enact a law to exclude the tribals who have converted to Christianity from the ST list and to deprive them of all the benefits and rights.
VHP on the job
Vimal said saints of all traditions, who have been born and groomed on Jharkhand soil, have been invited to witness the historic event, which will take place after a long struggle and enormous sacrifices. He added that 175 saints from the two states will attend the ceremony.
He said a team of Sangh Parivar from Jharkhand-Bihar will be stationed in Ayodhya from January 15 to ensure fool-proof logistical support to the guests.
Around 8000 guests will offer prayers after the consecration of the idol of Ram Lala is over.
After that, people from all across the country are scheduled to visit Ayodhya.
The VHP is holding a series of meetings with people across the State to visit a nearby temple, offer prayers on January 22, and celebrate ‘Deepotsava’ at night.
“We will meet people from January 1 to January 15 with an invitation card, Akshat from Ayodhya and Bhagwan Ram Lala’s picture inviting them to visit Bhagwan Ram’s birthplace.
“Over 2000 pilgrims will go from Ranchi to Ayodhya on February 2. We have urged the Railway ministry to run a special train for Ayodhya,” he signed off.
