25 July,2026 03:43 PM IST | Ayodhya | mid-day online correspondent
Ram temple in Ayodhya. File Pic
A 10-day atonement and purification ritual undertaken at the Ram temple in Ayodhya following allegations of donation embezzlement concluded with a purnahuti (final offering) ceremony, temple trustee Mahant Dinendra Das said.
The ritual, which began on July 15, was organised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to restore the sanctity of the temple premises after the alleged theft of devotees' offerings came to light.
According to Mahant Dinendra Das, the concluding ceremony included a havan and special worship conducted in the temple's yagyashala under the guidance of Vedic scholars.
Trustee Mahant Dinendra Das and trustee Krishna Mohan participated as yajmans, offering ahutis during the final ritual.
A community feast was also organised, during which local Brahmins were served food.
Das said around 70 Vedic acharyas from Ayodhya and other parts of the country participated in the 10-day ceremony.
The rituals included Vedic chanting, havan, Rudrabhishek and Ramarcha worship, while the chief priest of Ram Lalla recited the Vishnu Sahasranama throughout the period.
According to Das, the purification ceremony was conducted on the instructions of the Trust's treasurer, Swami Govind Dev Giri, in accordance with religious traditions observed after incidents such as theft or ritual impurity.
The objective, he said, was to restore the sanctity of the temple and seek forgiveness for the lapse.
Earlier, Govind Dev Giri had said the trust initiated the ritual to perform atonement and purification across the temple complex and associated gurukuls following the alleged theft of devotees' offerings.
He had said the trust aimed to ensure at least 251 daily recitations of the Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra, a revered hymn comprising one thousand names of Lord Vishnu, which devotees believe brings positivity, prosperity and spiritual well-being.
Dinendra Das had also stated during the ritual that the recitation of the Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra and the Valmiki Ramayana was intended to rectify the "mistakes committed at the Ram Lalla's place."
The purification ceremony comes amid an ongoing controversy over the alleged theft of donations collected at the Ram temple.
The issue surfaced on June 7 and subsequently led to political controversy.
On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations.
Based on the SIT's preliminary findings, eight people associated with counting donations at the temple were arrested.
The controversy also resulted in the resignation of the then general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, and trustee Anil Mishra.
Govind Dev Giri has previously said that the alleged theft deeply hurt devotees of Lord Ram and described the incident as a matter of great sorrow.
He maintained that the full extent of the alleged embezzlement, including when and how it occurred, remains under investigation.
Giri also said all audit reports were secure and clarified that he had no role in the day-to-day collection of temple donations, which he said was handled by local trustees.
Earlier this month, Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra described the alleged donation theft as a "disgraceful blot" on the temple.
(With inputs from PTI)
