TFP Bureau, New Delhi; April 18,2024: The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, played a pivotal role in the Surya Tilak Project at Ayodhya, which involved aligning sunlight on the forehead of Sri Ram Lalla at noon during the auspicious occasion of Sri Ram Navami in the Chaitra month.
The date of Sri Ram Navami varies each year according to the Lunar Calendar, impacting the position of the sun in the sky on that day. Detailed astronomical calculations revealed that the English calendar date of Sri Ram Navami repeats every 19 years, necessitating expertise in astronomy to accurately determine the sun’s position.
The IIA team spearheaded the calculation of Sri Ram Navami dates for a 19-year cycle and subsequent repetitions, precisely estimating the sun’s position in the sky on these dates.
Additionally, the IIA team designed an innovative opto-mechanical system to direct sunlight from the temple’s rooftop onto the idol’s forehead. This system involved determining the size, shape, and placement of mirrors and lenses to ensure adequate sunlight coverage on the idol for approximately 6 minutes. The design included mechanisms to adjust the mirror’s position based on the sun’s movement.
Given that the temple construction was incomplete, the IIA experts adapted the system design to fit the existing structure, optimizing image projection. This design, featuring 4 mirrors and 2 lenses, was successfully implemented for the Surya Tilak on April 17, 2024.
IIA technical experts actively participated in testing, assembly, integration, and validation of the system at the site, including critical alignment of mirrors and lenses during trial runs at the Ram Mandir.
The implementation of the opto-mechanical system at the site was carried out by CSIR-Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), with the device manufactured by Optics, Bangalore.
Future plans involve finalizing a design with 4 mirrors and 4 lenses for permanent installation once the temple is fully constructed. This mechanism accommodates shifts in the calendar date of Sri Ram Navami and allows manual adjustment of the mirrors to compensate for any date variations.
The device’s design ensures functionality even with calendar date shifts and is adaptable to weather conditions, although sunlight availability is essential for operation. Regular maintenance, including cleaning of lenses and mirrors, is facilitated by accessible mounting holders.
The innovative Surya Tilak system underscores IIA’s commitment to applying cutting-edge technology in cultural and religious contexts, further enhancing India’s scientific and technical capabilities.
