KALARAM TEMPLE

16.01.2024

KALARAM TEMPLE , Daily Current Affairs , RACE IAS : Best IAS Coaching in Lucknow 

   Why in the news?

Recently, Prime Minister Modi during his roadshow visited the Kalaram Mandir, situated on the banks of the Godavari in Nashik.

ABOUT KALARAM TEMPLE:

• It is situated within the Panchvati area of Nashik City.
• The temple got its name from a black statue of the Lord Kala Ram, which means “Black Ram”.
• Lord Ram is supposed to have lived during his exile at the same point where the temple is built.
• Kalaram temple was built by Sardar Rangrao Odhekar in 1782, on the site of an old wooden temple.
• The construction work is said to have lasted for twelve years and 2000 persons being daily employed.
• Kalaram temple is one of the finest modern temples of Ramji in western India.
• The temple has a 17 feet high wall of plain dressed stone which surrounds a well kept enclosure 245 feet long and 105 broad.
• The Kalaram temple has 14 steps, which represent the 14 years of Ram’s exile.
• The 84 pillars in the temple represent the cycle of 84 lakh species that one has to complete in order to be born as a human.
• This temple has standing images of Lord Rama, Sita, Laxmana made up of black stone and are around 2 feet high.

Historical Significance

• This temple is the site of a landmark agitation led by Babasaheb Ambedkar demanding temple entry rights for Dalits more than 90 years ago.
• In 1930, B R Ambedkar and the Marathi teacher and social activist Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, known as Sane Guruji, led an agitation to demand access for Dalits to Hindu temples.
• This movement aimed to challenge the oppressive caste norms prevalent during the time.
• During the satyagraha, Ambedkar, along with his 15,000 Dalit followers, peacefully picketed the temple.

           Source: Indian Express