This story is from August 5, 2020

UP: ‘Gorakshpeeth played vital role in Ram temple crusade’

The Bhoomi Pujan of a grand Ram temple at Ram Janmabhoomi at 12.30pm on Wednesday heralds a new dawn and is a momentous occasion for those who took part in the movement.
UP: ‘Gorakshpeeth played vital role in Ram temple crusade’
Deepotsav started at Gorakhnath temple on Tuesday
GORAKHPUR: The Bhoomi Pujan of a grand Ram temple at Ram Janmabhoomi at 12.30pm on Wednesday heralds a new dawn and is a momentous occasion for those who took part in the movement. The Gorakshpeeth played the role of the fulcrum of Ram temple movement which was spearheaded by its chief priests Mahant Digvijaynath and Mahant Avaidyanath and finally the construction is going to start when present Peethadhishwar Mahant Yogi Adityanath is the chief minister of the state.

“Mahant Digvijaynath motivated the Hindu community for liberation of Ram Janmabhoomi and construction of a grand Ram temple at the site all through his life. When Ram Lalla appeared in the disputed structure on December 22-23, 1949, even then Mahant Digvijaynath was doing ‘sankeertan’ (offering prayers) along with some seers in Ayodhya,” said manager of Gorakhdham temple Dwarika Tiwari.
“Digvijaynath’s disciple Mahant Avadyanath carried forward the legacy of his guru and in 1984 he constituted Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Mukti Yagya Samiti and was its founder-president all his life,” said Dr Pradeep Rao, principal of MP Inter College, Jungle Dhoosar.
“He was the first president of Sri Ram Janma Bhoomi Nyas. On October 7, 1984, he lead a dharmayatra (religious procession) from Sitamarhi to Ayodhya and a meet was organized at Begum Hazrat Mahal Park in Lucknow in which more than 10 lakh people participated. In 1986, when Faizabad district Krishna Mohan Pandey ordered opening the locks of Ram temple, Mahant Avaidyanath was present there,” Dr Rao added.
The programme of Shilanyas on November 9, 1989 was decided at the Virat Hindu Sammelan presided over by Mahant Avaidyanath on September 22, 1989 and he suggested that a Dalit Ram Bhakt should lay the foundation stone, Rao said.
“At a meet in Haridwar, Mahant Avaidyanath announced the beginning of Ram temple construction on October 30, 1990. The government arrested him at Panki on his way to Ayodhya on October 26, 1990,” he added.

Mahant Avaidyanath led a delegation which met then PM Narasimha Rao on July 23, 1992 but the talks were not fruitful. The decision of starting kar seva from December 6, 1992 was taken during fifth Dharam sansad in Delhi on October 30, 1992,” Rao said.
“After demise of Mahant Avaidyanath on September 14, 2014, Yogi Adityanath became Mahant and made frequent visits to Ayodhya. He is reviving the lost glory of Ayodhya by holding Deepotsav and launching several development projects. He also fulfilled the long-pending wishes of many seers by renaming Faizabad district as Ayodhya,” he said.
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