Why was no iron, steel used in the construction of Ayodhya Ram Temple?
Ayodhya Ram Temple: The construction of the Ayodhya Ram Temple, dedicated to Ram Lalla or infant Lord Ram, has been a meticulous blend of traditional Indian heritage architecture and cutting-edge science, ensuring its endurance for over a thousand years, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Ayodhya revealed.
Nripendra Misra, chairperson of the temple construction committee, revealed that top Indian scientists, including those from ISRO, have contributed to the temple's construction.Renowned architect Chandrakant Sompura designed the temple, adhering to the Nagar Shaily, and called it a rarely seen, splendid creation. Notably, no iron or steel was used; instead, the structure relies on the best-quality granite, sandstone, and marble.The temple's foundation was reinforced using innovative engineering techniques, addressing challenges like sandy and unstable soil.The Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) played a significant role in ensuring the temple's structural integrity, with Dr. Pradeep Kumar Ramancharla stated that it is designed to withstand a 2,500-year return period earthquake.The visible part of the temple is crafted from pink sandstone and white Makrana marble, while the chosen model, adhering to the Nagara style, ensures both performance and architectural integrity.The CBRI's involvement since early 2020 has contributed to the project's structural design, foundation design, and structural health monitoring. Dr. Sharda Srinivasan, an archaeologist, highlighted the temple's adherence to traditional dry masonry, reminiscent of earlier periods, while Ramancharla emphasised the fusion of heritage architecture with modern finite element analysis, sophisticated software tools, and 21st-century building codes.
The construction, a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, is poised to endure for over a thousand years.
