Ayodhya Ram Temple construction: The Ayodhya Ram Temple Was Built Without the Use of Iron and Steel. Here's the Reason.
Ayodhya Ram Temple construction: Shri Nripendra Misra, the head of the temple construction committee, confidently states that the temple has been crafted to endure for over a millennium.
The magnificent Ayodhya temple dedicated to Ram Lalla, the child form of Lord Ram, stands as a fusion of traditional Indian heritage architecture and advanced construction techniques aimed at ensuring its endurance for centuries.
Shri Nripendra Misra, the chairperson of the temple construction committee for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya, confidently asserts that the temple has been meticulously crafted to last for over a thousand years. He highlights the significant contributions of top Indian scientists and the incorporation of ISRO technologies to make it an unprecedented iconic structure.
Chandrakant Sompura, the architect behind the design, follows the Nagar Shaily or the traditional northern Indian temple architectural style. With a family tradition spanning 15 generations in designing heritage temple structures, Sompura has designed over 100 temples. He expresses that in the realm of architecture, the Shri Ram Temple is an exceptionally splendid creation, rarely seen and unique, not only in India but anywhere on Earth.
The Ayodhya temple spans a total area of 2.7 acres, with a built-up area covering approximately 57,000 square feet. According to Nripendra Misra, it is structured as a three-floor building, standing at a height of 161 feet, roughly 70% of the Qutab Minar's height.
Remarkably, no iron or steel has been utilized in the temple's construction, as their lifespan is limited to 80-90 years. Instead, the construction relies on the very best quality granite, sandstone, and marble. Notably, there is no use of cement or lime mortar in the joints; rather, a sophisticated lock and key mechanism employing grooves and ridges has been implemented throughout the entire structure.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Ramancharla, the Director of the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, actively engaged in the construction, emphasizes the use of top-notch materials and the advanced construction technique. The structural design, geared to withstand an earthquake with a return period of 2,500 years, has been meticulously planned by CBRI for the three-floored structure.
Mr. Misra revealed that the ground beneath the temple posed a unique challenge due to its sandy and unstable nature, resulting from the previous presence of the Sarayu River near the site. In response, scientists devised a clever solution.
The entire temple area underwent extensive soil excavation to a depth of 15 meters. Ramancharla explained, "An engineered soil was laid to a depth of 12-14 meters, with no steel re-bars used, and the 47 layered bases were compacted to create a solid rock-like foundation."
On this foundation, a 1.5-meter-thick M-35 grade metal-free concrete raft was added for reinforcement. To further fortify the base, a plinth of 6.3 meters thick solid granite stone from southern India was placed.
The visible part of the temple, crafted from 'Bansi Paharpur' pink sandstone extracted from Rajasthan, showcases intricate details. According to CBRI, the ground floor features 160 sandstone columns, the first floor has 132, and the second floor has 74, all adorned with carvings. The sanctum sanctorum is adorned with white Makrana marble from Rajasthan, the same marble used in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
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CBRI explained that after analyzing multiple computer models, they selected a model preserving the Nagara style of architecture, ensuring both performance and architectural integrity. Proposed modifications enhance the structure's architecture while maintaining safety against a 2500-year return period earthquake. Notably, the dry-jointed structure, designed for a 1000-year lifespan, consists solely of interlocked stone, without steel reinforcement.
The institute, actively involved in the Ram Mandir construction since early 2020, has contributed to the structural design of the main temple, designed the 'Surya Tilak' mechanism, vetted the temple foundation's design, and monitored the main temple's structural health.
Dr. Sharda Srinivasan, an archaeologist specializing in heritage metals at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, explained the traditional temple architecture, highlighting the absence of mortar, iron, and steel. The use of interlocking grooves and pegs, the Mortis and Tenon method, and the trabeate system of lintels spanning columns with horizontal beams are traditional features evident in the construction of the sandstone Ram Temple.
According to Ramancharla, while the temple draws inspiration from heritage architecture, its foundation is grounded in modern technology. Utilizing advanced tools like finite element analysis, sophisticated software, and adhering to 21st-century building codes, the Ram Temple is defined by contemporary standards.
Ramancharla expresses strong confidence that, given the current state-of-the-art knowledge, the Ram Mandir is poised to endure for more than a thousand years. He emphasizes that tackling such challenges is a rare and enriching experience, possibly occurring once in a lifetime.
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