Patna: In a special meeting held at the Raj Bhavan in Patna on Friday, Acharya Kishore Kunal, the Secretary of the Mahavir Temple Trust, met with President Draupadi Murmu. Acharya Kishore Kunal presented a replica of the forthcoming Virat Ramayana Temple in East Champaran to the President. He also extended an invitation for President Murmu to attend the temple’s proposed inauguration ceremony scheduled for the end of the year 2025.
The Virat Ramayana Temple, currently under construction on a sprawling 108-acre expanse along Ram-Janaki road in Kaithwalia, near Kesariya in East Champaran district, began its construction journey on June 20 this year. The towering monument, a testament to architectural grandeur, is set to feature a central peak soaring to an impressive height of 270 feet, with four additional peaks each reaching a formidable 180 feet in elevation. Its dimensions will span 540 feet in width and an impressive 1080 feet in length.
Acharya Kishore Kunal said preparations are underway to house a mammoth Shivling within the temple, standing tall at 33 feet and weighing a substantial 200 tonnes. This inaugural event is slated to take place by Shivratri in the year 2025. The Virat Ramayana Temple, managed by the Mahavir Temple Trust, will ultimately showcase a total of 12 peaks and host 22 individual temples, each a testament to the rich cultural and religious heritage of the region.
In a gesture of literary significance, Acharya Kishore Kunal presented his two-volume work, ‘Dalit Devo Bhava,’ to President Murmu during their meeting. He underscored the historical significance of the Mahavir Temple, which remains the site of the country’s first Dalit priest appointment. Notably, the temple continues to maintain this tradition with a current Dalit priest in residence.
Acharya Kishore Kunal also shared the work of the Mahavir Temple Trust in public welfare initiatives. The Trust operates Ram Rasoi in Ayodhya and Sita Rasoi in Sitamarhi, offering free meals to thousands of devotees daily. Furthermore, the Trust has contributed Rs 10 crore towards the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, drawing the President’s admiration for its diverse array of philanthropic endeavors.
Acharya Kishore Kunal extended a gracious invitation to President Murmu to inaugurate the silver jubilee celebrations of the Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre, scheduled for December 12. The Mahavir Cancer Institute, administered by the Mahavir Mandir Trust, stands as the second-largest cancer hospital in the country after Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Hospital, inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The 650-bed Mahavir Cancer Institute is committed to providing free treatment to impoverished cancer patients up to the age of 18. The children’s ward at the institution was inaugurated by former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
Alongside this, Acharya Kishore Kunal apprised President Murmu of the Trust’s operation of seven hospitals, including Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital and Mahavir Arogya Sansthan. Dr. LB Singh, Medical Superintendent of the Mahavir Cancer Institute, was also present during the meeting.
