East Champaran: A deeply devotional atmosphere was seen on Saturday at the Virat Ramayan Mandir in Janaki Nagar, Kathwalia, located in the Kalyanpur block of East Champaran district, as the world’s largest Sahasralingam was installed. From early morning, a large number of devotees reached the temple premises, many of them walking along the Ram Janaki Path. The entire area echoed with chants of Lord Shiva’s name, while women sang traditional songs, creating a peaceful and spiritual environment. Security arrangements were tightened to ensure the smooth conduct of the ceremony.
The consecration ceremony attracted priests and scholars from different parts of the country, including Kashi, which is considered the sacred city of Lord Shiva. The main attraction of the day was the massive Shivling, measuring 33 feet in height and 33 feet in width. The Sahasralingam was specially made in Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, a place famous for its stone craftsmanship. Devotees stood patiently for hours to witness the historic moment, believing that the installation would bring spiritual strength and blessings.
Samastipur MP Shambhavi Choudhary and her husband Sayan Kunal were present at the event as patrons. Sayan Kunal is also the secretary of the Mahavir Mandir Trust, Patna, which is closely associated with the temple’s development. Several leaders and public figures sent their greetings on the occasion. Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary shared a message on social media, calling the event a proud moment for the state and saying it would further strengthen faith and cultural values.
The Virat Ramayan Mandir has been under construction for more than a year and a half. Its foundation stone was laid on 20 June 2023 under the guidance of Acharya Kishore Kunal, the former chairman of the Bihar State Religious Trust Board. Around 250 workers were engaged daily in the construction work, building more than 3,100 pillars from a depth of nearly 100 feet underground. A hoarding of Acharya Kishore Kunal has been placed near the foundation platform to honour his role in starting the project. With the installation of the Shivling, the temple has emerged as a major centre of faith and is expected to attract devotees from across the country in the coming days.
