Ayodhya: Swami Govind Dev Giriji Maharaj, who has been elevated as the General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, on Saturday expressed gratitude to Lord Ram for providing him the opportunity to serve.
The seer said that the Trust has introduced several changes in the ritualistic practises at the Temple and has also planned out the expansion of ‘Mata Sita Rasoi Annakshetra’.
Speaking to reporters, Swami Govind Dev Giri noted that the newly appointed CEO of the Trust, Air Marshal (Retd.) Jeetendra Mishra, took charge on Friday.
“After making arrangements at his home, he will arrive here in four to five days, and will undertake his work from next week.”
He said that the next meeting of the Temple Trust will be held on December 2.
“By the grace of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram, our current meeting was extremely successful. In this meeting, Mahesh Bhagchandka from Delhi, Advocate Madan Mohan Pandey from Ayodhya, and Nirmala Yadav from Shikohabad (in Firozabad district) were inducted into the Trust,” he added.
Bhagchandka has been appointed as the Trust Treasurer.
On being appointed as the new General Secretary of the Temple body, Swami Govind Dev Giri said: “Through this post, Lord Ram has given me this opportunity to serve. It is a huge responsibility and I believe that the Lord himself will provide me the strength to carry out the same. I am always prepared to serve the Lord in any way possible…even if it is in the form of a ‘squirrel’.”
He expressed optimism that with the support of the saints and people of Ayodhya, and by the grace of Lord Ram and Goddess Janki, the Trust will now function without any issues.
Recalling the Janmashtami celebration at the Ram Temple a day before, Swami Govind Dev Giri said: “For the first time, (an idol of) the deity was placed in a ‘jhula’ (swing) during the Janmashtami celebrations at the Ram Temple. Also, the devotees have shown a liking for the changes we have made to the ‘aarti’ ritual at the temple.”
He added that according to the new rules, the temple’s Hindu priests will continue performing the ‘aarti’ inside the garbhagriha, whereas other priests will perform the ‘aarti’ outside it.
“We will swiftly expedite all other tasks that we need to accomplish. Among those, we have now finalised that the ‘Panch Devata Yajna’ will be conducted here daily. Uninterrupted chanting of ‘Shree Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram’ will take place here throughout the day,” Swami Govind Dev Giri said.
He added that the Temple Trust is going to expand the ‘Maa Sita Anna Kshetra’, saying: “We have thought about this too.”
(IANS)
