Cambodia’s reconciliation to the modified plan of Viraat Ramayan Mandir leads to its start of constriction

When Mahavir Mandir Trust announced the construction of Viraat Ramayan Mandir which was perceived to be a replica of Angkor Wat temple, the news was covered in almost all the important newspapers of the world, particularly South-East-Asian countries. But it was vehemently protested by the Cambodian Government and its protest was conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India which, in turn, was sent to the Ministry of Culture for co-ordinating with the Bihar Government and the temple trust. It was informally advised not to make the exact  replica of the Cambodian temple which is, at present, largest Hindu/Buddhist in the world.
The temple trust of Mahavir Mandir did not intend to hurt the sentiments of the Cambodian people; so it modified its plan by embedding the architectural design of many other prominent temples of India and South-East Asia including those at Ayuthya in Thailand and Pantarama in Java (Indonesia). The Charge-de-affairs of Cambodia to India visited the site in June, 2015. There was a question in the Lok Sabha and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs General V.K. Singh made a reply in the Lok Sabha that the ‘Viraat Ramayan Mandir’ complex prominently features design elements of Indian temple architecture.
Thereafter the Secretary of Mahavir Mandir Trust Acharya Kishore Kunal sent several letters to the Secretary, Minister of Culture and Secretary Ministry of External Affairs along with the modified map. It was sent to the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi for comments on the resemblance of Viraat Ramayan Mandir with Angkor Wat Temple. The report of the secretary Mahavir Mandir Trust along with the temple’s detailed plan and comments of the D.G., A.S.I. were sent to the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.
Then the Foreign Ministry sent it to the Cambodian Government in October, 2015. They examined the report and sent it to the Cambodian Government for scrutiny. It was indicated by the Cambodian Embassy that a number of architects were engaged to compare the maps of the two structures and if there would be any objection, Cambodian architects would come to Delhi and discuss the matter and suggest the modifications. All these developments were intimated by the Secretary, Mahavir Mandir Trust to the Chief Secretary, Bihar by a letter dated 25-01-2016. Recently, Kunal enquired from Culture Ministry, New Delhi and was informed that there was no response received from the Cambodian Embassy. Thus a decision has now been taken to start construction of the Viraat Ramayan Mandir in accordance with the architectural plan sent to the Ministries of Culture and External Affairs and the State Government.
Recently, the Mahavir Mandir Trust has received support from three eminent persons from Tamil Nadu to this project. N. Srinivasan, the Vice-President to Larsen & Tubro, S. Rajendra, a renowned architect and C. Natarajan, Professor at National Institute of Technology and a structural engineer visited the temple site on 9th December and have pledged their support to this project. Now Prof. Natarajan and architect Rajendran will finalise the plan and Srimivasan of L. & T. Company, an expert in construction will execute this mega project.
In the first phase, the temples of Anjaneya (Hanuman), Mahadeva (Shiva) and Rama will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 200 crore in next three years’ span of time. When the construction starts in full swing, people’s co-operation will be sought. Apart from the temple being the largest Hindu Temple in the world, it will have the largest Shiva-Linga measuring 33 ft. in height and 33 ft. in circumference. With ‘arghaa’ it will have the height of 44 ft. and the roof of the temple will be at a height of 40 ft. From there the devotees will pour jal on the Shiva-Linga. It will be a unique, incredible. Similarly, at a height of 72 ft. 20 thousand devotees will worship Rama conjointly.