Open Access
Subscription Access
Virtual Restoration of Lord Rama’s Sacred Abode: Reclaiming an Ethical Model for Humanity
Abstract
Rama is not merely a name but a living civilizational force -embodied in Rama, the Ramayana, and Ayodhya—that has shaped Indian and Asian thought for more than three millennia. As an eternal model of Dharma, compassion, and just kingship, Rama’s ideals have permeated philosophy, religion, literature, politics, art, and ethics, extending their influence even into global traditions beyond Hinduism. The Ramayana, translated into hundreds of languages -from tribal dialects to world tongues - continues to transmit this ethical and cultural legacy across societies and faiths. For millions, Ayodhya remains a sacred landscape comparable to Mecca or Jerusalem, and its long disruption was felt as a deep wound to cultural memory and collective identity. Today, with the physical restoration of this sacred space and the emerging power of digital technologies, particularly virtual reconstruction and informatics, we face a civilizational responsibility. This study explores how informatics can be harnessed to achieve virtual restoration of Rama’s sacred abode as it existed in different periods, thereby giving a historical perspective, conserving cultural memory, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and revitalizing the timeless ethical vision embodied in Rama. To reclaim and transmit this legacy is not only a cultural duty but also a moral obligation—an act of selfless service that sustains the very foundations of human dignity, harmony, and civilization itself.
Keywords
References
Anbazhagan P, Kumar A, Sitharam TG (2013) Ground motion prediction equation considering combined dataset of recorded and simulated ground motions. Soil Dyn Earthquake Eng 53:92-108
Anuradha Goyal, Tr. (2021), Ayodhya Mahatmya: The Glory of Ayodhya (Skanda Purana). (New Delhi: Vani Prakashan Group)
ASI (2003)Excavations at Ayodhya 2002-03 (as reproduced/quoted in the Supreme Court PDF and summarized in Allahabad HC records). AssettypeElegalix
Bajaj K, Anbazhagan P (2019) Comprehensive amplification estimation of the Indo Gangetic Basin deep soil sites in the seismically active area. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 127:105855
Bakker, Hans (1986). Ayodhya, Parts 1-3. Michigan, University of Michigan
Brockington, J. L.; Brockington, Mary (2006). Rama the Steadfast: An Early Form of the Ramayana. Penguin. This translation provides an early form of the Ramayana, emphasizing its foundational aspects.
Buck, William (1976). Ramayana. University of California Press. 35th Anniversary Edition. 2012. Buck's version is a modern retelling that aims to make the story accessible to contemporary readers.
Carnegy, P (1870 ). Historical sketch of Tahsil Fyzabad Zillah Fyzabad. Oudh, Oudh Govt Press.
Cengrs Geotechnica Pvt Ltd.: (2020) Report on Geotechnical Investigation for Proposed Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra at Ayodhya, Distt. Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. Submitted to Larsen & Toubro Limited Construction. Project No. 220061
Cengrs Geotechnica Pvt Ltd.: (2021) Report on Additional Geotechnical Investigation for Proposed Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra at Ayodhya, Distt. Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. Submitted to Larsen & Toubro Limited Construction. Project No. 221009
Central Groundwater Board (2009): Groundwater Brochure of Faizabad District, U.P., Ministry of Water Resources, CGWB (2009)
Debroy, Bibek (2017). The Valmiki Ramayana.. Penguin. Debroy's translation is known for its fidelity to the original text and detailed footnotes and commentary.
Dutt, Romesh Chunder (1898). The Ramayana and Mahabharata Condensed into English Verse. J. M. Dent. Reprint: Dover Publications. 2012. Dutt provided a condensed version of the Ramayana in verse form.
Edge PW, Rajan MC (2020) Sacred sites and state failures: A case study of the Babri Masjid/Ram Temple dispute in Ayodhya. In: Bhuiyan JH, Jensen D (eds) Law and Religion of the Liberal State. Hart Publishing
Goldman, Robert P. (1990). The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India. Balakanda. Princeton University Press. This translation is part of the Princeton Library of Asian Translations and is noted for its scholarly approach and detailed annotations. The project spans multiple volumes and years.
Gopal S, Et al (1990) The political abuse of history: Babri Masjid-Rama Janmabhumi Dispute. Soc Sci 18(1/2):76-81. https://doi.org/10.2307/3517330
Griffith (1905) Ramayana '(the earliest complete translation of the into English).
Griffith, Ralph T. H. (1870-1874). The Ramayan of Valmiki. Trübner - via Sacred-texts.org. (Project Gutenberg).
Hari Prasad Shastri, (1952). The Ramayana of Valmiki. Shanti Sadan. Shastri’s translation is notable for its attempt to
retain the poetic beauty of the original Sanskrit.
Informatics Studies (2024). Editorial Note. Ayodhya: Loss of Tangible Heritage. Informatics Studies 11 (4).
IS: 1892: (2021) Subsurface Investigation for Foundations - Code of Practice. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi
IS: 4968: (1976) Method for Subsurface Sounding of Soils, Part 3: Static Cone Penetration Test, Indian Standard Code of Practice, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi
Jain M (2013) Rama and Ayodhya. Aryan Books, New Delhi
Johnson, Helen M. (1931). "Book VII - Jain Ramayana (Ramayana)". Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra.
Judicial Academy Jharkhand (2019): Snippets of Supreme Court Judgment (Ayodhya Verdict). M. Siddiq (D) Thr Lrs v. Mahant Suresh Das and Ors., (SCC Online SC 1440). Prepared by A. Tushar & I Anupriya. (2019)
Kamleshwara Nath (2024): Yearning for Ram Mandir and Fulfillment. Bharat Shodh Samsthan.
Krishnamoorthy, K.; Mukhopadhyay, S.; Sahitya Akademi (1991). A Critical Inventory of Ramayana Studies in the World: Foreign languages. Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with Union Academique Internationale, Bruxelles. ISBN 9788172015077. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
Krishnan MS (1986) Geology of India & Burma. CBS Publishers, New Delhi.
Kunal K (2016) Ayodhya Revisited. Prabhat Prakashan
Lunne T, Robertson PK, Powell JJM: (1997) Cone Penetration Testing in Geotechnical Practice. Blackie Academic & Professional, an Imprint of Chapman & Hall, London
Mackenzie, Donald Alexander (1913). Hindu Mythology. London, Gresham
Narayan, R. K. (1973). The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic. Chatto and Windus. Narayan's translation is a prose version that simplifies the story for a modern audience while retaining its essential elements.
Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). A History of South India: From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Madras: Oxford University Press.
Raghunathan, N. (1981). Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam. Madras: Vighneswara Publishing House. This translation is noted for its fidelity to the original text.
Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust. (2020). Recommendations of the Expert Committee on Foundation Schemes of Shri Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Submitted to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust.
Ram Sharan Sharma (2003) The Ayodhya Issue. In: Layton R, Thomas J (eds) Destruction and Conservation of Cultural Property. Routledge, pp 127-137
Ramesh, K. V (2003). Ayodhya Vishnu Hari Temple Inscription. Purātattva, no. 33, Indian Archaeological Society, New Delhi, pp. 98–103
Rana P B Singh, & Sarvesh Kumar (2013), Waterfront Cultural Landscape of Ayodhya (India), an Ancient Sacred Abode of Gods. South Asian Affairs, Vol. 9.
Rana P B Singh, & Sarvesh Kumar (2018), Ayodhya: The Imageability and Perceptions of Cultural Landscapes. Space and Culture, India, Vol. 5, No. 3.
Rana P B Singh, & Sarvesh Kumar (2018), Ayodhya-Faizabad: A Twin-city of India’s pride for Cultural Tourism. In: 7-ACLA Symposium Souvenir & Abstracts - Pilgrimage Cities & Cultural Landscapes (Avadh University, Ayodhya-Faizabad).
Rana P B Singh, & Sarvesh Kumar (2023), Ayodhya, India: Placemaking and Transformation of Historic Urban Landscape. In: Placemaking and Cultural Landscapes (Eds. R. P. B. Singh, O. Niglio & P. S. Rana). Singapore: Springer Nature Pte Ltd. (AGES Series).
Rana P B Singh, & Sarvesh Kumar (2024), Resurrecting Ayodhya: the Holy-Heritage City where Divinity meets Humanity. Sthapatyam - Journal of the Indian Science of Architecture & Allied Sciences, Vol. 11 (1), 23 May 2024.
Rana P B Singh, & Sarvesh Kumar (2019), Interfacing Cultural Landscapes between India and Korea: Illustrating the Memorial of Korean Queen Heo in Ayodhya. The Geographer, Vol. 66 (2), Dec.
Rana P B Singh, & Sarvesh Kumar (2024), Ayodhya, and a holy-heritage city of India: Appraising Cultural Landscapes and Sustainability. EdA - Esempi di Architettura / International Journal of Architecture & Engineering (Aracne Editrice, Rome), Vol. 11 (No. 2), Jan. 26, 2024.
Rana P B Singh and Pravin S. (2002). Ayodhya. In Banaras Region: A Spiritual and Cultural Guide. Varanasi: Indica Books.
Ravi Sundaram, Et al (2025). Unearthing Geotechnical Characteristics of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Site at Ayodhya: Details of Geotechnical and Geophysical Investigations. Indian Geotechnical Journal.
Robertson PK, Cabal KL: (2022) Guide to Cone Penetration Testing for Geotechnical Engineering. Gregg Drilling & Testing, Inc., 7th edition
Sarvesh Kumar and Rana P B Singh (2023). Leveraging Informatics to Conserve Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ayodhya: A Study of Life Events of Lord Rama. Informatics Studis 10 (3). https://www. informaticsstudies.org/index.php/ informatics/article/view/602
Sarvesh Kumar and Rana P B Singh (2023). Religious Heritage and Pilgrimage Routes of Ayodhya: A Cognitive Informatics Perspective. Informatics Studis 9 (4). https://www.informaticsstudies.org/index.php/informatics/article/view/544
Sarvesh Kumar and Rana P B Singh. (2015), Cultural-Heritage Tourism in Ayodhya-Faizabad: Scenario and Prospects. The Geographer (Aligarh Muslim University), Vol. 62 (2).
Sarvesh Kumar and Rana P B Singh. (2016), Ayodhya, the holy city of India: Riverfront and a Place of Indo-Korean interfacing symbolic Landscapes. Sthapatyam - Indian Journal of Architecture and Art, Vol. 3, No. 6 (Dec. 2016-Feb. 2017.
Sarvesh Kumar and Rana P B Singh. (2016), Ritual Landscapes of Ayodhya (India) in the context of multicultural religious belongingness. In: Proceedings, ACLA Symposium (2015/2016).
Sattar, Arshia (1996). The Ramayana by Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India. Viking. Sattar's translation is praised for its clarity and readability, as well as for staying close to the original text.
Shastri, A. M (1993). Ayodhyā and God Rāma. Purātattva no. 23, Indian Archaeological Society, New Delhi, pp.
–39
Shastri, Hari Prasad (1952). The Ramayana of Valmiki. Shanti Sadan. Shastri's translation is notable for its attempt to retain the poetic beauty of the original Sanskrit.
Srinivasa Ayyangar, (1928). History of the Tamils: From the Earliest Times to 600 A.D. Madras: Madras Law Journal Office.
Sundaram R, Gupta S, Gupta S (2023) Advances in the state-of-practice of geotechnical investigation in India. Indian Geotec J. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-023-00750-3
Supreme Court Observer (2024): History of the Ayodhya title dispute: A timeline. Analysis. https://www.scobserver.in/journal/tracing-over-450-years-of-history-of-the-ayodhya-title-dispute-a-timeline/ (2024)
Supreme Court of India (2019) Civil Appeal Nos. 10866-10877. of 2010, "M. Siddiq (D) Thr. Lrs. vs. Mahant Suresh Das & Ors.," Judgment dated November 9
Supreme Court of India (2019), M. Siddiq (D) Thr. Lrs. v. Mahant Suresh Das & Ors.-Annexed ASI findings and court's synthesis of the 2003 stratigraphy/structures. Assettype
Swami Tapasyananda, Tr (1985), Adhyatma Ramayana: Original Sanskrit, with English Translation. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math.
Tagare, G V. Tr. (1950), The Skanda Purana. (New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass).The work includes the Agastya Samhita
embedded within it.
Thapar R (2000) A Historical Perspective on the Story of Rama. In: Thapar R (ed) Cultural Pasts: Essays in Early Indian History. Oxford University Press, New Delhi
Vaiyapuri Pillai, S. (1956). History of the Tamil Language and Literature: From the Earliest Times to 1905. Madras: New
Century Book House.
Varma S, Menon J (2010) Was there a temple under the Babri Masjid? reading the archaeological evidence. Econ & Polit Weekly 2010:61-82
Yuan Ch Wang (1904). On Yuan Ch Wangs Travels in India (629-656 AD ) (Xuanzang's Travels). London, Royal Asiatic society.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Informatics Studies: ISSN: 2583-8954 (Online), 2320-530X (Print)