| Ayodhya |
Holy town in Uttar Pradesh province
in North India, also referred to as Saket. The birthplace of Sri Rama and
revered as a place of pilgrimage for thousands of years by the Hindus. |
| Babri Masjid |
The mosque-like structure built by Mir Baqi to
commemorate the conquests of his King Babur: this was built at Ayodhya. |
| Bajrang Dal |
Volunteer corps of Hindus formed during the Ayodhya
Movement. (Bajrang=Hanuman; Dal=corps). |
| Bhagawan |
‘God’, ‘Lord’. |
| Darshan |
Viewing idol/holy personage. |
| Dharma Sansad |
Forum of Hindu Religious figures. |
| District Magistrate |
Head of civil administration in a district. His
duties include maintenance of law and order. There are over 600 districts
(unit of civil revenue administration) in India. |
| Faizabad |
District headquarters town adjacent to Ayodhya. |
| Janmasthan |
“Place of birth” – Refers to the area revered
as the birthplace of Rama in Ayodhya. The disputed site. |
| Kar Seva |
Holy task to be accomplished voluntarily 9esp.
renovation/repair/construction of temple/ gurudwara etc.). |
| Karsevak |
Volunteer for holy task. A form for volunteers
coming forward to build a temple to Sri Rama at the Janmasthan. |
| Mahant |
Hindu religious leader. |
| Margadarshak Mandal |
Apex committee of religious leaders formed to
guide the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Ayodhya Movement. |
| Maryada Purushottam |
Epitome of Human Attributes’ – Refers to Rama. |
| Moulvi |
Religious Preacher of Islam |
| National Integration Council |
A forum of leading personalities including political
leaders, Members of Parliament, intellectual, artistes etc., for discussing
matters relating to national integration. |
| Ram Lala |
Lala = affectionate term for child. The idol
of ‘Child Rama’ being worshipped at the Janmasthan. |
| Ram Kot |
‘For of Rama’ – The revenue village where the
disputed site is situated. |
| Ramajanmabhoomi |
‘The land where Rama was born also known as Janmasthan,
in Ayodhya. The disputed site. |
| Ram Rajya |
‘Rama’s Rule’ – A reference to the ideal conditions
when Rama ruled his kingdom. An ideal of Hindu society down the ages that
was projected sharply by Mahatma Gandhi during the struggle for freedom
from British rule. (See also ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Swadeshi’) |
| Rathyatra |
Chariot journey undertaken to mobilise mass opinion.
(Rath=chariot, vehicle; Yatra=journey). |
| Sangh Parivar |
Refers to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (a
voluntary organisation for socio-cultural change in Hindu society formed
in 1925) and a cluster of connected organisations: Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh
(labour organisation); Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (students organisation);
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (religious); Vidya Bharati (educational); etc., (Parivar=family.) |
| Sant |
A honorific term for religious leaders, ascetics,
heads of organisations, monasteries etc. |
| Shia, Sunni |
Two major Islamic sects formed following differences
as to who should lead the Muslims after Prophet Mohammed. |
| Shilanyas |
Foundation-stone laying ceremony. One of the
major events in the Ayodhya Movement. |
| Shila Pujan |
Shila=stone, brick; Pujan=worship. Hundreds of
thousands of bricks specially made and inscribed with ‘Sri Ram’ were consecrated
in villages all over India and abroad and brought to Ayodhya to be used
in the Rama Temple complex. |
| Sita ki Rasoi |
‘The kitchen where Sita cooked’ – a revered structure
in the Janmasthan complex. |
| Somnath |
A magnificent temple of Siva on the western coast
of India that was the repository of unparalleled wealth and which was repeatedly
looted and desecrated by invaders. Finally the temple was destroyed and
a mosque erected in its place. After 1947, a strong movement for the renovation
of Somnath temple sprang up with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi and the
backing of Vallabhbhai Patel. The Somnath temple was finally resurrected
and built in all its glory. |
| Swadeshi |
‘Of one’s own country’ – An economic concept
of giving pre-eminent status to indigenous skills and efforts. A rallying
cry of the Indian Freedom Struggle. |
| Swaraj |
‘Self-Rule’. Indigenous rule. A clarion call
given by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and taken up by Mahatma Gandhi during the
freedom struggle. |
| Tulsidas |
16th Century poet who wrote the Ramayana in Hindi
as Ramcharitmanas. |
| Waqf Board |
Autonomous board to manage affairs of religious
places bequeathed by Muslims. |
| Vaishnavite |
Pertains to worship of Vishnu – one of the three
major Gods of the Hindu pantheon. Rama is believed to be the avatara (incarnation)
of Vishnu. |
| Vishwa Hindu Parishad |
International organisation of various Hindu denominations/sects.
The organisation in the forefront of the Ayodhya Movement. |
