Ayodhya Ram Mandir: 22-Year Old Scholar From Ghaziabad Among Top Temple Priest Picks

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A young student's devotion and scholarly pursuit of Vedic studies have paved his way to a prestigious and divine role and that too in the Ayodhya Ram Temple.

Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama or Shree Ram and the much-debated Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple is being built here. This ancient city is built on the banks of the Saryu River in UP. According to a Hindu scripture Ramayana, King Dashrath ruled in this Ayodhya, where Shri Ram spent his childhood.

Currently, preparations are going in full swing for the grand ceremony of 22 January 2024 in Ram Temple. Only a few dignitaries will be able to have the privilege of witnessing this historic moment, which will include many well-known personalities along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, after this, the temples will be opened for the general public to visit in the new year. Let us know who Priest Mohit Pandey is and how he has become one of the top temple priest picks.

Who Is Priest Mohit Pandey?

A resident of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Mohit Pandey is a 22-year-old Vedic scholar from the Dudheshwar Ved Vidyalaya, has been selected as one of the 29 priests to perform puja at the much-anticipated Ram temple in Ayodhya, set to open in January 2024.

At Dudheshwar Ved Vidyapeeth, the students wake up at 4:00 in the morning and follow a strict daily routine till 10:00 at night.

Mohit stood out among 3,000 applicants vying for this revered position. The significance of this role is profound, especially since Mohit took his first steps into the scholarly world of Vedic teachings at the tender age of nine at this very school, before advancing to Sri Venkateswara Vedic University (SVVU), run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in Tirupati to complete his MA in Acharya.

Of the thousands who applied, only 200 candidates were shortlisted after intense written examinations. Following this, interviews were conducted to filter down to the final 29, among whom Mohit earned his place. These chosen priests are currently undergoing a six-month intensive training in Ayodhya, post which they will be officially inducted into the temple's panel of priests.

"It isn't an easy test to pass. But his command over Sanskrit and pronunciation of words to worship the lord would have held him in good stead. He was trained in all these," shared Mahant Narayan Giri, to TOI expressing pride for his pupil's achievement.

According to reports, Pandey has been appointed as 'Acharya' in the Sama Veda wing of Ramlala temple in Ayodhya. Before the appointment, Mohit Pandey has also completed a training period of six months.