286-kg sacred panchadhatu bow to arrive at Ayodhya Ram Temple

A 286-kilogram Kodanda, the sacred bow of Lord Rama, crafted from panchadhatu, an alloy of five metals, is being transported to Ayodhya and is scheduled to arrive at the Ram Temple on January 22.

The Kodanda, crafted in Odisha’s Rourkela, began its journey on January 3 and has since been carried through a grand procession organised by the Sanatan Jagran Manch.

The procession passed through all 30 districts of Odisha, with people from various regions participating in the journey.

On January 19, the Kodanda reached Puri, where it was offered for darshan at the Jagannath Temple. Afterward, the sacred artifact continued its journey toward Ayodhya and is set to arrive in the holy city today.

Made of a panchadhatu alloy consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, zinc and iron, the Kodanda was constructed over eight months by 48 women artisans from Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram.

The bow is intricately engraved with scenes depicting India’s military valor, including images from the Kargil War, symbolising the nation's pride in its armed forces.

Meanwhile, a 233-year-old Sanskrit manuscript of Valmiki’s Ramayana, including the Tattvadipikatika commentary, has been permanently gifted to the Ram Katha Museum in Ayodhya.

Authored by Valmiki with commentary by Maheshvara Tirtha and dating back to 1792 CE, the manuscript contains five principal kandas of the epic.

Previously on loan to Rashtrapati Bhavan, it was presented by Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice Chancellor of the Central Sanskrit University, to Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library, supporting the museum’s role as a centre for Ramayana heritage.

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Inputs by Mayank Shukla