Ram Raj in Yogis Era

Ayodhya now has a temple that is turning out to be a major tourist attraction. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s relishes a vast fan following across the country and beyond. His supporters often make headlines for their distinctive ways of showering applause and appreciation on the idolized political leader. The temple depicts Yogi Adityanath as an incarnation of Lord Ram.

The temple which is called 'Yogi Mandir' has a life-size idol of CM Yogi Adityanath, clad in saffron robes and has a bow and arrow as well. Prabhakar Maurya, a 32-year-old describes himself as a ‘Yogi Pracharak’ and Youtuber who has created numerous songs for the party. The idol of the chief minister shows him carrying a bow and arrow and an 'aarti' is performed at the temple each evening. Maurya said that the bow and arrow were apt for the statue. “Yogi ji is aiming his arrows at all kinds of crime and corruption. This is the correct symbol”. 

Rs 7 lakhs went into the construction of the temple. This money came from Maurya's YouTube channel, which is flooded with compositions such as, ‘Hanuman is thundering in the heavens, Kalyug is on its way out, the entire country is saying Yogi -age is on its way’.

Maurya is also a big aficionado of Yogi Adityanath and has sung many songs in his support during the last Uttar Pradesh elections. Maurya told The New Indian that it was his resolution to build a grand and divine temple of Yogi Adityanath, also a priest in the Gorakhnath Temple in his Gorakhpur, near Lord Shri Ram’s birthplace. 

In an interview with PTI, Maurya expressed his awe for the Chief Minister. He said, "The way the Chief Minister has done public welfare works, he has acquired a deity-like place. "The law and order of Uttar Pradesh is being seen as an example for the country and the world," he said.

No priest has been appointed and Maurya himself sings a self-composed aarti twice a day. The chorus for the hymn goes, ‘Jai, Jai Yogi Baba’.  The hymn is set to the generic tune to which most aartis are sung.