Editing Ayodhya (section)

=== Independent India ===
{{Ayodhya debate}}

{{See also|Ayodhya dispute}}

A movement was launched in 1984 by the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] party to reclaim the Babri mosque site for a Rama temple. In 1992, a right wing [[Hindu nationalist]] rally turned into a riot, leading to the [[demolition of the Babri Masjid|demolition of the Babri mosque]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Amy Chua |url=https://archive.org/details/dayofempirehowhy00chua_0 |title=Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance – And Why They Fall |publisher=Doubleday |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-385-51284-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/dayofempirehowhy00chua_0/page/182 182] |url-access=registration}}</ref> A makeshift temple at [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] for ''[[Ram Lalla Temple|Ram Lalla]]'', infant Rama was constructed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 January 2002 |title=Ram Lalla deity to be taken to Ayodhya |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/01/19/stories/2002011901441000.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=30 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040623012141/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/01/19/stories/2002011901441000.htm |archive-date=23 June 2004}}</ref> Under the Indian government orders, no one was permitted near the site within 200 yards, and the gate was locked to the outside. Hindu pilgrims, however, began entering through a side door to offer worship.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In 2003, the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) carried out an excavation at the mosque site to determine if it was built over the ruins of a temple. The excavation uncovered pillar bases indicating a temple had been in existence under the mosque.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2003 |title=Proof of temple found at Ayodhya: ASI report |work=[[Rediff.com]] |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/aug/25ayo1.htm |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926043755/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/aug/25ayo1.htm |archive-date=26 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2003 |title=Evidence of temple found: ASI |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]] |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030826/main6.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030906030401/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030826/main6.htm |archive-date=6 September 2003}}</ref> Besides Hindus, the Buddhist and Jain representatives claimed that their temples existed at the excavated site.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chishti |first=Seema |date=14 March 2003 |title=Can Ayodhya dig settle the dispute? |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2848393.stm |url-status=live |access-date=11 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325192812/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2848393.stm |archive-date=25 March 2014}}</ref>

On 5 July 2005, [[2005 Ram Janmabhoomi attack|five terrorists]] attacked the site of the makeshift Ramlalla temple in Ayodhya. All five were killed in the ensuing gunfight with security forces, and one civilian died in the bomb blast triggered as they attempted to breach the cordon wall.

On 30 September 2010, the [[Lucknow]] bench of the [[Allahabad High Court]] ruled that one-third of the disputed land should be given to the [[Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board]], one-third to the [[Nirmohi Akhara]] and one-third to the [[Hindu]] party for the shrine of "Ram Lalla" (infant Rama). The court further ruled that the area where the idols of Ram are present be given to Hindus in the final decree, while the rest of the land shall be divided equally by metes and bounds among the three parties.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ayodhya verdict: Allahabad High Court says divide land in 3 ways |work=[[NDTV]] |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ayodhya-verdict-allahabad-high-court-says-divide-land-in-3-ways-56063 |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002110425/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ayodhya-verdict-allahabad-high-court-says-divide-land-in-3-ways-56063 |archive-date=2 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=High Court of Allahabad, Ram Janmbhoomi Babri Masjid Judgement, Decision of Hon'ble Special Full Bench Hearing Ayodhya Matters |url=http://rjbm.nic.in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002000743/http://rjbm.nic.in/ |archive-date=2 October 2010 |access-date=30 September 2010 |publisher=Rjbm.nic.in}}</ref> The judgement, along with evidences provided by the Archaeological Survey of India, upheld that the Babri Masjid was built after demolishing the Hindu temple, which is the birthplace of Rama, and that the mosque was not constructed according to the principles of Islam. The final verdict by the Supreme Court on the case ruled the disputed land in the favour of Hindus for the construction of Ram Mandir and ordered an alternative piece of land be given to the Muslim community for the construction of a mosque.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gupta |first=Pathikrit Sen |date=10 November 2019 |title=Ayodhya Verdict: Entire Disputed Site Goes to Hindus for Ram Mandir, Muslims to Get 5 Acres of Alternate Land |work=[[News18]] |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/ayodhya-case-verdict-live-updates-ram-janmabhoomi-babri-masjid-ayodhya-mandir-news-samachar-supreme-court-uttar-pradesh-2379563.html |url-status=live |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109055244/https://www.news18.com/news/india/ayodhya-case-verdict-live-updates-ram-janmabhoomi-babri-masjid-ayodhya-mandir-news-samachar-supreme-court-uttar-pradesh-2379563.html |archive-date=9 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 November 2019 |title=Ayodhya Verdict Live Updates: Disputed Land To Be Given For Temple Construction, Muslims To Get 5-Acre Plot In Ayodhya, Says Top Court |work=[[NDTV]] |editor-last=Nair |editor-first=Arun |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ayodhya-verdict-live-updates-ram-mandir-babri-masjid-land-dispute-case-supreme-court-verdict-at-10-3-2129704 |url-status=live |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109060357/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ayodhya-verdict-live-updates-ram-mandir-babri-masjid-land-dispute-case-supreme-court-verdict-at-10-3-2129704 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |editor2-first=Vaibhav |editor2-last=Tiwari}}</ref>

In a judgement pronounced by a 5 judge bench of the Supreme Court of India on 9 November 2019, the land was handed over to the government to form a trust for the construction of a temple. The court instructed the government to also allot a plot of {{convert|5|acres|ha|order=flip}} in Ayodhya to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board to construct a mosque/Masjid.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 November 2019 |title=Ayodhya verdict live: Country's unity strengthened after verdict, say religious leaders |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ayodhya-verdict-live-updates-supreme-court-verdict-on-ram-mandir-babri-masjid-dispute/liveblog/71978224.cms |url-status=live |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110001744/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ayodhya-verdict-live-updates-supreme-court-verdict-on-ram-mandir-babri-masjid-dispute/liveblog/71978224.cms |archive-date=10 November 2019}}</ref>

Some South Koreans have identified the "Ayuta" mentioned in their ancient [[Samgungnyusa]] legend with Ayodhya. According to this legend, the ancient Korean princess [[Heo Hwang-ok]] came from Ayuta. In the 2000s, the local government of Ayodhya and South Korea acknowledged the connection and held a ceremony to raise a statue of the princess.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manjul |first=Tarannum |date=21 January 2010 |title=Korean relative of Kings of Ayodhya goes on evidence hunting |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/korean-relative-of-kings-of-ayodhya-goes-on/569976/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305120500/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/korean-relative-of-kings-of-ayodhya-goes-on/569976/ |archive-date=5 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Arora |first=V N |date=12 September 2004 |title=South Korea's Ayodhya connection |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-09-12/india/27159136_1_saryu-monument-connection |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811122813/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-09-12/india/27159136_1_saryu-monument-connection |archive-date=11 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahn |first=San Whan |date=12 May 2000 |title=Festivities organized to honor Indian princess |work=[[India Abroad]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79276360.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105030814/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79276360.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 |via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref>

==== Ram temple ====
{{Main|Ram Mandir}}
On 5 August 2020, the prime minister of India, [[Narendra Modi]], laid the ceremonial foundation stone for a new temple at [[Ram Janmabhoomi|what is believed to be the birthplace of the god, Ram]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mishra |first=Avaneesh |date=5 August 2020 |title=Ram temple bhoomi pujan: Ceremony starts at 12.30 pm, PM to offer prayers to idol, address gathering |language=en |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan-ceremony-starts-at-12-30-pm-pm-to-offer-prayers-to-idol-address-gathering-6539814/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831075417/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan-ceremony-starts-at-12-30-pm-pm-to-offer-prayers-to-idol-address-gathering-6539814/ |archive-date=31 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=5 August 2020 |title=Golden chapter, says PM Modi after laying foundation stone for Ram temple |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |editor-last=Tikku |editor-first=Aloke |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-lays-foundation-stone-for-ram-temple-in-ayodhya/story-6PtybMaVg4pvL92ufuBBbO.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127132120/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-lays-foundation-stone-for-ram-temple-in-ayodhya/story-6PtybMaVg4pvL92ufuBBbO.html |archive-date=27 November 2021}}</ref> It was planned to build a new township, Navya Ayodhya, on a {{convert|500|acre|ha|adj=on|order=flip}} site next to the [[Faizabad]]-[[Gorakhpur]] highway, which will have luxury hotels and apartment complexes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sinha |first=Rakesh |date=5 August 2020 |title=Ayodhya breaks ground today |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan-6539817/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127132120/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan-6539817/ |archive-date=27 November 2021}}</ref>

The Ram Mandir ({{literal translation|Rama Temple}}) is a [[Hindu temple]] complex in Ayodhya, [[Uttar Pradesh]], India.<ref name="the new york times-2024">{{Cite web |date=22 January 2024 |title=Why India's New Ram Temple Is So Important |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/22/world/asia/india-ram-temple-ayodhya.html |access-date=29 February 2024 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206160611/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/22/world/asia/india-ram-temple-ayodhya.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bbc news-2024">{{Cite web |date=22 January 2024 |title=Ayodhya Ram Mandir: India PM Modi inaugurates Hindu temple on razed Babri mosque site |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-68003095 |access-date=29 February 2024 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-UK |archive-date=22 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122144228/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-68003095 |url-status=live }}</ref> Many [[Hindus]] believe that it is located at the site of [[Ram Janmabhoomi]], the mythical birthplace of [[Rama]], a principal [[Hindu deities|deity]] of [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 October 2019 |title=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50065277.amp |access-date=8 September 2023 |archive-date=7 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907194334/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50065277.amp |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bajpai |first=Namita |date=7 May 2020 |title=Land levelling for Ayodhya Ram temple soon, says mandir trust after video conference |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/07/land-levelling-for-ayodhya-ram-temple-soon-says-mandir-trust-after-video-conference-2140354.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308122919/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/07/land-levelling-for-ayodhya-ram-temple-soon-says-mandir-trust-after-video-conference-2140354.html |archive-date=8 March 2021 |access-date=8 May 2020 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref name="reuters-2024">{{Cite web |date=22 January 2024 |title=India's Modi leads consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-counts-down-opening-grand-ram-temple-ayodhya-2024-01-22 |access-date=1 March 2024 |website=Reuters |language=en-US|quote="Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the consecration on Monday of a grand temple to the Hindu god Lord Ram on a site believed to be his birthplace"}}</ref> The temple was inaugurated<ref name="bbc news-2024" /> on 22 January 2024 after a [[Ram Mandir Prana Pratishtha|prana pratishtha]] (consecration) ceremony.<ref name="the new york times-2024" /><ref name="reuters-2024" />