In 1528, Babar, the first Mughal ruler, ordered the demolition of a temple, executed by his general, Mir Babir. In its place, a mosque named Babri Masjid was constructed. This historical event is chronicled in various texts, including the 1767 Latin book "Descriptio Indiae" by Jesuit missionary Joseph Tiefenthaler. Tiefenthaler noted that the mosque was built by destroying the Ramkot temple, believed to be Rama's fortress in Ayodhya, and the Bedi, the presumed birthplace of Rama.
The first dispute arose in the 1850s, resulting in the prohibition of Hindu poojas in the temple. In 1949, when idols of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita were discovered, Hindus began worshiping in the temple. In 1986, an official makeshift temple was established, marking the official commencement of Hindu worship.
The pivotal moment occurred on December 6, 1992, when a rally led by LK Advani aimed for the construction of the Ram Mandir. Unfortunately, the rally escalated into a riot, leading to the demolition of the mosque and triggering communal riots in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Numerous temples were reportedly attacked in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Post the incident, archaeological surveys were initiated. In 2003, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) released a report supporting the existence of the Ram Mandir on the site. However, this report faced heavy criticism. In 2005, five terrorists attacked the makeshift temple, resulting in four casualties (three CRPF personnel and one civilian). Subsequently, the case was forwarded to the Allahabad High Court, which divided the land into equal parts, distributing it to the temple, mosque, and Nirmohi Akhara.
The legal battle eventually reached the Supreme Court. In 2019, the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ayodhya dispute decreed that the disputed land would be handed over to a trust formed by the Government of India for the construction of the Ram temple. This trust was later established as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. And separate land was allotted for the mosque, approximately 20 km away from the Ram JanamBhumi.
After 500 years of struggle, finally, Ram Mandir was Inaugurated during the Pran Pratistha on January 22, 2024, by PM Narendra Modi, who was the Mukhya Yajman for this auspicious occasion.