The Surya Tilak event in Ayodhya, described in your passage, is a meticulously planned and executed phenomenon in which the sun’s rays are directed onto the forehead of the idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya at precisely 12:16 pm on the day of Ram Navami. This event is described as a “celestial wonder” because it requires a complex mechanism to bring sunlight to the idol’s forehead at the specific time and duration.

The mechanism consists of an elaborate arrangement of mirrors, lenses, and pipes to direct sunlight from the top of the temple to the idol’s forehead in the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum). The system includes four mirrors and four lenses fitted inside the tilt mechanism and piping systems. The mirrors and lenses are of high quality and durability, and the inner surfaces are treated with a black powder coating to avoid sunlight scattering.

This mechanism was developed in collaboration between the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bangalore, along with Optics and Allied Engineering Pvt Ltd (Optica) based in Bangalore.

The system was designed with precise optical calculations to ensure that the sunlight falls directly on the idol’s forehead at the right time and angle. The size of the focused sunlight is designed to be 58 mm, and the duration of illumination is about three to three-and-a-half minutes, with two minutes of full illumination.

The project was carefully tested and validated before implementation, and repeated trials were conducted to ensure its success. The event attracted the participation of numerous scientists and engineers from different institutions, highlighting the scientific and engineering expertise involved in creating this unique and spiritual experience for devotees.