PM Modi sleeping on the floor, living only on coconut water ahead of Ram temple consecration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sleeping on the floor even as Delhi reels under a cold wave, and sustaining solely on coconut water - that's the kind of regimentation Prime Minister Narendra Modi has adopted as the 73-year-old statesman initiated an 11-day anusthan (special ritual) ahead of the January 22 consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

“Only 11 days are left for Ram Lalla’s pran pratishtha (consecration) in Ayodhya. I am fortunate to witness the auspicious occasion. God has asked me to represent the people of India during the ceremony. Keeping in mind, I am beginning an 11-day special ritual from today. I seek blessings from all of you,” the PM had said in a video on X on January 12.

While visiting Kerala for two days, PM Modi opted to stay at the Ernakulam government guest house in Kochi on the night of January 16. Notably, the PM reportedly chose to sleep on a yoga mat placed on the wooden floor, instead of using the king-size bed in his room.

For the 11-day period, the PM is following the principles of 'Yam Niyam' and is dedicated to adhering strictly to all the instructions laid out in scriptures, according to media reports.

'Yam Niyam' includes several austere practices such as yoga, meditation, and discipline for its practitioners. In his daily routine, PM Modi strictly follows many of these disciplines, including waking up before sunrise, practicing meditation, and consuming satvik (pure) food.

Of late, PM Modi toured various temples in western and southern India. His visits included Panchavati in Nashik, associated with Lord Ram's exile, as well as the Guruvayur temple in Kerala and the Veerabhadra temple in Andhra Pradesh.

The PM is scheduled to visit to several temples in Tamil Nadu this weekend. On January 20, at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Tiruchirappalli, he plans to listen to scholars reciting verses from the Kamba Ramayan. Later, he will head to Rameshwaram, where he will be part of the audience for the recitation of the Ramayana in various languages.