Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said "the pain of centuries finds rest today" when he raised a saffron "Dharma Dhwaj" on the 191-foot-high shikhar of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking at the "Dharm Dhwaj Arohan Mahotsav," PM Modi said, "Today, the entire India and the world is Ram may. There is extraordinary satisfaction in the heart of every Ram devotee. There is boundless gratitude. There is unfathomable supernatural bliss." He said the moment brought peace to a long struggle and added, "The pain of centuries finds rest today. The resolve of centuries is attaining fulfilment today. This is the completion of that sacred yajna whose flame remained lit for 500 years."

He was joined at the event by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

While addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, "Ayodhya is witnessing another epochal event in its history; the entire country, the globe is immersed in Ram."

He spoke about how the city was reclaiming its old meaning and said, "Today, Ayodhya is once again becoming that city which will serve as an example for the world. Ayodhya of the Treta Yuga gave humanity the gift of righteousness. Ayodhya of the 21st century is giving humanity a new model of development. Then, Ayodhya was the centre of propriety. Now, Ayodhya is emerging as the backbone of a developed India."

He repeated that the moment closed a long chapter of waiting and said, "The pain of centuries finds rest today. The resolve of centuries is attaining fulfilment today. This is the completion of that sacred yajna whose flame remained lit for five hundred years."

PM Modi said Ayodhya was returning as a guide for the world and added, "Today, Ayodhya is once again becoming that city which will serve as an example for the world. Ayodhya of the Treta Yuga gave humanity the gift of righteousness."

He said the new Ayodhya carried a larger vision and added, "Ayodhya of the 21st century is giving humanity a new model of development. Then, Ayodhya was the centre of propriety. Now, Ayodhya is emerging as the backbone of a developed India."

He said the Ayodhya of the future would bring together its past and its progress and added that it would show "a confluence of mythology and modernity," and that "the nectar-like flow of the Saryu River and the stream of development will flow together," and that "the harmony between spirituality and AI will be evident."

PM Modi said the flag represented hard work, devotion and cultural renewal. He said, "This flag... is resolve, it is a success! This flag... is the saga of creation born from struggle, the realised form of dreams carried through the centuries. This flag... is the meaningful culmination of the saints' penance and society's participation."

He added, "This Dharma Dhwaj is not merely a flag, it is the banner of the renaissance of Indian civilisation. Its saffron hue, the renown of the Solar Dynasty inscribed upon it, the depicted syllable Om, and the embossed Kovidara tree symbolise the glory of Ram Rajya."

He said the flag expressed "the sacred outcome of the saints' devotion and the collective participation of society" and would keep the spirit of Bhagwan Ram alive across generations.

PM Modi also described the seven temples inside the complex, including those for Mata Shabari, Nishadraj, Maa Ahilya, Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Vashishtha, Maharishi Vishwamitra, Maharishi Agastya and Sant Tulsidas.

He said the statues of Jatayu and the Gilehri showed how even the smallest contribution mattered, "however small, for the fulfilment of great resolutions."

PM Modi said Ayodhya had always been the land where values turned into action, and that it shaped Bhagwan Ram’s path. He said it showed the world how a person "rises to become 'Maryada Purushottam'."

He said, "Ayodhya is the sacred land where ideals transform into conduct. It is the very city from where Bhagwan Shri Ram began the journey of His life. Ayodhya showed the world how a person, through the strength of society and the values instilled within, rises to become 'Maryada Purushottam'."

He added, "This Dharmadhwaj shall serve as an inspiration, that life may depart, but the word must not mean that what is said must be done. This Dharmadhwaj shall convey the message Karmapradhan vishwa rachi rakha, meaning that in the world, karma and duty shall hold primacy."

He said the flag carried the hope for a society without "discrimination, suffering, and distress," and one that creates "peace and happiness."

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed the audience and called the day important. He remembered the long struggle behind the Ram Mandir movement and honoured the people who fought and sacrificed for it.

He said, "Numerous people saw a dream, numerous people made efforts, and numerous people made sacrifices. Their souls must be full today," and added, "Ashok ji must have felt peace today. Mahant Ram Chandra Das ji, Dalmia ji and numerous saints, people and students sacrificed their lives and worked hard."

Bhagwat said the flag raised at the temple carried the spirit of Ram Rajya, which stands for justice, peace and prosperity.

He said, "The 'dhwaj' of Ram Rajya, which once flew high in Ayodhya and used to spread peace and prosperity to the world, is now seated at its 'shikhar' and we witnessed this happening," and said the moment held deep spiritual meaning.

He added, "'Bhagwa' is the colour of this flag, it is 'Dharmdhwaj'. The whole world will be run by that flag."

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the saffron flag marked the start of a "new era" for the country and said it showed the faith and self-respect of 140 crore Indians.

He said, "Flag hoisting at the grand temple of Bhagwan Ram in Shri Ayodhya Dham is not a 'Poornaahuti' of a 'Yagya' but a beginning of a new era. I thank PM Modi on this occasion on behalf of Ram devotees."

He added, "This grand temple is the symbol of 140 crore Indians' faith and self-respect. I congratulate all the 'karma yogis' who sacrificed themselves for this. This flag is the proof that the light of Dharma is immortal and the principles of Ram Rajya are timeless... When PM Modi became the prime minister in 2014, the faith that rose in the hearts of crores of Indians is now symbolised as this grand Ram Temple. This saffron flag symbolises Dharma, integrity, truth, justice and 'Rashtra Dharma'."

The triangular flag of the Ayodhya Temple is ten feet by twenty feet and carries a radiant Sun, the sacred 'Om,' and the Kovidara tree. It was hoisted during the "Abhijit Muhurat," which is seen as very auspicious.

The specially made flag is twenty-two feet long and eleven feet wide and was crafted by a parachute expert from Ahmedabad to endure high altitude conditions on the 161-foot temple summit. It weighs between two and three kilograms and has been made to last on the forty-two-foot flagpole.

The 'Dharma Dhwaj' includes three sacred symbols, Om, the Sun and the Kovidara tree, and together they reflect the key values of Sanatan Dharma.

Om represents eternal spiritual sound and cosmic force. The Sun marks Bhagwan Rama's Suryavanshi lineage and brings divine energy. The Kovidara tree, believed to be a blend of the Mandar and Parijat created by Rishi Kashyap, reflects ancient knowledge and the continuity of sacred traditions.