Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj's Ram Lalla was finalised as the idol to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya temple, revealed Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
"Where Rama is, there is Hanuman," posted minister Joshi on X. "The selection of the idol for the Prana Pratishtapana of Lord Rama in Ayodhya has been finalized. Renowned sculptor of our country, our proud Mr @yogiraj_arun."
"The idol of Lord Rama carved by him will be installed in Ayodhya. This is another example of Rama Hanuman's inextricable relationship. There is no mistaking that this is an important service to Ramlallani from Karnataka, the land of Hanuman," he added.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiyurappa also took to X, saying, “The idol of Lord Rama sculpted by the sculptor Arun Yogiraj of Mysuru has been selected for installation in the magnificent Sri Rama Mandir of Ayodhya, which has doubled the pride and happiness of the entire Rama devotees of the state. Heartfelt congratulations to ‘Shilpi @yogiraj_arun’.”
The idol was unanimously selected by the temple trust during a meeting on Friday. It will be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya temple during the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony on January 22. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra is a trust that is tasked with the construction and management of the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Explaining the parameters used to select the idol, Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, the trustee of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teertha Kshetra, had said earlier: "the idol speaks to you, as once you see it, you get mesmerised by it".
The temple trust is yet to officially confirm whether it was Yogiraj's Ram Lalla idol that was finalised during the meeting on Friday.
Who is Arun Yogiraj?
Arun Yogiraj belongs to a family with five generations of renowned sculptors. His grandfather, Basavanna Shilpi, was patronised by the King of erstwhile Mysore princely state.
Yogiraj's 30-foot statue of Subhash Chandra Bose was installed behind the Amar Jawan Jyoti behind the India Gate. Other statues carved by him include a 12ft Adi Shankaracharya statue in Kedarnath, 21ft Hanuman statue in Mysuru's Chunchanakatte, 15ft B.R. Ambedkar statue in Mysuru, a white marble stone statue of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in Mysuru, a 6ft monolithic statue of Nandi, a 6ft Banashankari Devi statue and a 14.5ft white marble stone statue of Mysore Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar.
Yogiraj's mother Saraswathi told ANI, "It is the happiest moment for us, I wanted to see him crafting the sculpture, but he said he would take me on the last day, I will go on the day of the installation."