Meet Arun Yogiraj, A Karnataka Sculptor Whose Ram Lalla Idol Has Been Selected For Installation At Ayodhya Ram Temple
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee has completed the selection process for the Ram Lalla idol to be installed at the Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya later this month.
The Ram Lalla idol, which depicts Lord Ram's child form, will be installed ahead of the consecration ceremony, Pran-Pratishtha, on January 22.
Chosen from three submissions
Designs by three sculptors were under consideration by the Trust. Among the figures being considered for the grand installation inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple was a 51-inch-tall idol depicting a five-year-old 'Ram Lalla'.
The idol chosen by the Ram Janmbhoomi Teertha Kshetra is carved by sculptor Yogiraj Arun from Karnataka.
Where there is Ram, there is Hanuman
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi confirmed as much on his social media handle on Monday, saying a renowned idol-maker from the 'land of Hanuman' will see his piece of creation find pride of place at the Ram Temple on January 22.
With Karnataka home to a grand Hanuman temple and believed to be the birthplace of the deity, Joshi termed the selection of the idol shaped by a sculptor from the state for the Ram Temple as an "example of Rama-Hanuman's inextricable relationship".
"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," Joshi added in his post.
What Yogiraj said
The idol should be of a child, who is divine too because it is the statue of the incarnation of God. People who look at the statue should feel the divinity," Yogiraj said.
"Keeping the divinity aspect along with the child-like face in mind, I started my work about six to seven months ago. Now I am extremely happy. More than selection, people should appreciate it. Only then, I will be happy," the sculptor said.?
Who is?Arun Yogiraj?
According to his website, Arun Yogiraj comes from a family of five generations of famous sculptors in Mysore.
Arun's grandfather, Basavanna Shilpi, was patronized by the King of Mysore.?
Notable works of?Arun Yogiraj
Other notable works of Yogiraj include a 30 feet statue of Subhash Chandra Bose behind the Amar Jawan Jyoti in Delhi, a 12 feet tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, a 21 feet tall Hanuman statue at Chunchanakatte Mysore district, 15 feet tall statue of Dr. BR Ambedkar, the white amritashila statue of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in Mysore, a six feet tall monolithic statue of Nandi, six feet tall statue of Banashankari Devi, the 14.5 feet tall white AmritaShila statue of the King of Mysore, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar and many more.
Saraswathi, the mother of Yogiraj, said, "This is the happiest moment for us. I wanted to see him carving and giving shape to Ram Lalla but he said he'd take me for a sighting of the idol on the last day. So, I would finally be able to set my eyes on the idol on the day of its grand installation at the Ram Temple."
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