Sculptor Arun Yogiraj’s Ram Lalla will now be Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s cynosure

Arun Yogiraj (Photo via X/@yogiraj_arun)

It was a day of jubilation for Arun Yogiraj’s family as news broke that his exquisitely crafted Ram Lalla idol has been chosen for consecration in the sanctum sanctorum of Ayodhya's Ram Mandir. Speaking from their residence in Mysuru, Arun's wife, Vijetha Arun, shared their joy amid a bustling household filled with well-wishers, relatives, and media personnel.

"We learned about the news through the media only," Vijetha said, her voice struggling to be heard over the din of children playing and animated conversations. The family, caught in the whirlwind of excitement, has barely had time to eat, she added. With Arun currently in isolation in Ayodhya and away from the media frenzy, the family finds itself inundated with calls and visits from the media and well-wishers.

The 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla is a standing idol with bow and arrow. The criteria included eyes reminiscent of lotus petals, radiant smiling face, and with a divine aura. The stones used are Shyam Sila, which is sourced from Karnataka, and white marble.

Yogiraj's journey towards this momentous occasion commenced in January of last year when he submitted a PowerPoint presentation to the Ayodhya selection committee. The committee sought detailed renderings of Ramlalla as a divine 5-year-old, emanating divinity from the face. After meticulously reviewing thousands of photographs of children and adhering to the temple's selection criteria, Yogiraj's drawing of Ram Lalla emerged victorious.

Yogiraj was one of three selected sculptors, alongside Ganesh Bhatt from Bengaluru and Satyanarayan Pande from Rajasthan. Beginning his work with a simple prayer, Yogiraj dedicated six months to fashioning the idol, with only two brief breaks during that period to visit his family in Mysuru.

His sculptural prowess is rooted in an impressive family legacy, spanning five generations of shilpikars (sculptors), notably his grandfather Basavanna Shilpi, who enjoyed patronage from the King of the erstwhile Mysore State. A full-time sculptor since 2008, Yogiraj transitioned to this profession after getting an MBA and briefly working in the private sector.

Yogiraj’s family, comprising his mother, wife, two children, elder brother Suryaprakash (who specializes in carvings), and sister, harboured no doubts about his abilities. "We were quite aware of his caliber," Vijetha remarked. His accomplishments are evident nationwide, including a 30-foot statue of Subhash Chandra Bose near India Gate, a 12-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, a 21-foot Hanuman idol in Mysuru district, and the white amritashila statue of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in Mysuru.

Vijetha also disclosed Yogiraj's athletic achievements, noting that he was the captain of the National volleyball team. A compassionate advocate for animals, he has rescued numerous stray dogs and even purchased a cow bound for the slaughterhouse, which she says now yields 10 liters of milk daily.

Acknowledging the significance of the selection, Vijetha shared that Yogiraj's work underwent rigorous scrutiny. This includes comparisons with depictions of Lord Rama in the Ramcharitmanas and Valmiki Ramayana. The idol was also tested for any effects caused by worship materials such as turmeric, sandalwood, and incense. "We are very happy and feel blessed," she expressed while distributing laddus from the Chamundeshwari Temple to visitors.