On 22 January, the much-awaited Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Lalla idol in the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya took place which was attended by innumerable people and celebrities from across the country. Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, presided over the grand ceremony while the main rituals were done by a team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit.
May the arrival of Ram Lalla today bring arrival of harmony, spirituality and happiness for all. Jai Shri Ram 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Z8zFCtZyjH
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) January 22, 2024
Last week, the idol of Ram Lalla was placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. It is a 51-inch creation carved out of Krishnashila, a black stone or granite, abundantly found in HD Kote, Mysuru. The maker of this incredible idol is a 38-year-old sculptor named Arun Yogiraj who hails from Mysuru.
View this post on Instagram
Arun Yogiraj comes from a family of sculptors. His grandfather, Basavanna Shilpi, was patronized by the King of Mysore, as revealed his website. After completing his MBA, Yogiraj worked at a private company but he could not keep himself from walking down the same path his ancestors did. Hence, since 2008, he has been sculpting.
View this post on Instagram
Today, he is probably the most sought-after sculptor in the country after his Ram Lalla idol was chosen to be placed inside the Ram Mandir by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
View this post on Instagram
Some of his other celebrated works include a 30-foot statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, which was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi at India Gate on the freedom fighter’s 125th birth anniversary, a 12 feet tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, a 21-feet tall Hanuman statue at Chunchanakatte in Mysore district, and a 15-feet tall statue of Dr BR Ambedkar among others.
View this post on Instagram
His creations are incredibly intricate and truly one of a kind!