Despite claims by top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders of the installation of a Ram Lalla idol sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a final word on the selection is still awaited. According to The Indian Express, a majority of the 11 members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust ranked Yogiraj’s ‘shyam rang’ (darkcoloured) sculpture at the top, a senior trustee’s preference for a “shwet” (fair coloured) sculpture has resulted in a temporary impasse over the selection.
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Monday said that the Lord Rama idol crafted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj had been finalised to be installed in Ayodhya. “Arun Yogiraj, 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,” Joshi posted on X.
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) January 1, 2024
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Inclining towards the majority view, 11 Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust members approved the Yogiraj-sculpted “Shyam Rang” (dark-coloured) Ram Lalla idol on December 22. However, a senior trustee’s preference for a “Shwet” (fair-colored) Ram resulted in an inconclusive meeting, The Indian Express reported citing sources.
The top rating for the Yogiraj-sculpted idol, however, is unlikely to change, they said, adding that the Trust is expected to announce the final decision by Makar Sankranti, around January 14-15.
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Three highly skilled sculptors, each expert in their respective fields, were chosen to craft the idols depicting a five-year-old, 51-inch tall Ram Lalla standing statue. Arun Yogiraj and Ganesh Bhatt worked on two idols made from a dark bluish-grey stone known as “shyam shila,” sourced from Karnataka. Meanwhile, Satyanarayan Pandey and his family sculpted the third idol from pure white Makrana marble, originating from Rajasthan.
A source within the Trust revealed that around eight sculptors were invited nationwide in May of the previous year, with three agreeing to work under specific conditions. These conditions mandated that the work had to be completed in Ayodhya, and ultimately, only one sculptor among the three would be selected for consecration.
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Arun Yogiraj has previously worked for the royal Mysuru family. Belonging to a lineage with five generations dedicated to idol sculpting, he is renowned for his work including the creation of the 30-foot statue of Subhas Chandra Bose behind Amar Jawan Jyoti near India Gate in New Delhi, and the 12-foot tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously praised Yogiraj’s artistry.
Vijetha Arun, wife of Yogiraj told Indian Express, “Neither me nor my husband has got any official confirmation but we came to know from social media about the selection. My husband has been working in Ayodhya for the past six months rigorously.”
Another sculptor, Satyanarayan Pandey, assisted by his sons Prashant and Puneet, meticulously sculpted the white-coloured Ram idol. Prashant Pandey expressed, “It is a rare 10-foot slab of makrana marble without a single crack, which has been with our family for over 50 years. We now believe that it was meant to be used for Ram.”
The Pandey family closely observed children aged between 5 to 7 years in their household. Puneet Pandey further explained that the childhood aspect of Ram Lalla is unique. While it’s easy to envision Laddu Gopal, the young Krishna, thoughts of Ram often default to his warrior image with a bow.
He added that this rendition shows Ram during his playful years, yet as a descendant of the sun and a deity, his expressions had to mirror this. We conducted extensive research in iconography and referred to various sources to carve the ultimate idol