Ayodhya: Arun Yogiraj, the sculptor from Karnataka whose idol was chosen as Ram Lalla for the Ayodhya temple, declared himself the “luckiest person on earth” on Monday, expressing that it felt like he was “living a dream.”
Being a fifth-generation sculptor, he has crafted numerous statues, but never before has the entire world awaited one of his idols with such anticipation. On January 22, during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol sculpted by him, Arun Yogiraj experienced unprecedented joy.
The unveiling of the deity’s face on January 22, after removing the scarf covering the idol’s eyes, captivated the entire world. Yogiraj, overwhelmed, expressed, “I feel I am the luckiest person on earth now. The blessing of my ancestors, family members, and Lord Ram Lalla has always been with me. Sometimes I feel like I am in a dream world…”
These remarks followed the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi played the key role. Just before the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony, the completed form of the idol was revealed as the blindfold was removed.
Last week, the idol of Ram Lalla, depicting the deity as a five-year-old standing on a lotus, was placed in the temple. Crafted by Arun Yogiraj from black stone, the 51-inch idol had been concealed under a veil in the days leading up to today’s ceremony.
Arun Yogiraj was one of the three sculptors chosen by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra to carve an idol of ‘Ram Lalla.’
Hailing from a family with a sculpting legacy spanning five generations in Mysore, Arun Yogiraj has become the most sought-after sculptor in the country, with states approaching him for statues of notable figures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has commended Arun’s talent. Arun, who has been carving since childhood, pursued an MBA and briefly worked in the corporate sector before returning to his inherent passion for sculpting in 2008.
Arun’s father, Yogiraj, is also a skilled sculptor, and his grandfather, Basavanna Shilpi, received patronage from the King of Mysore.
Noteworthy among Arun’s works are a 30-feet statue of Subhash Chandra Bose at India Gate, a 12-feet statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, and various other statues, including those of Dr. BR Ambedkar and Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
His contributions have earned appreciation from organizations and even the royal family of Mysore.