22nd January 2024 marked the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Also, the alluring Ram Lalla idol installed in the sanctum sanctorum will sanctify the hearts of those who have seen it. Furthermore, the statue of Ram Lalla has a beautiful bond with the state of Karnataka. So, let us explore how the Ram Lalla idol connects with Karnataka.
Why is Lord Ram called Ram Lalla?
Lord Ram in Ayodhya Ram Mandir, sculpted like a five-year-old child in the Ram Lalla idol, has an endearing appeal. People use the word ‘ Lalla ‘ to address a child affectionately in Hindi. Furthermore, Tulsidas, the renowned Hindu Vaishnava saint, poet, and devotee of Lord Rama, had used the word Lalla in his work, Kavitavali. Hence, Lord Ram bears the name Ram Lalla Virajman or Balakram in the newly constructed Ayodhya Mandir.
Who created the Ram Lalla idol?
Arun Yogiraj, the Indian sculptor from Mysore in Karnataka, sculpted the Ram Lalla idol. The fact that he hails from Karnataka will serve as an eternal bond between Ayodhya and Mysore in Karnataka. Apart from the 51-inch-tall idol of Ram Lalla, the sculptor’s remarkable works include many others in Mysore. He also sculpted the noted 12-foot, 3-D statue of Adi Shankara in Kedarnath.
Why is the Ram Lalla idol in black?
Arun Yogiraj sculpted the Ram Lalla idol out of a rock called the Black Schist or Krishna Shila. It gets its name ‘Krishna Shila’ owing to its dark colour, akin to Lord Krishna. Furthermore, the sculptor Arun Yogiraj selected the three billion-year-old stone from HD Kote from the Mysore district of Karnataka to chisel the Ram Lalla statue. Hence, the very base out of which the idol was sculpted was chosen from Karnataka, thereby establishing a significant link with the state.
The eyes of Ram Lalla
The Karnataka-based sculptor, Arun Yogiraj, drew inspiration from the pictures of the faces of small Indian children celebrating Diwali to sculpt Ram Lalla’s face. He brought out a beautiful combination of innocence, compassion and divinity in the visage of Ram Lalla. Regarding the sculpting of the eyes of the Ram Lalla idol, Arun Yogiraj, had to perform certain rituals before commencing the work. Before embarking on the sacred mission, he had to dip in the Sarayu River and attend pooja at Hanuman Garhi and Kanaka Bhawan.
Sculpting the eyes of the Ram Lalla statue involved meticulous dedication and speedy craftsmanship on the sculptor’s part. He had only twenty minutes of allotted auspicious time to sculpt the eyes. Also, he was given a golden masonry scissor and a silver hammer for chiselling the eyes. Furthermore, with his accurate insight, the sculptor chiselled the eyes of the Ram Lalla idol and flaunted a little bit of light for the shade. He carried out the mission of choosing the perfect type of eyes without much perplexion from the ten different types he knew.
Ram Lalla idol selection
Arun Yogi Raj, Ganesh Bhatt from Karnataka, and Sathya Narayan Pandey from Rajasthan were the three sculptors chosen to sculpt the Ram Lalla statue. Arun Yogiraj and Ganesh Bhatt carved the statue in black stones, while Satya Narayan Pandey chiselled it in Makrana marble.
The 11 Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust members voted to select the Ram Lalla statue for installation in the temple. Arun Yogiraj, the sculptor from Karnataka, finds himself fortunate for his version of the idol selected for installation in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The pleasantness in the face, compassion in the eyes, the smile, the structure of the body, etc, were the important factors for the idol to be selected.
The other two idols will also be in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Furthermore, the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, sculpted on the sides of Ram Lalla, bear special significance. Besides this, Lord Hanuman’s figure finds its place near the right foot of the Ram idol. Garuda, Lord Vishnu’s vehicle, makes its presence near the left foot.
Ram Lalla jewellery
The beautifully chiselled Ram Lalla statue of Ayodhya Ram Mandir adorns 14 beautiful jewellery pieces. The jewellery of Ram Lalla consists of a crown, four necklaces, a tilak on the forehead, a waistband, a Vijay mala, two rings and two pairs of anklets. The jewels consist of about fifteen kg of gold, eighteen thousand emeralds and diamonds in their making. The ornaments were made in a short span of twelve days.
Yatindra Mishra designed the jewels in accordance with the details from sacred texts involving Lord Rama like the Adhyatma Ramayana, Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, Shri Ramcharitmanas, and Aalavandar Stotra. Harsahaymal Shyamlal Jewellers crafted the jewellery of Ram Lalla, while Manish Tripathi designed the clothes.
Ram Lalla, after the Ayodhya mandir consecration
In an interview, Arun Yogiraj, the sculptor, revealed that Ram Lalla looked completely different after the temple’s consecration. He stated that the Ram idol looked transformed and did not appear like his work.
In conclusion, while being worshipped across the country, the Ram Lalla idol will occupy the hearts of the people of Karnataka endearingly for eternity.