MBA graduate-turned-sculptor Arun Yogiraj’s Ram idol chosen for Ayodhya temple

| Updated: 02 January, 2024 1:29 pm IST

NEW DELHI : Renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj’s idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ is set to grace the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya,  BJP stalwart and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced on Monday. The much-anticipated inauguration of the Ram temple is scheduled for January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the ceremony.

Expressing his joy, Yediyurappa conveyed, “The idol of Lord Rama sculpted by the sculptor Arun Yogiraj of Mysuru has been selected for installation in the magnificent Sri Rama Mandir of Ayodhya, which has doubled the pride and happiness of the entire Rama devotees of the state. Heartfelt congratulations to ‘Shilpi @yogiraj_arun’.”

Yediyurappa’s son and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra also commended Yogiraj for bringing pride to the state and Mysuru. “It is the pride of Mysuru, the pride of Karnataka that the idol of Ram Lalla carved by the unparalleled sculpture Arun Yogiraj will be enshrined in Ayodhya on January 22,” Vijayendra remarked.

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Highlighting Karnataka’s deep connection with Lord Rama, Vijayendra noted that Kishkindha, the birthplace of Rama’s ardent devotee Hanuman, is located in the state.

In a statement to PTI, Yogiraj revealed that he had not yet received official confirmation about the acceptance of the idol he sculpted. However, senior BJP leaders shared the news on ‘X,’ leading him to believe that his work had indeed been accepted.

Yogiraj disclosed that he was among the three sculptors chosen by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra to carve an idol of ‘Ram Lalla.’ Reflecting on the challenge, he said, “The idol should be of a child, who is divine too because it is the statue of the incarnation of God. People who look at the statue should feel the divinity.”

Commencing his work about six to seven months ago, Yogiraj emphasised the importance of capturing both the divinity and childlike essence in the idol. “Now I am extremely happy. More than selection, people should appreciate it. Only then, I will be happy,” he concluded.

Arun Yogiraj comes from a family of well-known sculptors. His father, Yogiraj, is a talented sculptor, and his grandfather, Basavanna Shilpi, was supported by the King of Mysore. Despite earning an MBA, Arun initially worked in a private company. However, in 2008, he decided to leave his job and return to his passion for sculpting.

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