Renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who was born in Bujjegoudanapura hamlet in Kote taluk, Karnataka, was instrumental in making the statue of Ram Lalla for the Ayodhya Ram Temple dedication event. The 200 kg idol depicts the god as a five-year-old youngster standing and grinning gently. To everyone, this work of art made of Krishna Shila stone is especially significant.
The general secretary of the trust for the Ram Temple, Champat Rai, stated that the idol of Ram Lalla was picked carefully from three contenders. Arun Yogiraj was given the task of using his sculpture skills to represent Lord Ram’s boyhood alongside other talented craftspeople.
The 51-inch idol was fashioned using Krishna Shila stone, which is common in the districts of Kote and Mysore. This stone, which has a black look and is named “krishnashila” because it is the same color as Lord Krishna. Since calcite makes up the majority of the stone, sculptors can easily sculpt complicated patterns with it. Remarkably, the stone has a delicate texture when it is first quarried and gets harder over the course of two to three years. Creating the desired pattern on the stone and then shaping it with different sized chisels to achieve fine details are the steps involved in the sculpting process. The stone is then painstakingly carved with the help of instruments like sharp chisels and hammers. Due to the meticulous crafting, an idol with remarkable aesthetic appeal is guaranteed.
Ram Lalla’s idol is made more visually appealing by the usage of Krishna Shila stone, which also draws attention to the rich artistic legacy of Karnataka. The stone’s black color, which is reminiscent of Lord Krishna’s, has earned it the nickname “Krishna Shila.” Calcite is the material that sculptures are working with, and because of its malleability, they can easily carve complex patterns. After being quarried, the stone initially has a delicate texture that gradually hardens over two to three years. The relationship between Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, who are both regarded as incarnations of Lord Vishnu, is also represented by the stone. The commitment of Arun Yogiraj to using this medium to portray Lord Ram’s early years adds to the cultural and religious significance of the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Mysore and Krishna Shila
For those who are unaware, Mysore has also been the epicenter of Krishna Shila stone carving because of the abundance of stone deposits that are found in the vicinity of the city. The Krishna Shila stone deposits are centered at HD Kote, which is close to Mysore.
Renowned for his painstaking artistry, Arun Yogiraj took six months to carve the statue of Ram Lalla into its perfect form. Yogiraj contributes a wealth of artistic expertise to the sacred creation. He is widely recognized for his masterpieces, which include the towering 30-foot monument of Subhash Chandra Bose at India Gate and the 12-foot-tall figure of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath. Notably, Delhi-based designer Manish Tripathi painstakingly created the elaborate costume worn by Ram Lalla. Inspired by Varanasi’s spiritual essence, Tripathi and his talented team took about 40 days to bring their vision to life. They infused the divine ensemble with intricate embroidery that featured Vaishnavite symbols, giving the revered deity an exquisite touch.
By : Gursharan Kaur