The entire world witnessed the grand Pran Pratistha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on 22nd January. It was one of the most historic days for all the Hindus and even non-Hindus. Amidst all the celebration around the consecration ceremony, one name that reverberated throughout the nation was Arun Yogiraj, a talented sculptor from Mysore who created undoubtedly the most beautiful, sacred, and grand idols ever created.
People couldn’t hold back their tears upon witnessing the beautiful idol of Ram Lalla who bears a smile on his face and has wide eyes filled with compassion. The sculptor has been receiving praises and blessings from every Ram Bhakt for his miraculous work. Let’s get to know more about Arun Yogiraj.
Who is Arun Yogiraj?
Arun Yogiraj, a 38-year-old resident of Mysuru, hails from a family with a rich sculpting tradition spanning five generations. Despite holding an MBA degree and briefly pursuing a different career path, Yogiraj returned to his true passion—sculpting.
“I have been assisting my father in sculpting since I was 11. After working elsewhere for a few months, I realized sculpting was my passion. I came home in 2008,” shared Yogiraj. His family’s legacy in the art of sculpting spans 250 years.
Noteworthy Works and Achievements of Arun Yogiraj
Yogiraj stands as one of the most sought-after sculptors in the country. Among his notable works are a 28-feet monolithic black granite stone sculpture of freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose, a 12-feet Adi Shankaracharya idol, and India’s largest 10-feet monolithic white marble stone sculpture of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. His portfolio also includes sculptures of various deities and figures installed in temples across India.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Yogiraj leads a team of 15 artisans and volunteers, running the Brahmarshi Kashyapa Shilpakala Shala trust in Mysuru. The trust focuses on training children in clay modeling and other artistic skills.
Crafting the Ram Lalla Idol
Arun Yogiraj, along with two other sculptors, GL Bhat of Bengaluru and Satyanarayana Pandey of Rajasthan, was tasked with creating the idol of Ram Lalla. The trust provided stones from different locations, including Nepal, Karkala in Uttara Kannada district, HD Kote in Mysuru district, and Makrana in Rajasthan.
Yogiraj chose the Krishna Shila stone from HD Kote, known for its unique properties, as it does not react to liquids like water and milk—essential for a sacred idol. The sculptor meticulously researched and observed five-year-old children to capture the innocence and divinity required for the idol. The entire process, from visualization to sculpting, took six months, with Yogiraj working tirelessly for 12 hours a day.
As the excitement builds for the Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration, Arun Yogiraj’s contribution as one of the talented sculptors behind Ram Lalla’s idol is set to be a central focus during the historic event.
