The Ram Lalla idol has finally been unveiled in a grand celebration in Ayodhya. On 22nd January, Ram temple was inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and special guests invited by the Sri Ram Janam Bhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Prime Minister did the aarti of the beautifully adorned Ram Lalla idol and now the temple is open for the devotees.
The 51-inch Ram Lalla Idol depicts Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus. The idol is carved on the black stone known as ‘Krishna Shile’, and is sculpted by a Mysore-based Sculptor Arun Yogiraj. The three billion-year-old black stone for the idol came from a 70-year-old Dalit Ramadas H’s land in Gujjegowdanapura in Jayapura Hobli in the Mysuru district of Karnataka.
Discussing the suitability of Krishna Shila stone for crafting the idol, Vijetha, the wife of Arun Yogiraj mentioned, “It was decided by the temple authorities what kind of stone has to be used for making the idol. The Krishna Shila stone is a monolithic stone – which is one stone from which the whole idol is made.”
She further added that the stone has a greyish-blue colour and turns black when coconut or burnt cocoa powder is applied to it. This Krishna Shile stone does not react with any acid or corrode over time making it perfect for idol sculpting. The Krishna Shile stones are used for making idols of god and goddess in Hindu temples because the stones do not react to milk poured into them or any weather condition.
The black stone was first cleared up by the local contractor and then it was divided into three different blocks. Initially three sculptors were selected for designing the Ram Idol, the work of which was finally given to Arun Yogiraj who chose one of the blocks to carve the Ram Lalla idol. The other blocks were used for sculpting the idols of Lord Rama’s brothers Lakshman, Bharata and Shatrughna.
The Ram Lalla idol is decked with a yellow dhoti and a red pataka/angavastram made up of Banarasi fabric. These angavastrams are embellished with pure gold zari and threads, featuring auspicious Vaishnav symbols — Shankh, Padma, Chakra, and Mayur. These dresses were designed by Delhi’s textile designer, Manish Tripathi. Further, the ornaments of the Ram Idol were designed by Lucknow-based Harsahaimal Shiamlal Jewellers under the guidance of Ayodhya-based poet Yatindra Mishra. The styling of the ornaments was based on extensive research and study following the descriptions of Lord Ram’s majesty in different texts such as the Adhyatma Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, and Alavandar Stotra.
The creations of the other two sculptors Ganesh Bhatt and Satyanarayan Pandey will also find a place in the temple, as designated for future display. The temple, currently undergoing construction, is slated for completion by December 2025.
