The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple in Ayodhya houses a statue of Ramlala, crafted by the renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Mysore. Notably, the third Ram Lalla idol, created by Ganesh Bhatt, did not secure a position within the newly constructed temple’s inner chamber. Images of the 51-inch statue are currently circulating on social media, with the temple trust confirming that the statue will be placed elsewhere on the temple premises.
One such statue made of unique black stone by sculptor Ganesh Bhatt has recently attracted the attention of devotees and art lovers. Now pictures of this statue have been released on social media. The 51-inch statue, resonating with the innocence of five-year-old Ram Lalla, was carved from a black stone known as Krishna Shila, obtained from the fertile lands of Heggadevan Kotte in Mysore, Karnataka. Although not chosen for the central sanctum, the trust that oversees the affairs of the Ram temple has assured that Bhatt’s creation will be installed in the temple complex.
Selecting the idol of Ram Lalla for the innermost sanctuary posed a considerable challenge. Sculptors encountered the demanding task of creating a statue that faithfully captured Lord Ram’s identity as the royal son and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. They were specifically instructed to sculpt a representation of Lord Shri Ram in his youthful 5-year-old form, guiding the artists in their creative pursuits.
A special committee was formed to select the statue. And that committee had to decide this. This committee selected the statue made by Mysore sculptor Arun Yogiraj to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum. It has also been selected mainly based on 7 things.
Arun Yogiraj’s idol of Ram Lalla was chosen among the three installed idols because it blended child-like innocence with divinity and majesty, qualities that the temple trust wanted to capture. The eyes of the idol, reminiscent of lotus petals, and her moonlit bright face have captivated the hearts of worshipers and spectators.
