The Ram Lalla idol placed and consecrated at the Shri Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya beat two other sculptures to be selected as the one to be the one finally gracing the Mandir which has opened for public on January 23, a day after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.
As per details released by the Ram Temple Trust, the idol, chiselled by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, is adorned in Banarasi fabric, featuring a yellow dhoti and a red ‘pataka/angavastram’. The idol also adorns diamonds, rubies, and gold bow and arrow, images show.
While Yogiraj’s idol was chosen, two other sculptors from Rajasthan and Karnataka were also in contention to get their masterpieces inside the sanctum sanctorum of Ayodhya Ram Temple, however couldn’t make it. The two idols of Ram Lalla made by Rajasthan's Satyanarayan Pandey and Karnataka’s Ganesh Bhatt, will be installed at other places in the temple. Even though the two idols lost out, here’s a glimpse of both:
White Marble Idol Satyanarayan Pandey:
Sculptor Satyanarayan Pandey's white marble idol couldn’t make it to the main chamber of the Ayodhya Ram Temple and find a place elsewhere in the premises.
The white marble idol, currently with the Ayodhya Trust, depicts Ram Lalla holding a golden bow and arrow.
Black Stone Idol by Ganesh Bhatt:
This Ram Lalla idol, which was also in contention to be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple, was carved from black stone by sculptor Ganesh Bhatt and was carved in Hegadadevana Kote area of Karnataka's Mysore.
The stone of deep black hue used for this idol is referred to as Krishna Shila, an NDTV report mentioned. Krishna Shila is a type of stone abundant in HD Kote and Mysore districts. Notably, the idol selected for Ram temple has also been carved in Krishna Shila stone.
As seen in photos, this idol is entirely black with saffron 'teeka' (dots) on a few points on the body.
Arun Yogiraj’s Ram Lalla Idol:
The idol placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya Ram Temple has been chiselled by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj.
The idol, crafted from Krishna Shila stone, shows Ram Lalla holding golden bow and arrow. According to the temple trust, the ornaments for the Ram Lalla idol have been prepared after an extensive research and study of texts such as the Adhyatma Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas and the Alavandar Stotram.
The ornaments have been crafted by Ankur Anand's Lucknow-based Harsahaimal Shiamlal Jewellers.
"Ram Lalla is adorned in Banarasi fabric, featuring a yellow dhoti and a red pataka/angavastram. These angavastrams are embellished in pure gold 'zari' and threads, featuring auspicious Vaishnav symbols - Shankh, Padma, Chakra, and Mayur," a member of the temple trust said.
These garments were created by Delhi-based textile designer Manish Tripathi, who worked from Ayodhya Dham for the project, he said.
"The creation of these divine ornaments is based on extensive research and study following the descriptions of Shri Ram's scripturally appropriate splendour in texts such as the Adhyatma Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, and Alavandar Stotram," he added.
