Arun Yogiraj with the idols for Ayodhya Ram Mandir. (Photo credit: X/@JoshiPralhad)
New Delhi: The consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Temple is going to take place on January 22, 2024. Meanwhile, the idol selection process for the Prana Pratishtapana of Lord Rama in Ayodhya is done. The idol of Lord Rama, carved by renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, will be installed in Ayodhya. According to Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, a trustee of Ram Janmbhoomi Teertha Kshetra, the selected idol of Ram Lalla has a captivating nature and it shines amid a crowd of multiple other idols.
Who is Arun Yogiraj?
Hailing from Karnataka’s Mysuru, Arun Yogiraj’s family has been involved in sculpting idols for five generations. His father Yogiraj was a skilled sculptor and his grandfather Basavanna Shilpi got the Mysore King as his patron thanks to his skill in the craft.
Arun Yogiraj has been carving idols since his childhood. He has an MBA degree and after obtaining it, he worked for a brief period in a private company. But thanks to his family history, the profession of sculpting was ingrained in him. In 2008, he embarked on the profession of carving idols and has been involved in it since then.
“ಎಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಮನೋ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಹನುಮನು”
ಅಯೋಧ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀರಾಮನ ಪ್ರಾಣ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾಪನಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಅಂತಿಮಗೊಂಡಿದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಡಿನ ಹೆಸರಾಂತ ಶಿಲ್ಪಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ಶ್ರೀ @yogiraj_arun ಅವರು ಕೆತ್ತಿರುವ ಶ್ರೀರಾಮನ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಪುಣ್ಯಭೂಮಿ ಅಯೋಧ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾಪನೆಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿದೆ. ರಾಮ ಹನುಮರ ಅವಿನಾಭಾವ ಸಂಬಂಧಕ್ಕೆ ಇದು… pic.twitter.com/VQdxAbQw3Q
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) January 1, 2024
The grand statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
In the grand canopy behind the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate, there is a giant statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose which is 30 feet tall. Before the 125th birth anniversary of Bose on January 23, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Netaji at India Gate to honour his immense contribution to the freedom struggle. Apart from that, Arun also gifted PM Modi a two-feet tall statue of Netaji which led the PM to honour his incredible talent and skill.
ರಾಮಾಯಣದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಕಿಷ್ಕಿಂಧೆಯ ಆಂಜನೇಯ ಅಯೋಧ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರನ ಪಟ್ಟಾಭಿಷೇಕದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ಪಾತ್ರ ವಹಿಸಿದ್ದನ್ನು ನೆನಪಿಸುವಂತೆ ಈಗ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಸುಯೋಗ ಒದಗಿಬಂದಿದೆ. ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ಶಿಲ್ಪಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಅರುಣ್ ಯೋಗಿರಾಜ್ ಅವರು ಕೆತ್ತಿರುವ ಪ್ರಭು ಶ್ರೀರಾಮನ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಅಯೋಧ್ಯೆಯ ಭವ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀರಾಮ ಮಂದಿರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾಣಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾಪನೆಗೆ…
— B.S.Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) January 1, 2024
Other famous creations of Arun Yogiraj
The famous Adi Shankaracharya statue in Kedarnath which is 12 feet tall has also been sculpted by Arun Yogiraj. Also, he has sculpted the Hanuman statue in Mysuru which is 21 feet tall, the white Amritashila statue of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in the same region, the statue of BR Ambedkar which is 15 feet tall, a statue of Banashankari Devi, and a white Amritashila statue of Mysuru King Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar among others.
Arun has been bestowed several honours for his skill. The royal family of Mysuru has honoured him and the former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan visited his workshop and appreciated his skills.
