Meet Arun Yogiraj: Sculptor whose Ram Lalla idol is selected for the Ayodhya temple
Meet Arun Yogiraj: Sculptor whose Ram Lalla idol is selected for the Ayodhya temple
Arun Yogiraj, a distinguished sculptor hailing from a lineage of five generations of renowned sculptors in Mysuru, has been honoured with the selection of his idol for installation in Ayodhya’s Ram Temple.
Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday in a social media post said, “The selection of the idol for the Prana Pratishtapana of Lord Rama in Ayodhya has been finalized. The idol of Lord Rama, carved by renowned sculptor of our country Yogiraj Arun, will be installed in Ayodhya.”
Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa also congratulated Arun and expressed pride in the selection of Lord Ram’s idol for installation in Ram Mandir.
About Arun Yogiraj:
Embarking on his sculpting journey at a young age, Arun Yogiraj is now recognized as one of the most sought-after sculptors in the country. His artistic pursuits were profoundly influenced by his father, Yogiraj, and grandfather, Basavanna Shilpi, both of whom received patronage from the King of Mysuru.
Although Arun briefly diverted his path to pursue an MBA and worked in the corporate sector, his inherent passion for sculpting proved irresistible. In 2008, he returned to his artistic roots, fully dedicating himself to the world of sculpting.
Arun’s portfolio boasts an array of impressive sculptures, including a 30-foot statue of Subhash Chandra Bose, prominently displayed behind the Amar Jawan Jyoti near India Gate. His other notable contributions to the world of sculpting include a 12-feet-tall sculpture of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath to a 21-feet-tall Hanuman statue in Mysuru.
The voting on the three idols of Lord Ram Lalla was held on December 30. The idol with the maximum votes was selected to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
However, Arun Yogiraj said he has not yet received any official communication about whether the idol he had sculpted has been accepted. According to him, he was among the three sculptors selected by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra to carve an idol of ‘Ram Lalla’. “I am happy that I was among the three sculptors from the country who were selected to carve the idol of ‘Ram Lalla’,” Yogiraj said.
