The grand ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya took place on January 22 with immense enthusiasm. The 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla depicts him as a five-year-old boy and has been positioned inside the sanctum sanctorum. Crafted from three billion-year-old black stone, the idol was created by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj. However, it wasn’t the sole contender, as a total of three idols were considered for the occasion. The remaining two idols will now find their place elsewhere in the temple complex, according to reports from the Times of India.
One of these idols, crafted by Satyanarayan Pandey from Rajasthan, is white in color and portrays Ram Lalla holding a golden bow and arrow. It features Ram Lalla surrounded by an arch showcasing the numerous incarnations of Lord Vishnu. This idol is expected to be installed on the first floor of the temple and is sculpted from white marble sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan, the same place where the marble for the Taj Mahal originated. It depicts Lord Ram encircled by an arch-like structure, accompanied by smaller sculptures representing various incarnations of Lord Vishnu, such as Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalki.
The third idol, sculpted by Ganesh Bhatt from Karnataka, is black in color and depicts Ram Lalla with Lord Surya adorning the crown, along with a Surya chakra and a lion. Crafted from a unique stone called Krishna Shila, sourced from Hegadadevana Kote in Mysuru, this idol reflects the innocence of the five-year-old Ram Lalla in the traditional Indian carving style. The presence of Lord Surya on the crown symbolizes the solar dynasty to which Lord Ram belonged, while the Surya chakra represents the power and glory of the sun god. Additionally, the lion signifies courage and strength.
Although Arun Yogiraj’s idol now resides in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya temple, the alternate idols also emanate divine energy and will be installed within the temple premises.
