Three Ram Lalla idols were in contention to be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the grand Ayodhya temple. While one idol, scuplted by Arun Yogiraj, now resides in the sacred place, two others, equally stunning in their craftsmanship, await their final placement within the temple complex.
The idol, which was selected is a 51-inch representation of the divine childhood of Lord Ram, was meticulously chiseled from a three billion-year-old rock, known for its azure-coloured Krishna Shila or black schist. This ancient stone was excavated from Gujjegowdanapura village in Mysuru, adding an element of timeless grandeur to the idol.
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The other two idols were sculpted by Ganesh Bhatt and Satyanarayan Pandey. The temple trust had said that of the three idols, one will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum, while the remaining two will be kept in other parts of the Ram Mandir.
Ganesh Bhatt’s idol has was carved out of unique black stone, Krishna Shila, sourced from the fertile lands of Hegadadevana Kote in Karnataka’s Mysuru. Its pictures have now been released and has captured the attention of devotees and art enthusiasts alike.
Though not chosen for the central sanctum, the Trust overseeing the Ram Mandir’s affairs has assured that Bhatt’s creation will be enshrined within the temple precinct.
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The third idol was sculpted by Satyanarayan Pandey. It is a white marble idol carved by Rajasthan-based sculptor. It shows Ram Lalla holding a golden bow and arrow. Behind the deity is an arch-like structure that contains smaller sculptures depicting various incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
The idol shows remarkable craftsmanship as jewellery and clothes adorning the deity are chiselled out of marble. The idol will likely be installed on the first floor of the temple.
The Ram Mandir will enshrine four distinct idols of Ram Lalla: the original Ram Lalla idol, the newly installed idol in the sanctum sanctorum, and the two additional creations by Bhatt and Satyanarayan Pandey.
Ram Temple was inaugurated on January 22 after the pran pratishtha ceremony was carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid the presence of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Over 7,000 guests, including seers, businessmen, celebrities and sportmen, participated in the consecration ceremony.