Mysuru sculptor's family elated at Lord Ram's idol selection for consecration
Bengaluru: The family of Arun Yogiraj, a renowned sculptor based in Mysuru city, who sculpted Lord Rama idol as a child measuring about 51 inches in height from head to foot to be consecrated at Ayodhya Rama Mandir in Uttar Pradesh on January 22 this year, elated over the news of idol selection by the Ram Mandir Trust after it was made public by Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party leaders-R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition and State BJP Chief B.Y. Vijayendra on Monday.
Sculpting to Arun has come in his blood since his forefathers were all adept sculptors and he is the fifth generation from his family to take up sculpting. He quit a corporate job after completing his MBA and took up sculpting in 2008.
Arun Yogiraj (40) was in Ayodhya engaged in sculpturing and could not be contacted over the phone but his wife Vijetha told Deccan Chronicle on Monday that Arun sculptured the idol of Rama as a child is a blessing and all the members of the family are elated at the news of idol consecration. However, she said that the family is yet to receive an official announcement in this regard on idol selection to be consecrated.
Explaining the preparations done by Arun Yogiraj after he was one among three asked to sculpt the idol, Vijetha said “Arun had to begin from scratch since there are no images of Lord Ram in his childhood. Arun spent a lot of time in research on how the idol should be and assessed about 2,000 pictures (of children in fancy dress) to give the idol of Rama as a child to give shape."
Vijetha said on projects of national importance Arun dedicated full time and energy to bring his best in the sculptor.
An MBA graduate she said that Arun during one of his visits to Mysuru taking a break from sculpting had told her that the black stone given to him to chisel Lord Ram idol was “harder than the granite.” But, Arun did not give up and she said Arun had even dreamt of Lord Ram as a child and gave a final shape to the idol to be consecrated at Ayodhya.
Arun’s mother Saraswathi said that his work as an idol sculptor is now known to all and his efforts have borne fruits. “Arun has brought laurels to the family,” she added. She said Arun was mentored by his late father who was also a renowned sculptor.
Arun has to his credit sculpting some of the famous idols such as Adi Shankaracharya installed at Kedarnath, Dr Ambedkar statue, Jayachamarajendra statue, both in Mysuru city, freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose, Lord Hanuman statue at Saligrama in K.R. Nagar in Mysuru district, Yoga Narasimha Swami monolithic statue measuring 7.5 feet, Panchamukhi Ganesh stone idol, Lord Venkateshwara monolithic statue among many others.
If an invitation is extended, Vijetha said she and her family members will be happy to attend the consecration of Lord Ram's idol. Other family members of Arun shared that “a proud moment for all of us and his name will be etched in the history of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.”
