New Delhi: The mother of Karnataka artisan Yogiraj Arun, who has sculpted the 51-inch-tall idol, depicting a five-year-old Ram Lalla, which will be installed at the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, expressed joy at her son's feat. Speaking to ETV Bharat, Saraswathi, the mother of Yogiraj, said, "My son's work made me happy and proud. The whole world is noticing this. We got this work due to the blessings of our elders and the merit of our previous birth. My son has carved the idol of Balarama. He has been working in Ayodhya for the past six months. He has been working inside a tent every day. Recently, he came to Mysore to meet us."
"Arun's grandfather and his father were in the same profession, hence, Arun, too, opted for the same. As his family carved some of the statues of the palace, the Mysuru king gave a place near the palace to Arun's grandfather because he was a sculptor. He has built a house in the same place and the family lives there. Arun used to draw at school whenever he got chalk there. Being born in a family of artisans, so art is in his blood," Saraswati said.
"I feel very proud. Everyone in our family has taken up this profession. Arun Yogiraj had gone to Ayodhya last June and we had not taken up any work for the last year. Arun used to say that Rama's smiling face and gestures have come out well on the idol. In Ayodhya, Ram's idols are carved in three places. The three sheds are so far apart that one cannot see the idol carved by the other. All have been arranged in different sheds and have been working 24 hours a day for six months," Arun's wife Vijetha said.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi confirmed the selection of the idols on his social media handle on Monday, saying a renowned idol-maker from the 'land of Hanuman' will see his piece of creation find pride of place at the Ram Temple on January 22. With Karnataka home to a grand Hanuman temple and believed to be the birthplace of the Lord, Joshi termed the selection of the idol shaped by a sculptor from the state for the Ram Temple as an "example of Rama-Hanuman's inextricable relationship".
"Where Rama is, there is Hanuman. The selection of the idol for the Prana Pratishtapana of Lord Rama in Ayodhya has been finalised. A renowned sculptor of our country, our proud Mr @yogiraj_arun, the idol of Lord Rama carved by him will be installed in Ayodhya," the Union Minister posted from his official handle on X on Monday.
"This is another example of Rama-Hanuman's inextricable relationship. There is no mistaking that this is an important service to Ram Lalla from Karnataka, the land of Hanuman," Joshi added in his post.
Preparations are underway in full swing for the event, which is expected to be attended by thousands of dignitaries and people from all sections of society. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22.
From January 14 to 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several Tent Cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration. According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people.
Local authorities are gearing up for the anticipated surge in visitors around the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony and are in the process of implementing enhanced security measures and making logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees.
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