Mysuru has long been renowned worldwide for its vibrant Dasara celebrations. However, now, for sometime to come, Mysuru will also be known as the birthplace of acclaimed sculptor who carved ‘Balak Ram,’ all thanks to the talented artist Arun Yogiraj, a third-generation sculptor from Mysuru.

Arun’s remarkable achievements have made Mysureans proud and has also solidified our city’s reputation as an abode of art and culture.

Arun’s three notable sculptures — the statues of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate in New Delhi, and now, Balak Ram in Ayodhya — stand as a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication.

Star of Mysore Managing Editor Vikram Muthanna spoke to Arun Yogiraj about his sculpting journey. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): You have three prestigious sculptures in India. How did you get a breakthrough into North India as not many decision-makers there would know about artisans from the South?

Arun Yogiraj: Our biggest drawback is that we are far away from Delhi and getting access to decision-makers is not easy. I was able to get access to Delhi through the statue of Adi Shankaracharya, commissioned by Jindal Steel Works (JSW) through a CSR fund.

The company had taken up the restoration works of Adi Shankaracharya’s Samadhi, which was damaged in floods. JSW contacted various States asking for names of stone artists.

In Karnataka, they approached Dr. Mohanrao B. Panchal, Head, Department of Visual Arts, Kannada University, Hampi, who referred the names of five artists and I was one among them.

The company asked the artists to submit a 2-foot tall model of Shankaracharya. The models were presented to Prime Minister Modi and he liked my model. Later, I received a call informing me that my model was selected and was asked to sculpt the bigger statue.

SOM: It is said, you almost didn’t get to sculpt Subhas Chandra Bose’s statue. What happened?

Arun Yogiraj: I was in discussion to sculpt Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s statue. In the meantime, a meeting with the Prime Minister was pending as the PM wanted to meet me personally after the installation of Adi Shankaracharya’s statue in Kedarnath.

The meeting kept getting postponed. So I requested our Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha to help me.

Since I had agreed to sculpt the statue of Subhas Chandra Bose, I had sculpted a miniature stone idol of Netaji. By this time, Pratap Simha got an appointment with the PM. He then not only helped me carry the small statue of Netaji in the plane despite weight restrictions but also made me stay at his MP residence in Delhi.

During our meeting, PM Modi enquired about the progress of Netaji’s statue. I informed him that I had not received any work order and that some people were approaching me for subcontract work for Netaji’s statue! 

The PM was surprised and immediately instructed Union Minister Pralhad V. Joshi to set the matter right.

After this, Union Minister for Culture G. Kishan Reddy was summoned. Even he was shocked to learn that I had not received any work order. Both Pralhad Joshi and Pratap Simha followed up and finally, I received the work order on June 13, 2022.

If I had not spoken to our MP and had he not got the Prime Minister’s appointment immediately, I would have missed my chance to sculpt Netaji’s statue. It would have probably been sculpted by someone else and credit would have gone to some other person who didn’t even sculpt it as it would have been subcontracted.

How Arun Yogiraj got selected to sculpt Balak Ram

SOM: How did you get selected to sculpt Balak Ram’s idol?

Arun Yogiraj: It all started with the search for the artist in January 2023. Three sculptors from Karnataka and another from Rajasthan, who are known to me, were informed about the work. But I was not informed.

I was disappointed that even though I had completed two national projects (Netaji and Adi Shankaracharya), I was not informed. But I consoled myself saying that I had already completed two major national projects, so it’s okay.

But then in April 2023, a meeting was held at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) to finalise the artists who will sculpt Balak Ram. In that meeting, IGNCA Member-Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, who had personally seen my work in Delhi, was surprised not to see my name in the list of artists shortlisted to sculpt Balak Ram. Dr. Joshi then asked the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to invite me to immediately present my work.

I was called overnight to Delhi. A few weeks later, 11 artists were shortlisted and three of them were finalised, I was one among them.

SOM: What style of sculpting did you decide on? 

Arun Yogiraj: I had to connect both North and South India and the black stone idol connects well with the Southern part. While sculpting the idol, I ensured that the jewellery was carved in Hoysala style. The attire was sculpted in  North Indian style and again the ‘kankana’ was sculpted in South style.

Lord Hanuman and Garuda have been sculpted in Tamil Nadu style. The Dashavathara has been sculpted with reference to North Indian temples. The Balak Ram idol is an amalgamation of the best Indian styles since the idol belongs to the entire nation.

SOM: What was your routine in Ayodhya when you were sculpting? 

Arun Yogiraj: The first day of work began by offering ‘puja’ to the stone as per rituals. The sculpting works began with offering ‘shila puja’ and tying ‘kankana’ to our hand which restricts us from taking up other works until the completion of work in progress. I made sure the ‘kankana’ was also tied to the hammer that I used for sculpting the idol.

For us, it was only ‘Satwik’ food that was allowed to be consumed. We were provided with sprouts every day, as we needed a lot of protein to go with our physical work. We were also taught yoga but when my first idol of Balak Ram was rejected, I stopped yoga as I was working in double shifts to carve another one.

SOM: You said that your first idol was rejected. Can you explain?

Arun Yogiraj: The first sculpture was 70 percent complete when a certain test conducted turned negative. Periodic tests are conducted to see the integrity of the rock. Owing to the rejection of the first idol, I lost three months.

Later, I started to sculpt another idol in September with another stone, also brought from Mysuru. Initially, I felt a bit nervous as I had lost time but on the other hand, I got clarity of what I needed to create.

Sculptor’s Studio in Mysuru

SOM: Tell us about your team which worked with you in Ayodhya.

Arun Yogiraj: I had my team members Nagaraju, Cheluvaraju, Siddaraju, Kumaresh and Jagadish, some of whom have worked with us for almost 30 years.

My team worked in batches, when one batch left after working on the pedestal, a new team would arrive to assist me in the design works.

SOM: The eyes of Balak Ram in some photos seemed to glow, is there some effect that you have given them?

Arun Yogiraj: There is no special effect given to the eyes. We apply ghee, honey and sugar to the eyes and cover them as part of the rituals. Some ghee and honey might have remained on the eyes on the day of consecration so maybe when they photographed it, light refraction may have given it a glow (laughs). On a serious note, we do not apply any chemicals, glass etc. It’s just an etched-stone effect.

SOM: Why did you use silver hammer & gold chisel to sculpt the eyes?

Arun Yogiraj: It is mentioned in Shilpashastra to use a silver hammer and golden chisel and a particular time (muhurta) is fixed for ‘Nethramilana’ (carving of eyes). In the case of Balak Ram, the muhurta was fixed by the head priest Ganesha Acharya.

Before sculpting the eyes, I took a dip in the Sarayu River, which was about 4-5 degrees Celsius, and visited the Hanuman Garhi (Hanuman Temple) before sculpting the eyes. We first inscribe the ‘beejakshara mantra’ on the uncarved blank eyes before we begin sculpting the eyes.

SOM: What is the actual height of the Balak Ram idol and what was the height and weight of the stone?

Arun Yogiraj: The height of the idol is 77 inches, 42 inches in width and it is 2-ft in thickness. The rock that was used was about 9½ ft in height and weighed 13,000 kgs. Now the idol weighs about 2,000 kgs.

SOM: Was there a regular inspection while you were working on the idol?

Arun Yogiraj: There were regular inspections being done for all three idols sculpted by different artists. The Committee Members were sensible as they used to visit all three sculptors without giving room for any suspicion of favouritism.

SOM: Apart from inspection by the Committee, we heard there was regular inspection by a monkey.

Arun Yogiraj: There were a lot of monkeys in Ayodhya near the studio where we were sculpting. But every day, a monkey would visit the studio between 5 pm and 6 pm and bang the door. I am not sure whether it was the same monkey though. I even have the video of the monkey roaming around in the studio. I don’t want to give it a connotation that it was a ‘divine visit.’ But all the same, it was an interesting coincidence.

SOM: Is there a copyright on Balak Ram? Can you produce miniatures to sell?

Arun Yogiraj: Actually, I told the Trust Members to copyright Balak Ram. Then MP Pratap Simha had the idea that if Ayodhya Trust can have the copyright and make miniatures of Balak Ram, it should tie up with the Karnataka Government to send black stone from Mysuru from which it can make these miniatures rendering them more authentic and worthy of the copyright.

Pratap Simha felt if this is done, then the Ayodhya Trust will get funds, sculptors will get continuous work, Karnataka will have a new revenue stream and Mysuru will also become famous as the Balak Ram miniature models made using the stone from Mysuru will be in millions of households across the nation and world.

Bringing Stones to Life

SOM: Now that you have achieved a great feat, there must be a lot of demand for your work. How are you managing it?

Arun Yogiraj: I have indeed been getting a lot of orders from across the world, especially from the USA and South Africa, both for idols and other works.

But I know my capacity and I cannot fulfil so many orders. So, I tell customers that it takes quite some time for me to complete a statue. If they are comfortable with that, then I take up the work else I provide them the contact of other artists. Also, it is good to have the work of different artists.

SOM: Are you running an institution to guide budding sculptors?

Arun Yogiraj: Yes, I am running a school called Bramharshi Kashyapa Shilpakala Shala, which now has 7 full-time students and during summer camps, children join us to learn line drawing, pottery and other arts.

I am planning to construct two additional rooms in my studio for the benefit of the students. Currently, I am not charging any fees because I want to give back to the profession which has given me so much.

SOM: Who should our readers contact if they are interested in learning sculpting?

Arun Yogiraj: Interested can contact my brother Yeshwanth on Mob: 99451-51505.

Making Mysuru proud…

For the foreseeable future, Arun Yogiraj will continue to enjoy widespread popularity as the man who sculpted the idol of Balak Ram. Despite his acclaim, Arun Yogiraj remains remarkably humble and transparent in his artistic approach, the qualities that undoubtedly contribute to his mastery.

Michelangelo, the great Italian sculptor, once said, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Arun Yogiraj not only discovers it, he seems to almost bring it to life. He certainly brought a sense of divinity to the Balak Ram statue and in doing so, brought a lot of attention to Mysuru, reminding the world that our city still has it — artists and culture.

[Pic. by M.N. Lakshminarayana Yadav]

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Once vibrant century-old Rama Mandiras of Mysore fading into oblivion

By Maya Sitaram

The frenzied fervour with which the Ram Temple at Ayodhya was inaugurated transports one to the memoirs of the unique music tradition reverberating from the innumerable Rama Mandiras in                   Mysore for over 200 years.

In the quaint bylanes of Mysore’s old localities, Lord Rama was celebrated by placing and presenting him in beautifully built structures — Mandiras — which have now become ‘heritage.’ But amidst the innumerable heritage buildings spread across the city which include the magnificent Palaces and other majestic buildings, the smaller and localised Mandiras are obscured and long forgotten.

At the beginning of this century, there were around 120 Rama Mandiras in Mysore with various vintages, some with known and a few with unknown antiquity. Exact number is not known. There was one on each road, says an avid Mysorean. Of these, perhaps 25-30 were of heritage value. Even the heritage experts are unaware of the existence and/or decay of some of the old Mandiras, maybe because of too much ‘antiquity’ on their hands.

The Mysore Heritage Area Development and Preservation Expert Committee has listed 198 heritage buildings in the city. The Bidaram Krishnappa’s Sri Prasanna Sita Rama Mandira located on Narayana Shastry Road and Sri Ramabhyudaya Sabha, Srirampet, are the only two Mandiras which find the place.

The former was inaugurated in 1928 and the latter is 133 years old, thereby making it clear that being ‘100,’ as defined in the Mysore Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961 and Rules, 1965, is not the only criteria applied.

The impasse of being ‘heritage’

The attributes of being ‘heritage’ include having architectural, aesthetic, historic or cultural value inherited by people as per the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961. The Kunchitigara Rama Mandira, Santhepet, is not listed despite possessing these qualities and being 140 years old.

The Act also says that the buildings which have their history reflecting the culture of the people when they came into existence should be preserved but is this possible when heritage buildings and assets therein have been unrecognised however unusual and priceless they are?

Traversing the old Mysore area, one comes across several big and small Mandiras, some of which are on the verge of collapse and need urgent restoration. These Mandiras were built by the weavers, wrestlers, traders, merchants, washermen and fishermen communities each of which had a specific caste and cultural identity. The Mandiras were built to provide a platform for social and cultural activities for the surrounding neighbourhood which communed to sing Bhajans and listen to the discourses from the epics (Harikatha). The Ramanavami festivities were celebrated with much gusto, bringing in stalwart musicians to the city and adding to the cultural fabric. 

The Wadiyars ಆಳುವ ದೊರೆ supported the festivities with funds and, at times, with Palace honour/s. From 1900, for about fifty and odd years, it was fashionable to build ‘hathu janagala’ Mandira —  ಹತ್ತು ಜನಗಳ ಮಂದಿರ — which laid its foundation on public participation in institution building and management. Most of the Mandiras were attached to a  ‘garadi’ (ಗರಡಿ), a place equipped for physical training.

Crumbling Heritage

Old-time Mysoreans recollect the disappearance of a Mandira at Ittigegud due to neglect, another at the cross road of Ashoka Road was demolished to make way for a commercial complex, the list is endless. There are a few more which are on the verge of collapse like the Premaleela Sri Rama Mandiram at Sunnadakeri. 

Community participation and contribution dwindled with the advent of time and television, thereby leading to apathy and the collapse of many of the Mandiras. A few of them were converted to temples as it attracted people and the revenue needed for the upkeep and maintenance. Lack of funds, lack of leadership and intra-family conflicts are some of the factors which led to the neglect.

The sustainability concepts introduced by some of the founders, of building and renting out commercial spaces within the Mandira precinct, have not yielded the desired results due to many factors including inflation. Added to it is the boom in real estate prompting the Mandira managers to wait for the collapse of the structure, such is the misery of urban heritage.  

Conservation!?

The modern-day utility of the Mandiras has taken different hues. Some have a modern touch to the flooring, wall etc., to keep up with the trend! Jaade Sanjeevayya Rama Mandira, Veeranagere, close to Central Jail, is being used as a backend kitchen of a fast-food restaurant, Belle Rama Mandira located at the bylane of Irwin Road is used as a carpentry workshop. Mysore Style Painting of Sri Rama at the altar, old-type mantapam and Lord Hanuman in metal relief work which was earlier used as processional images are the remnants!

Not following the old way of restoration processes has lessened the antiquity value, this is less understood and appreciated. Different definitions and perceptions of what constitutes ‘heritage’ by different authorities add to the confusion! There are no adequate policies or execution which protect, promote, conserve and enhance the heritage value. Framing of the Heritage Act has seen a decent burial!

Incentives by the Government for the upkeep of the premises, waiving property tax, organising Rama Mandira Tours, including the Mandiras on the world map along with the other known heritage structures are ways by which visibility is created so that the Mandiras stay, thrive and enhance the heritage value of the city and add to ‘Our Heritage, Your Destination.’ 

If not all, at least identify the ones that could be salvaged and restore to its past glory in order that the Rama Mandira is seen and appreciated at one’s own backyard than only at Ayodhya!

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Melukote (Mandya): Following the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan. 22, the Nadaswara team from Melukote Cheluvanarayanaswamy Temple has been captivating the atmosphere in Ayodhya with their daily performances. 

This dedicated service, led by Nadaswara Vidwan M.P. Nagaraju, Dollu Vidwan Ashok, and other artistes, will go on without interruption for 48 days  at the temple.

The Nadaswara team’s repertoire includes performances during various events such as Utsav, Sri Balak Ram Special Puja, Sahasranama and Mangalaarathi, held every day since the inauguration of the Ram Mandir.

Impressed by the remarkable performances of the Melukote Nadaswara team, especially under the leadership of Vidwan M.P. Nagaraju, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra extended an invitation for the troupe to perform during the “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony on Jan. 22 and the subsequent days. The troupe has been faithfully delivering daily performances in Ayodhya and will continue this service for the entire 48-day period of Mandala Puja.

Expressing his sentiments, Nadaswara Vidwan M.P. Nagaraju mentioned that the team is performing with utmost devotion in Ayodhya. He emphasised that the team is offering this devotional service without any expectation of monetary returns. Being part of the Ayodhya performances is a source of pride for the entire team, considering the heightened levels of devotion.

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Mysore/Mysuru:  Sculptor Arun Yogiraj of the city, who sculpted the idol of Lord Ram that was consecrated at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir on Jan. 22, Ramdas, the owner of the land at Harohalli in Mysuru taluk where the black schist stone used for sculpting the idol was found and mining contractor Srinivas, who excavated the  stone from Ramdas’s land and transported it to Ayodhya, were felicitated by the BJP at a ceremony  held at Arun Yogiraj’s residence “Kashayapa  Shilpakala Niketana“ near Basaveshwara Circle in the heart of the city on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, MP Pratap Simmha said that the BJP will pay Mining Contractor  Srinivas Rs. 80,000, the penalty imposed by the State Mines and Geology Department for unauthorized excavation of the stone.

MLA T.S. Srivatsa, City BJP President and former MLA L. Nagendra and a host of other BJP leaders were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who gained widespread attention following the installation and ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla’s (Balak Ram) idol in Ayodhya on Jan. 22 led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revealed that he was merely following the divine guidance of Lord Ram while creating the idol. 

After a meeting with Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji at Suttur Mutt here yesterday, Arun Yogiraj told reporters that the blessings of his ancestors, family members and Ram Lalla have consistently guided him throughout his artistic journey. 

He expressed a sense of surrealism, stating, “Sometimes, I feel like I am in a dream world. I am a humble sculptor following the traditional art and the recognition I am getting is beyond comprehension. I did not expect this kind of love and honour to be bestowed upon me.”

Arun Yogiraj, accompanied by his wife Vijetha and mother Saraswathi, spent over 40 minutes discussing the intricacies of the Balak Ram idol with Swamiji. During the meeting, the renowned sculptor, holding a tab, provided a detailed explanation of the idol’s structure, Dashavatara carvings, Prabhavali, eyes and other finer details. Swamiji attentively listened, absorbing the significance of each design and the idol’s overall craftsmanship.

The sculptor said that he has a long-standing association with the JSS institutions as he studied at JSS Balajagath School from 1988 to 1991 and from 2000 to 2005, he did his PUC and BBM at JSS institution to pursue his MBA degree later.  

Adhered to Shilpa Shastra

Regarding the specifics of the idol, Arun Yogiraj underscored the honour for Mysuru as the Krishna Shile (stone) for the Balak Ram idol originated from Harohalli-Gujjegowdanapura in Mysuru taluk. He humbly acknowledged that Lord Ram himself directed the carving of his idol through him, stating, “I am honoured and I was following the divine directives. Lord Ram gave me the order and I just followed it.”

Reflecting on the last seven months, Arun Yogiraj described the period as particularly challenging as he grappled with how to complete the idol while ensuring it adhered to the Shilpa Shastra, representing a five-year-old form of Lord Ram and capturing the innocence of a child.

 Yogiraj shared the challenges of infusing emotion into the stone, especially focusing on the eyes of Ram Lalla. He sought feedback from friends to ensure the expression was accurate. “It is not easy to bring bhaava (emotion) in stone and you have to spend a lot of time with it.” 

He detailed his approach of spending extensive time with the stone, doing thorough research, studying children’s features and attributed the success to the guidance of Ram Lalla. In crafting the idol, Arun Yogiraj adhered meticulously to the proportions of facial features such as eyes, nose, chin, lips, cheeks, etc., in accordance with the Shilpa Shastra, the sacred scripture of the sculpting world.

Like a penance: Suttur Seer

Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji commended Arun Yogiraj and credited Mysuru with global recognition, attributing it to Arun Yogiraj’s unwavering dedication, focus and concentration. Likening Arun Yogiraj’s artistic process to a form of penance, the Seer noted, “It is like a penance that requires tremendous sacrifice, dedication, and honest efforts. His dedication is there for the world to see, especially the mesmerising eyes of the idol and the child-like face.”

Arun Yogiraj also paid tribute to his late father, B.S. Yogiraj Shilpi, who, unfortunately, passed away in an accident a few years ago. Acknowledging his father’s legacy, he mentioned that his father was a recipient of the Amarashilpi Jakanachari award and the Karnataka Rajyotsava award. “I will visit my father’s samadhi and pay my respects,” he said. 

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Mysore/Mysuru: The entire process of crafting Balak Ram’s idol spanned seven to eight months, allowing for Arun Yogiraj’s artistic freedom to flourish. The consecration on Jan. 22 marked a distinctive transformation, revealing the divine essence of the idol post-installation.

A special focus was placed on the development of Balak Ram’s eyes, with the use of golden chisels and silver hammers employed delicately in the intricate process as mentioned in the Shilpa Shashtra. Until the eyes were meticulously formed, the idol lacked a certain essence, but upon their completion, a profound sense of true divinity emerged. Arun Yogiraj ensured that the gaze of Ram Lalla conveyed a feeling of observing everyone.

In reflecting on his artistic journey, Arun Yogiraj expressed gratitude for the blessings of his forefathers and the supportive Vishwakarma community of sculptors. He revealed, “Our family has been in this field for at least 250 years, and the selection of the Ram Lalla statue sculpted by me for installation at Ayodhya temple was due to the blessings of our forefathers.”

Arun Yogiraj shared, “Along with me, Ganesh Bhatt and Satyanarayan Pandey too embarked on carving the Ram Lalla idol. There was no competition among us, and we would have been happy if any one of our idols were selected. We were not vying for any prize.”

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Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya will not politically benefit BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha (LS) polls, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the issue in fact, will boomerang on that party.

Addressing a press meet at his residence in T.K. Layout here this morning, Siddaramaiah contended that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated an incomplete Ram Mandir to gain a political mileage in LS polls. But it will instead bommerang on the BJP’s political game plans, as the people of the country are closely watching the developments concerning Ram Mandir. He pointed  out that, the people of the country will cast their ballots in keeping with the aspirations of the Constitution as they have accepted it.

Caste census: Replying to a question on caste census, the CM said “I do not know much about the census report. The Jayaprakash Hegde headed Backward Classes Commission has not sought time from the Government for submitting its report. However,  the Government will give time if sought and will later accept it. No one has read the report and as such nobody can speak about it. It is wrong  to say the report is unscientific without going through it.”

Referring to reports that former CM Jagadish Shettar may return to BJP, Siddaramaiah said Shettar himself has time and again clarified that he will not return to BJP which insulted him. Shettar would not go to the BJP again despite all the efforts by that party to woo him back to its fold, the CM asserted.

One Nation, One Poll: Commenting on the ongoing ‘One Nation, One Poll’ debate, the CM said we have to  see whether the idea is practical in the first place. Pointing out that, it is important to see whether the idea is within the limits of the Constitution, he said that protecting  and following the Constitution is the need of the hour. Observing that efforts are being made to belittle the Constitution, he said the youths of the country are watching all the developments.

Rahul’s Yatra: Referring to filing of First Information Report (FIR) against Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi in Assam, Siddaramaiah said that the BJP Government in Assam is making all efforts to scuttle Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Stating that he strongly condemns the Assam Government’s action, he said that the Government has resorted to undemocratic means to scuttle the Yatra as it fears the huge popularity the Yatra is gaining in that State.

Boards and Corporations: Responding to appointment to Boards and Corporations, the CM merely said that the list will be released only after the party High Command gives its nod.

Constitution Day: The CM further said that, marking the 75th anniversary of the Constitution Day, a Constitution awareness Jatha will be taken out in the State from Jan. 26 to Feb. 23, Constitution Workshop and Expo on Feb. 24 and 25 (morning) and Constitution mega convention in Bengaluru on Feb. 25 evening.

District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, Animal Husbandry Minister K. Venkatesh, MLAs Tanveer Sait, K. Harishgowda and D. Ravishankar, former MLAs H.P. Manjunath and M.K. Somashekar, former MP Kagalawadi M. Shivanna and former ZP President K. Marigowda were present.

CM holds one-to-one meeting with Congress MLAs from Mysuru and Chamarajanagar

In an interesting development, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah soon after concluding his press meet, held an unscheduled  one-to-one meeting with his party MLAs from Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Districts. The meeting assumes significance in the wake of selection of Congress candidates for Mysuru-Kodagu and Chamarajanagar (SC Reserve) Constituencies for the forthcoming LS polls and also concerning reports that the BJP may carry out  ‘Operation Lotus’ to poach the ruling party MLAs after the LS polls in a bid to topple Congress Government.

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Bengaluru: Mysuru’s Arun Yogiraj, the master-sculptor behind the Ayodhya Ram Lalla idol, received a warm welcome upon his return to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) at Devanahalli in Bengaluru yesterday.

Escorted by CISF personnel from Terminal-2, Arun, who had been away for the past six months, touched down in Bengaluru after his significant role in the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He landed at T2 of KIA at 9.30 pm. A large media contingent had gathered outside apart from his fans and BJP workers.

Emotions ran high as Arun, visibly moved, embraced his daughter upon exiting the Terminal.  His wife Vijetha was also present. There was chaos after the Police pushed back media persons and the public who had gathered to greet him. The crowd cheered Arun and chanted ‘Jai Sri Ram’ slogans. Arun was adorned with shawls and Mysore Petas, symbolising the community’s deep appreciation for his craftsmanship.

Addressing the media, Arun Yogiraj expressed his joy at the overwhelming reception and conveyed his satisfaction with the work accomplished in Ayodhya. Reflecting on the significance of the Ram Mandir construction, he emphasised the respect accorded to artists in India and described the indescribable feeling of witnessing a humble stone transform into an idol worshipped by millions.

Arun extended his wish for people across the country to visit the Temple and experience the presence of Ram Lalla. Arun is expected to arrive in Mysuru later today. He will participate in various events in Bengaluru before heading to Mysuru.

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Rs. 3.17 crore offerings made on Day 1, over 2.5 lakh devotees visit on Day 2

Ayodhya: Three days after the Ram Mandir was inaugurated in Ayodhya and the Ram Lalla idol carved by Mysuru sculptor Arun Yogiraj called ‘Balak Ram’ was placed in the sacred ‘garbhagriha’ (sanctum sanctorum), two other idols await for their final placement within the Temple complex.

The second idol, carved from Krishna Shile, a unique black stone by sculptor Ganesh Bhatt, has also captured the attention of devotees and art enthusiasts. The stone is of a deep black hue.

The 51-inch statue, resonating with the innocence of the five-year-old Ram Lalla, has also been sourced from the fertile lands of H.D. Kote near Mysuru. As seen in photos, this idol is entirely black with saffron ‘teeka’ (dots) on a few points on the body.

Ganesh Bhat’s creation will be enshrined within the Temple precinct, as the Trust overseeing the Ram Mandir’s affairs is looking into the matter. The third one, sculpted by Satyanarayan Pandey, is also waiting for a place in the Ram Mandir, as it did not make it to the ‘garbhagriha’.

The white marble idol, intricately clad in marble jewellery and clothing, holds a golden bow and arrow. Behind the main figure stands an arch-like structure adorned with smaller sculptures representing various incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

It is expected that the white marble idol will likely be installed on the first floor of the Temple. Arun Yogiraj’s Ram Lalla idol was chosen from among three commissioned murtis, and its eyes have captivated the hearts of worshippers and onlookers.

According to reports, the Ram Mandir will enshrine four distinct idols of Ram Lalla: The original Ram Lalla idol, the newly-installed Arun Yogiraj’s idol in the sanctum sanctorum and the two additional creations by Ganesh Bhatt and Satyanarayan Pandey.

Devotees throng Ram Mandir

Meanwhile, more than 2.5 lakh devotees paid obeisance at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya yesterday while donations totalling Rs. 3.17 crore were recorded on the first day after the consecration ceremony, officials said.

District Magistrate Nitish Kumar said more than 2.5 lakh devotees visited the Temple till 10 pm yesterday and more than 5 lakh people had visited the Temple on the first day. Devotees made donations totalling Rs. 3.17 crore in a day on 10 counters opened after the consecration ceremony and through the online mode, Anil Mishra, Trustee of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said.

In the wake of the overwhelming response of devotees, the Temple administration has extended the timings for darshan.

Devotees can now offer prayers between 6 am and 10 pm as against the earlier timings of 7 am to 11.30 am and 2 pm to 7 pm, it said.

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Bengaluru: The consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has ignited a sense of optimism within the Karnataka BJP, prompting the saffron party to set ambitious goals of securing more than 20 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections.

As the BJP focuses on making the Ram Temple a central theme in its election strategy, aiming to offset Congress’ five poll guarantees, the Congress is directing its efforts towards rejuvenating Ram Temples in Karnataka.

The Congress aims to position itself as a Hindu-friendly party, countering the BJP’s accusations of being ‘anti-Hindu.’ The Congress drew criticism for not attending the Ayodhya event and the State Government’s decision not to declare a holiday on Jan. 22 for the Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration further fuelled the BJP’s claims. The Congress, through the allocation of Rs. 250 crore for the restoration of Ram Temples, appears to be entering into a damage-control mode.

In the upcoming 2024-2025 Budget scheduled for Feb. 16, sources suggest that Siddaramaiah is expected to make significant allocations, including Rs. 250 crore for the restoration of Ram Temples in the State.

Additionally, the Congress Government is reportedly contemplating generous grants up to Rs. 300 crore for Mutts and religious institutions. This financial support is intended to boost the social, educational and cultural programmes undertaken by these institutions.

On its part, the BJP MPs are also planning to leverage the consecration by organising pilgrimages to Ayodhya for devotees in their respective Constituencies. The BJP Karnataka unit has targeted to send more than 35,000 persons from all 224 Assembly Constituencies in the State to Ayodhya from Jan. 31 to Mar. 25. The trip will be for six days.

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