Acharya Sumdhur Shastri, a Sanskrit and music scholar, recounted his observations from the commencement of carving the foundation stone for the idol of Ram Lalla to the final stages of the deity’s installation and the initial embellishments in the sanctum sanctorum.
Sculptor Arun Yogiraj, based in Mysuru, responsible for carving the consecrated ‘Ram Lalla’ idol in the newly-constructed Ayodhya temple, would regularly wake up in the middle of the night for the past seven months, claiming that “Ram Lalla is calling him.”
Acharya Sumdhur Shastri, a scholar proficient in Sanskrit and music, recounted his firsthand experiences, starting from witnessing the initial strike of the chisel on the foundation stone for the idol of Ram Lalla, to the completion of the deity’s installation, and the initial embellishments in the sanctum sanctorum.
Shastri mentioned that initially, the task of creating an idol of Ram Lalla for the sanctum sanctorum was assigned to Satyanarayan Pandey, but later, JJ Bhatt’s name was put forward.
Ultimately, Arun Yogiraj was chosen to sculpt the idol of Ram Lalla for the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Mandir.
“The instructions from the trust were precise that the idol of Ram Lalla should embody a child’s form, standing at a height of 51 inches, with meticulous attention to hair and facial features. The discussions delved into capturing every divine attribute,” Shastri conveyed during an interview with Aaj Tak.
He recounted how Arun Yogiraj consistently woke him up in the middle of the night for the past seven months, insisting that he join and witness the divine calling of Ram Lalla.
Speaking to Aajtak, Shastri also mentioned that Arun Yogiraj commenced his work with a slight delay. Initially, there were communication challenges between them, but eventually, they found common ground by conversing in “tooti-footi English” (basic English).
“The entire progression of developing Ram Lalla’s idol spanned 7 to 8 months. Throughout this journey, the artistic autonomy of the sculptor, Arun Yogiraj, was duly respected. The consecration of the idol on January 22 revealed a distinct manifestation of Ram Lalla, with the divine essence becoming evident post-installation,” he remarked.
Shastri also discussed the preparatory groundwork that he and Arun Yogiraj undertook before crafting the idol of Ram Lalla.
“To comprehend the North Indian representation of Ram Lalla, we visited the Swami Narayan Chhapaiya temple and studied the temples in Naimisharanya. We engaged in discussions with saints to grasp the appearance of the idol, delving into scriptures and verses from Ramayana to comprehend the divine form. Nripendra Mishra, the chairman of the Ram Temple Construction Committee, occasionally reviewed the progress,” he explained.
In his interview, Shastri provided a detailed account of the intricacies involved in achieving lifelike expression and depth in the idol of Ram Lalla.
“The process of crafting the eyes was particularly unique. Golden chisels and silver hammers were delicately employed to shape the deity’s eyes. Until the eyes were formed, the idol seemed to lack a certain essence, but the completion of the eyes brought forth a genuine sense of divinity. Special attention was given to ensure that when one gazes upon Ram Lalla, it conveys the sensation of observing everyone,” he explained.
“The construction of Dashavatara was also approached with simplicity and clarity, taking into consideration the weapons associated with each avatar. The entire process took seven days,” he added.