Shri. Arun Yogiraj :

The youngest sculptor of Ram Lalla’s Murti in Ayodhya and other National Icons

January 22, 2024, was not just another day – it marked the beginning of a new era. At the heart of this historic moment stood sculptor Shri. Arun Yogiraj, who gave form to the aspirations of crores of Indians. His creation is not just a Murti (Idol), but a symbol of over 500 years of infinite sacrifice, struggle, and fervent prayers. This was the moment when India finally saw the Ram Lalla moving from a temporary tent to His rightful place in the grand Ayodhya Temple.

Shri. Arun Yogiraj lived like a Sage for 6  months to sculpt the Murti of Ram Lalla

It took Shri. Arun Yogiraj 6 months to sculpt the Murti of Ram Lalla. During this period, he lived like a Sage. He consumed only sattvik food – primarily fruits and sprouted grains. This beautiful and deeply emotional Murti of Ram Lalla was created by him as a part of his sadhana (Spiritual practice), radiating Divine presence. One truly feels that Ram Lalla has returned to Ayodhya !

The sacrifice of the soldiers and generals for the Hindavi Swarajya as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is supreme. Similarly, in the present times, many devout Hindus and patriotic citizens of this country have been striving to protect the Nation & Dharma. The ‘Hindutva Warriors’ is a series of Articles that sheds light on their lives and struggles to protect Hindu Dharma. We hope that this serves as a catalyst for the mission of establishing the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and inspires many others. – Editor

1. A family of sculptors

Shri. Arun Yogiraj was born on December 15, 1983, in Mysuru, Karnataka. His inspiration and initial training in sculpture came from his own home, which he considers his first school.

From a young age, he was fascinated by watching his father transform ordinary stones into Divine Murtis and small temples worshipped in homes. This fascination took root in his heart when he was just 8-years-old. He spent countless hours playing with stones in the family’s studio located beside their home.

Sculpting is a five-generation tradition in his family. His grandfather was a recipient of the National Award and was honoured by the President of India in 1983. Likewise, his father was given the State Award for his contributions to art and sculpture.

 2. Sculpture as a career

Shri. Arun Yogiraj studied Shilpa Shastra, the ancient Indian science of sculpture. This traditional knowledge is rooted in precise measurements, often referred to in his practice as ‘thadam’ – a method where even grains of rice are used to ensure accuracy.

At the age of 11, he first touched sculpting tools while working alongside his father. A few years later, he began competing with senior artists. After completing his graduation, on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti – January 14, 2005 – he sculpted a Murti of Deity Ayyappa in just two days, marking a major milestone in his professional journey. Interestingly, the final touches to the Murti of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya were also completed on Makar Sankranti – January 14, 2024 – exactly 19 years later.

After years of dedicated practice, Shri. Arun Yogiraj mastered the Mysuru style of sculpture, which is a refined version of the techniques used in Hoysala architecture. He has honed his skills to such an extent that he can now create remarkable and lifelike sculptures from virtually any type of stone.

However, his journey wasn’t shaped by artistic pursuits alone. Like many others, he pursued formal education and completed an MBA before entering the corporate world. Yet, his deep connection with sculpture remained intact, perhaps due to the familiar touch of stone on his fingers, the silent dialogue between sculptor and creation, or a strong desire to carry forward his family’s legacy.

In 2008, he made a life-changing decision to return to his roots and chose the sculptor’s studio over a corporate career. This transition was not without challenges, but he continued to refine and elevate his craft in the world of sculpture.

To date, Shri. Arun Yogiraj has created over 10,000 sculptures of various sizes and styles. To make his sculptures more realistic and expressive, he spent two years rigorously studying sculpture and human anatomy.

3. A turning point in his sculpting journey

One of the most significant milestones in Shri. Arun Yogiraj’s career came when he was given the opportunity to sculpt a 15-foot marble statue of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of Mysuru, Karnataka. Considering his young age at the time, a senior administrative officer questioned, ‘Can such a young man handle such a large and important project ?’

But Arun had unwavering belief in his abilities. He requested the opportunity and was told, ‘You may proceed; but the sculpture will only be accepted if it is truly satisfactory’. Determined, he invested all his savings into the project and crafted the statue with meticulous attention to detail.

His efforts bore fruit when, in 2015, the Chief Minister of Karnataka said during a public event, “Although earlier statues were good, the one sculpted by Shri. Arun Yogiraj looks alive”. This praise was a major validation of his skill and gave him the confidence to take on even more significant national projects.

4. Awards and honours received

A. For crafting the exquisitely detailed and deeply emotive Murti of Ram Lalla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally honoured and praised Shri. Arun Yogiraj.

B. He has received several accolades and recognitions, including :

• • An honour from the Amar Shilpi Jakanacharya Trust
  • The Karnataka State Award
  • Honorary membership from the Karnataka Handicrafts Council
  • The Nalwadi Award from the Mysuru District Administration
  • The Young Talented Artist Award from the South Zone Cultural Centre, Government of India
  • The Shilpa Kaustubha Award from a sculptors’ association
  • The Rajyotsava Award from the Mysuru District Authority
  • Recognition by the Chief Minister of Karnataka and the Mysuru District Sports Academy

C. He also received personal appreciation from former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Important Murtis sculpted by Shri. Arun Yogiraj

1. The Murti of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) : The most remarkable moment in Shri. Arun Yogiraj’s life was sculpting the Murti of Ram Lalla for the Shriram Mandir in Ayodhya. This monumental task was not without its challenges. Yet, with unwavering faith, dedication, perseverance, and radiant artistic brilliance, Shri. Yogiraj created an extraordinary Divine Murti. This sculpture has deeply moved the hearts of millions of devotees across India.

His selection for crafting the Murti of Ram Lalla was not merely a stroke of luck; it was a reflection of his relentless efforts and a spiritual culmination of his devotion.

2. The Murti of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) : Shri. Arun Yogiraj sculpted the Murti of Adi Shankaracharya at Kedarnath. He was given the honour of first presenting the model of the Murti to PM Modi. To create this sculpture, he worked tirelessly for 9 months, dedicating 14 hours each day. While working on this Murti, he suffered a great personal loss. His father, who had been his guide and greatest support passed away. Despite the grief, he set aside his sorrow and poured his emotions into the creation of a magnificent Murti, offering it as a heartfelt tribute to his father. He crafted a 12-foot tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya from 18 separate stone blocks, seamlessly fused together so flawlessly that the joints were completely untraceable. This masterpiece became a source of immense pride for his family.

3. The Statue of Netaji Bose : Ahead of the 125^th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Ministry of Culture took note of his work and entrusted him with the responsibility of sculpting Netaji’s statue to be installed at India Gate. With great dedication, he created the largest monolithic (single-stone) granite statue in India – a lifelike sculpture standing 30 feet tall and carved from a single block of granite weighing 280 tons. It took two and a half months to complete, and the final statue itself weighs 60 tons. Notably, the statue was carved from one of the hardest types of granite in the world, making this feat even more remarkable. Through this project, he earned recognition as the youngest sculptor to have created a statue of such national significance.