Ayodhya: Lord Ram's First Visuals Out After 'Pran Pratishtha'

The first visuals of the Ram Lalla idol at the Shri Ram Janmaboomi Temple in Ayodhya were officially revealed on Monday.

The 51-inch Ram Lalla idol was inaugurated with a consecration ceremony in Ayodhya around 12.30 pm on Monday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event was aired live on TV channels and the official website of the temple.

The Ram idol has been sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj. The statue has been carved in black stone and Ram Lalla is in a standing posture. The idol has a child-look look with a divine glow.

The Prime Minister entered the temple, carrying a silver 'chattar' (umbrella) over a folded red dupatta. Adorned in a golden kurta paired with a cream dhoti and patka, he made a solemn vow for the "pran pratishtha ceremony" and subsequently proceeded to the innermost sanctum for the rituals.

What Happens To Old Idols?

The old idol of Ram Lalla, kept in a makeshift shrine, will be placed in front of the new idol, as per the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Govind Dev Giri, the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, told PTI: "We shall place them in the temple with all honour and respect. One of the idols will be kept with us since we will need it to measure the clothes and ornaments of Prabhu Shri Ram."

About the original Ram Lalla idol, Giri said, "It will be placed in front of Ram Lalla. The original idol is very important. It is five to six inches in height and cannot be seen from a distance of 25 to 30 feet. That is why we needed a bigger idol.""The first criterion was that the face should be childlike with a divine glow. Lord Ram was "ajaanbaahu" (a person whose arms reach near the knees). So the arms should be of that length." The one chosen for the consecration ceremony was "stout and had a good personality". The limbs were in the correct proportion, the treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said.

"The delicate nature of the child was also visible to us while the ornaments were also very nicely and delicately engraved. It increased the beauty of the idol," he claimed.