Ram Mandir Ayodhya Murti: 7 things you need to know about 'Ram Lalla' idol

Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj has chiselled the 'Ram Lalla' idol. He is a fifth-generation sculptor.

The idol carved by Yogiraj has been sculpted from a three-billion-year-old rock.

The azure-coloured Krishna Shile (black schist) was excavated from Gujjegowdanapura at Jayapura Hobli in H.D. Kote Taluk. 

It is a fine to medium-grained, sky-blue-coloured metamorphic rock and this type is generally called soapstone because of its smooth surface texture and is an ideal rock for sculptors to carve idols.

“Krishna Shile” was found while levelling the agricultural land of Ramdas (78) and a local contractor.

On assessment, it was found to be of superior quality and was selected for sculpting the idol of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya.

Ramadas has announced that he will donate four 'guntas' of his land for the construction of a Ram temple at the site from where the stone was mined.