The much-awaited Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Lalla idol at Aodhya Ram Mandir has been done on January 22, marking a day of great significance to India.
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The idol
The 51-inch Ram Lalla idol has been sculpted by Karnataka-based ace sculptor Arun Yogiraj, and is portrayed as a 5-year-old boy.
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Why is it black?
The Ram Lalla idol is black in colour. Here is why.
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Krishna Shila
The stone, known as Krishna Shila, used to carve the idol originates from Mysuru. It was found in Ramadas' land when he wanted to level the soil for agriculture.
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Superior stone
As the Store was being excavated, Ramadas saw that it was actually a huge boulder. People who excavated the stone then found that it was of superior quality.
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Word reaches Ayodhya
The word was passed all over India and it eventually reached the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust, who decided that this stone will be used to make the idol.
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Hardens over time
As per Yogiraj's wife Vijetha, Krishna shila is bluish-grey and when you apply coconut and burnt cocoa powder, it turns black. Over the years, it hardens.
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Doesn t react
The Krishna Shila stone also does not react to acid or anything like that. This means that there is no chance of corrosion even if milk is poured.