The Krishna Shila or black stone that was used to create the imposing idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, which was unveiled to the enthusiasm of devotees on Friday, has its origin from Gujjegoudanapura village in Mysore, Karnataka. The idol has been made by Arun Yogiraj, who hails from the same area.

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News18 spoke to Srinivas Nataraja about how the monolithic stone was identified and now transformed into a young Lord Rama, holding a bow and arrow and standing over a lotus flower.

“Not just Ram, but monoliths for Sita, Lakshman and Shatrughan have also been obtained from us. We sent a 9 feet x 8 inches monolith, which was transformed into a mesmerizing sculpture by Arun Yogiraj. The other three stones will also be brought to life by sculptors. When we got the call that our stone was 85% close to the demand of the Ayodhya Temple Trust members, our happiness knew no bounds. “It was as if God was showering his blessings on us,” Srinivas said.

Why Krishna Shila?

There is a specialty of Krishna Shila. Its bright blue-black colored stone is considered to be closest to the color of Lord Krishna, hence the name. The stone, also known as Nellikaru rocks, is soft, which helps sculptors carve it easily. Over the years, it hardens, thus strengthening the artistic work carved on it. This stone can be carved using precision tools to produce exquisite designs.

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Heavily lacquered, the Krishna Rock also acquires a special luster over the years, causing the sculptures and intricate carvings to sparkle when the sun’s rays fall on it. Most of the temples in Southern India use this stone to carve idols, which is found in abundance in Mysuru, HD Kote region of Karnataka.

‘ground’ work

Srinivas’s family has been in the quarrying business for generations and also provides Krishna rock stone to sculptors across the country.

While searching for land where they could continue excavations, they found an area. “We used JCBs to level the area and also carried out excavation when we found a solid piece of rock that was more than 10 feet long. We were unable to lift it using heavy machinery. After a lot of work, it was removed and kept aside,” said Srinivas, who further recalled how he was approached by Surendra Vishwakarma, a man associated with the temple construction.

“He inspected the monolith and said it was a rare piece. We connected with Gopal ji of Ayodhya Trust on video call and he also agreed that it was a unique piece of stone. Monoliths were also sent to Ayodhya from Chennai and Nepal. But we were destined to serve Lord Ram and the Ayodhya temple,” said the mine owner.

Srinivas said the monolith has been taken to Ayodhya to carve the idols of Sita, Lakshman and Shatrughan. “We asked for time because we wanted to ensure that there were no cracks, stains or lines on the stone that could cause problems when sculpting later. We wanted to make sure that we gave our 100% to God.”

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After the monolith was finalized from Mysuru, a special bhumi puja was conducted by the priests.

On January 22, when the Pran Pratishtha puja takes place in Ayodhya, a parallel puja will also be held at Gujjegaudanpura village to celebrate his association with the temple.