Plans are underway to construct a new mandir on the agricultural land in Arohalli, Mysore, where the Krishna stone used to carve the murti of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya was discovered. The landowner, 80-year-old H. Ramdas, has maintained a temporary shed on the site, where he placed a photograph of Ayodhya’s Ram Lalla and has been conducting daily pujas, turning the location into a revered spot for devotees.
Around 400 people gathered at the site to mark the first anniversary of the installation of the Ram Lalla murti in Ayodhya, including Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency MLA GT Deve Gowda, who participated in the prayers and rituals led by Aramane Ganesh mandir priest S.V. Prahlad Rao.
Last year, on January 22, the groundwork for building a Shri Ram mandir on this land was initiated. However, construction came to a halt due to unforeseen issues. With renewed enthusiasm, Ramdas plans to build a small mandir on the site. MLA G.T. Deve Gowda has assured him of support in elevating the project into a larger-scale mandir, potentially funded and managed by a registered trust.
“The Krishna stone was found in survey numbers 196–197 of our land,” Ramdas recounted. “We had initially asked a mining agency to remove the stone for agricultural purposes. However, when authorities were seeking Krishna stones to carve statues for Ayodhya, the stone from our land was selected for the murti of Balarama. Subsequently, four additional stones from the same land were chosen for carving statues of Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughan. We did not accept any payment for these stones.”
The discovery has since drawn increasing numbers of devotees to the site. To honour its significance, Ramdas has donated four guns (approximately 0.1 acres) of land to construct a mandir. His four sons have also agreed to this donation. Ramdas explained, “Initially, we had planned to construct a small mandir or mandapam on our own. However, MLA GT Deve Gowda promised to help secure the necessary support for building a grand mandir by registering a trust and facilitating the donation of land. If that does not materialise, we are prepared to build the mandir by forming a family trust.”
One key feature of this new mandir would be a statue of Bhagwan Rama carved by sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who sculpted the Ayodhya Balarama statue. Ramdas expressed his hope that Yogiraj would agree to create a similar masterpiece for the mandir in Arohalli.
MLA GT Deve Gowda reaffirmed his commitment to the project: “The discovery of the Krishna stone here has given this site a special sanctity. We will ensure that all necessary support is provided to build a mandir worthy of its significance.” Sculptor Arun Yogiraj has also expressed his willingness to contribute his artistry to the endeavour, emphasising his dedication to preserving such sacred projects’ spiritual and cultural heritage.
