Abstract
Lord Rama is an important figure in religious and artistic traditions of India. The Valmiki Ramayana narrates Rama’s experiences while illustrating his features and qualities, which contributed to the formation of his representation in sculpture, painting, and temple worship. In January 2024, the idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya came to life, thus marking the beginning of this long-standing tradition in our days. The idol was crafted by Arun Yogiraj from black stone symbolizing Rama in the age of five and depicted in his godly and royal disposition. The aim of this paper is to reveal how the characteristics of Rama in the Valmiki Ramayana are transformed into sculptural symbols and how the Ayodhya idol interprets traditional iconography in modern days. The article analyzes the conversion of descriptions of the epic into images and highlights the way the idols influence each other. The study also shows how text, image, temple, and heritage together create the public meaning of Rama in contemporary India.