The idol of Ram Lalla is carved from black or dark-coloured stone. Estimates of its age vary widely, ranging from a few centuries to millennia. The Idol is 51 inches tall.
The walls surrounding the platform where the idol sits bear markings and murals of unclear origin and meaning. Some believe these hold clues to the site's historical significance, while others consider them decorative embellishments.
Accounts of the idol's initial discovery in the 19th century differ. Some narrate it appearing under a peepal tree, while others suggest it was found within the Babri Masjid itself. Its movement from the peepal tree to the contested site further adds to the enigma.
Devotees attribute certain miraculous properties to the Ram Lalla idol. Stories of milk offerings solidifying into sweets or the idol's eyes changing color have circulated for years, fueling belief and adding to the mystical aura surrounding it.
The idol became a central symbol in the decades-long legal battle over the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi site. Its presence within the mosque fueled Hindu claims of a demolished temple and triggered the Ayodhya dispute
The Archaeological Survey of India conducted excavations around the disputed site, uncovering remnants of structures interpreted as temple pillars. However, questions and debates regarding the exact nature of these findings and their conclusive link to the Ram Lalla idol persist.
The Ram Lalla idol is now housed in a temporary temple within the construction site of the grand Ram Janmabhoomi temple. Its future placement within the final temple structure and its ongoing religious significance remain points of interest and discussion.