The embodiment of annihilation of the cosmos, Lord Bhairava, a fearsome incarnation of Lord Shiva, is carved in bronze in the art form of lost wax that hails from Swamimalai. He is accompanied by a dog, who acts as his vahan (vehicle). His is the form that exists beyond the existence of fear, supreme in the way he acts as the destroyer of the universe. It was Lord Shiva himself who had created this terrifying yet divine form of Bhairava. There was once a war between devas and asuras.
To assist the devas in the slaying of demons, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Astanga Bhairavas. In this idol, he stands on an upturned lotus and serpents encircle his waist in mimicry of jewellery. In his hands, he holds four things—a noose, a damru that rings out with noise both during the beginning of the universe and the end, a trident that is Lord Shiva’s weapon, and a skull turned into a cup that once belonged to an arrogant Brahma. It is evident that the statue was created by ardent followers called sthapathis with nothing but devotion in their hearts. The large eyes and sharp features make for a truly unique idol.
Eternal Brilliance Unveiled: The Mystique of Panchaloha Bronze and Artful Maintenance Rituals
Bronze is a metal alloy that has the primary composition of Copper and Tin. There is also an addition of other metals such as Manganese, Aluminium, Nickel, and some non-metals such as Phosphorus. This composition of several metals and non-metals makes Bronze an extremely durable and strong metal alloy. It is for this reason that Bronze is extensively used for casting sculptures and statues. Since Bronze has a low melting point, it usually tends to fill in the finest details of a mould and when it cools down, it shrinks a little that makes it easier to separate from the mould.
" If you happen to have a bronze statue, simply use a cotton cloth with some coconut oil or any other natural oil to clean the statue. "
A village named Swamimalai in South India is especially known for exceptionally well-crafted Bronze icons of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The skilled artisans of this place use Panchaloha Bronze for casting the icons. Panchaloha Bronze is made of five metals; Copper, Zinc, Lead, and small quantities of Gold and Silver. Zinc gives a golden hue to the finished figure and Lead makes the alloy softer for the easy application of a chisel and hammer. The common technique for producing these statues and sculptures is the “Lost-wax” method. Because of the high durability of bronze sculptures and statues, less maintenance is required, and can still last up to many decades.
Exotic India takes great pride in its collection of hand-picked Panchaloha Statues. You will find the murtis of Gods (Krishna, Hanuman, Narasimha, Ganesha, Nataraja, and Kartikeya) and Goddesses (Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Parvati), and Buddha statues. You can also buy Ritual paraphernalia (Wicks lamp, Puja Kalash, Cymbals, and Puja Flag) on the website. All these statues and items have been made with a lot of care and attention, giving them a flawless finish. Their fine carving detail represents the rich tradition of India.
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