14" Tranquil Ashtabhujadhari Durga | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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14" Tranquil Ashtabhujadhari Durga | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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Name: 14" Tranquil Ashtabhujadhari Durga | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZAP44
Price: 1990.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$1990

As a medium of sculpture, bronze was first patronised by the Pallavas in the 6th century AD. During the Chola period (10th–11th century AD), it took on the brilliance that stands to this day.

Frontal images laterally defined limbs, and fully modelled in the round with great fluidity of movement - these are the characteristics of the images of Hindu divinities, a fine example of which is seen on this page.

She is the ashtabhujhadharini Durga, the Durga who is possessed of (‘dharini’) eight (‘ashta’) arms (‘bhuja’). While the Mahishasuramardini, slayeress (‘mardini’) of the buffalo demon (‘mahisha-asura’), is hands-down a wrathful deity, this bronze composition depicts the tranquil side of Her.

Instead of weapons in each and every one of Her hands, She holds sacred implements like the conch and the discus in the posteriormost hands. Note the diminutive trishoola (trident) in Her anteriormost left hand, designed for the right counterpart to be raised in blessing.

This item can be backordered

Time required to recreate this artwork

12 to 16 weeks

Advance to be paid now

$398 (20%)

Balance to be paid once product is ready

$1592

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Specifications

	ZAP44
	Bronze Statue from Swamimalai
	Height: 14.5 inch
	Width: 8.5 inch
	Depth: 4.5 inch
	Weight: 9.43 kg

Delivery and Return Policies


	Returns and Exchanges accepted with 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

From the shringar layered delicately over the curves of her body to the folds of silk that clothe Her limbs, each aspect of the figure has been carved with lifelike detail and perfect symmetry. On the back of Her lion - She is simhavahini, borne by the lion - She is seated in lalitasana. She looks straight ahead, Her determined gaze complemented by the tall, stately crown on Her head. The murti is poised upon a simple, multi-tiered bronze pedestal with subtle lotus engravings.

This bronze image from Swamimalai, a statue of a bit larger size than the Swamimalai bronze-casts usually are, represents goddess Durga in her eight-armed form, the goddess’s most popular ‘ashtabhuja-dhari’ manifestation. Durga in her ashtabhuja-dhari form has been more widely represented in visual arts than any of her other forms. The goddess is riding her mount lion, plumpish in modelling and a toy like looking : bulky figure with short height, tail coiled like a rope, elegantly dressed mane and contrary to the effect that a lolling tongue and wide open mouth should breed the face of the animal delights by its gesture.

The animal has on its back an ornamental saddlecloth composed mainly of laces of tassels and knots and decorative border. Not exactly on the animal’s back, the figure of the goddess seems to float in the space over it, perhaps denoting that she is not bound to any particular spatial domain. Though there are hundreds of legends of the goddess relating to her exploits against demons and evil powers and also related to protecting her devotees, the statue portrays just her vision – her divine presence, her divinity, pervading the earth and the sky, beyond action, beyond representing her as engaged in an act against a demonic power.

Obviously, unlike an act confining the goddess contextually to one event or the other this image aims at representing her as a divine presence pervading all spaces, commanding all acts – every intellect and every mind where an act shapes, and transcending time. Not wrath or a determination to annihilate, sublime calm – something like benignity and contentment, enshrine the face of the goddess. The vision of the goddess holds the viewing mind, drags it away from the material bonds and transcends it into the realm of sublime delight.

The image of the goddess, as also her mount, have been installed on a three-tiered rectangular pedestal, the lower part, comprises, besides a plain base, an upwards narrowing moulding elevating along stylized lotus motifs, the middle part is a plain rising, and the upper, again a plain moulding with edged bottom and chamfered top. Besides her normal right hand held in ‘abhaya’ the goddess is carrying in her other three hands on the right side, and four on the left, chakra –disc, arrow and rod, and conch, bow, trident and casket.

With sublimity enshrining her face the image of the goddess has been conceived on the lines of divine icons : roundish face with well-fed cheeks, sharp nose, cute small lips, mildly protruding chin, meditative half-shut eyes, well-trimmed eyebrows, broad forehead, head covered with a tall crown with Vaishnava character, voluminous neck, broad shoulders, and a highly balanced anatomy – subdued belly, voluminous hips and other aesthetically conceived parts.

Besides a magnificently pleated ‘antariya’ – lower wear – the common component of almost every divine image, the goddess has been cast as wearing also an upper costume with half sleeves. The image is normally bejeweled with ornaments on her ears, neck, breast, arms, wrists and feet. Even for a layman the statue’s origin in the Swamimalai workshop is by itself the assurance of its level of perfection, classicism and technical accomplishment that the craftsmen of Swamimalai have attained after pursuing the craft over centuries through many generations.

A centre of bronze casting with its rare distinction, perhaps hardly any other in India to stand equal, with about 1200 artisans still engaged in the profession Swamimalai till now pursues the standards of great South Indian bronzes that had a centuries old tradition under many ruling dynasties. Despite that as an art-medium bronze is the toughest alloy to work with bronzes from Swamimalai, a small town near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, as this tiny piece, are rare in their aesthetics, spiritual fervour as well as their decorative aspect – even the smallest part conceived with a jeweler’s eye. A Swamimalai bronze breathes, besides a kind of classicism, divine aura and beauty par excellence.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is the statue hollow or solid ?

A. Panchaloha bronze statues are made through a process of lost wax casting, hence they are solid. To know more about how bronze statues are made, please read our article on Panchaloha Bronze Statues. Whereas, brass statues are made through a process of clay casting, hence are hollow.
Q. Can I see the original photo of the product ?

A. For original pictures of the statue, kindly email us at help@exoticindia.com.
Q. Can I return the statue ?

A. Of course you can return a statue. Returns need to be initiated within seven (7) days after delivery. All returned items must be in new and unused condition, with all original tags and labels attached. To know more about our Return Policy, please visit Return Policy.
Q. Can you customise the statue for me ?

A. For any customisation, a new bronze statue has to be made. To know more, kindly email us at help@exoticindia.com.