A truly powerful and iconic image of Hanuman is his five-headed manifestation, as presented in this ‘panchaloha’ bronze sculptural work. From the skilled hand of the ‘sthapati’ of Swamimalai comes this visually enchanting and divine idol that conceptualises the monkey god in a syncretic union of Shaivite and Vaishnavite iconography. As the courageous and dutiful companion of Rama, our Vayu ‘putra,’ or son of the wind-God Vayu, stands proud on a raised double lotus platform and is draped in a subtle yet detailed attire that extends till his feet.
Hanuman’s five heads set their gaze upon all directions, and embody the strength and vitality to overcome any sort of fear and obstacle from the path of dharma. The ten hands hold the various attributes of Narasimha, Varaha, Hayagriva, Garuda, and represent the benevolent and kind, as well as fierce nature of the deity. As one of the central characters of the epic Ramayana, Hanuman’s Panchamukhi form was said to have overcome Ahiravana. Moreover, the five heads of the figure are emblematic of Hanuman’s yogic control over the five senses, or the ‘pancha indriya.’ Such an iconic piece, executed in the ‘madhuchista vidhana’ or lost wax technique of bronze casting, is a truly spectacular artistic creation, which also serves as an important religious idol for worship and reverence.
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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