15" Visnu Dashavatara Panel with Vaishnava Symbols and Wicks | Wall Hanging in Hoysala Art | Made in South India

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This highly ornate and exquisitely beautiful wall depicts the ten major forms or ‘avatars’ of Vishnu, along with three important symbols of the Vaishnavite tradition. Such wall hangings form an integral part of the Hindu household, and typically placed over a door or a walkway, these symbolise as spiritual gateways.

Vishnu’s presence as the supreme god of preservation dictates his duty that as the protector of good and the ‘para brahman,’ his divine powers are always working to keep the righteous cycle of dharma in balance. Thus, in every ‘yuga’ or age, Vishnu has manifested himself in various avatars to cleanse the earth from the evils of adharma.

From the left, we see Matsya, the fish avatar; Kurma, the tortoise avatar;’ Varaha, or the half boar/half man avatar; Narasimha, the half lion/half man avatar; Vamana, the dwarf avatar; Parashurama, the warrior avatar;’ Rama, the king of righteousness and morality; Balrama, an extension of Ananta Shesha and the elder brother of Krishna; Krishna, the mischievous avatar central to the Mahabharata; and Hayagriva, the half horse/half man avatar that reigns as the god of knowledge and wisdom. Kalki’s absence as the final form is a reminder to the viewer that that avatar of Vishnu is yet to come, for its coming shall herald the end of our current ‘yuga.’

The other three symbols in place are the ‘shankha’ or conch in the lower left, the ‘sudarshana chakra’ or war discus at the lower right, and the ‘Urdhava Pundra tilak’ or mark placed on the top. The ‘tilak,’ specifically the ‘sricharanam’ here, is a mark of identification that members of the Sri Vaishnava tradition wear. The two outer lines represent the feet of Vishnu, while the middle part represents Lakshmi. 

Making Process of Hoysala Bronze

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Due to its durability, corrosion resistance, and versatility, bronze is the most preferred metal for artisans to create sculptures. Other qualities that make it the ideal choice for creating statues is its ability to be cast easily. Aside from that, this metal allows the most intricate details to be captured by the artist.
The art of making bronze statues has been practiced in India for centuries, and evidence of it can be found in magnificent Hoysala bronze ornaments and bronze statues in South India. Of the many bronze idols produced in the country, Hoysala art statues are very famous. The hoysala style includes a depiction of embellishments and ornaments and an abundance of jewelry while making statues. It grew from the 10th to 14th centuries in the Hoysala dynasty that ruled the region, falling in present day Karnataka, hence the name of this craft. It involves intricate work, deep carving, and undercutting by artisans to create elaborate and decorative motifs.
Much time and effort goes into bringing these timeless pieces to life. It takes months to finish a single sculpture, and they are always created by casting. The most common casting type for bronze idols is the lost-wax casting technique. This is a 4000-year-old art form and requires a lot of concentration, patience, and finesse.

The first step of making bronze statues is making a model of the sculpture in clay. The artist creates an exact clay version of what he envisions to be made in bronze. He captures every little detail.

The second step involves making a mold of plasticine or silicon rubber around the clay statue. Once the mold hardens, it is separated from the clay sculpture.

After that, molten wax is poured into the mold so that a thick layer of coating is created inside the mold. This is done so that every detail of the sculpture is captured.

Once the wax hardens, the plasticine or silicon mold is removed, and a ceramic shell is created around the wax structure by dipping it in liquid slurry and silica sand.

This ceramic shell is heated upon solidification, and the wax is melted out. After that, molten bronze is poured into the mold through tubes.

Once the liquid bronze has hardened and taken the shape of the mold, the ceramic shell is removed, and the final product is checked for any imperfections.

The final step involves the application of patina onto the sculpture. This prevents corrosion and adds color to the statue. A final coat of wax is applied to preserve this and add luster.