The word ‘panchamukhi’ is a portmanteau of ‘pancha’, which means five, and ‘mukha’, which means face. As such, ‘panchamukhi’ translates to the one possessed of five faces. The murti that you see on this page is of the Panchamukhi Vinayaka, whose each face pertains to a kosha or level of existence.
It is a murti of substantial proportions. Panchamukhi Vinayaka is seated on an upturned lotus on an engraved, many-tiered plinth. He is possessed of ten arms, the dashabhujadhari, and wears a fierce expression on each face. Clearly, this is a wrathful deity, in sharp contrast to the usual calm and childlike nature of Shiva-Parvati’s son.
Temple pillars on either side of the seated figure, borrowing heavily from the ancient South Indian temple aesthetic. The same goes for the ornate archway above the five heads of Vinayaka. A baked gold colour with the unmistakable sheen of panchaloha, and texture replete with the finest iconographical details.
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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