Mohini, the female incarnation of Sri Vishnu, the preserver lord in Hinduism is associated in mythology with the churning of the ocean. This, however, was not the only time when Vishnu’s female form enticed the demons and led them to their end. According to another tale from the Puranas, Bhasmasur, a demon king performed penance and pleased Shiva. The demon king asked Shiva to grant him the power to turn anyone he touches on the head to ash. As soon as Shiva granted him his wish, the devilish Bhasmasur turned to Shiva in order to test the potency of the boon. A worried Shiva, unable to take back the powers made possible by his divine words, went to Vishnu. The great god took the form of Mohini- the most beautiful and enchanting female in the universe and paid a visit to Bhasmasur.
Enchanted by the allure of Mohini, Bhasmasur proposed to her. Mohini came up with a condition. She would marry Bhasmasur only if he could match her in Nritya Kala (the art of dancing). In this gorgeous Swamimalai bronze, made by using the age-old lost-wax technique, the artist has recreated the charming moves of Mohini. Placed on a lotus pedestal, Mohini in this bronze idol has one of her anklet-decorated legs raised, in a lively dance pose. Her voluptuous physique is made even more mesmerizing by the girdle that is wrapped around her waist, the necklaces and armlets on her upper body, and her bejewelled chudamani (tiara-like head ornament). Mohini smiles with the knowledge of what happened just after she strikes the pose you see in this statue.
In the ecstasy of dancing with Mohini, an elated Bhasmasur imitated her moves and placed his hand on his head. Lo and behold the wit and beauty of Mohini! The demon was slain using his powers against him. The Indian classical dance- Mohiyattam celebrates the mastery and exquisiteness of Mohini through its emotive performance.
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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