A detailed description of all the incarnations in the panel is available in the description section below: 

The first incarnation of Lord Vishnu is of Matsya (the fish). He took this form to save the sacred hymns of the Vedas from being lost in the vast ocean. Here the incarnation is depicted in the upper half as human and the lower half as fish with four hands bearing conch and discus while the other two hands are in Varada Mudra (for blessings) and Abhaya Mudra (for protection). The beautifully ornated idol is placed on the left side of Lord Vishnu.

In the second incarnation, Lord Vishnu appeared as Kurma (the tortoise) and became a pivot beneath the churning rod (Mount Mandara). The idol is placed on the right side of Lord Vishnu in a combination of human-animal forms. The personification of the objects held in hands is similar to that of Matsya.

The third incarnation was Varaha (the boar) when Lord carried the Mother Earth on his tusk and prevented it from falling into the vast ocean. It is located at the bottom of the wooden panel next to Lord Vishnu towards the right.

Lord Vishnu appeared as Narasimha (the man-lion) to kill the demon Hiranyakashipu and protect his devotee Prahlad. This was the most ferocious form ever taken by the Lord. The idol can be located at the bottom top of the lord.

According to the fifth incarnation, the Lord appeared as Vamana (the Brahmana dwarf). The lord took three huge steps covered the entire world and deceived the demon Bali. After that, he released the water of the Ganges and purified the world of its sins. The remarkable element of the idol is the umbrella placed on top of Lord Vishnu on the right side.

Lord Vishnu took the sixth incarnation as Parasurama and killed the warrior class twenty-one times as they continuously fought among themselves and created havoc in the society. Parasurama saved the world from the aggression of warriors. The most significant element of the idol is that it bears an axe in its right hand. The axe was the only weapon used by the lord to remove unjust from the world. The idol is placed on the extreme left of Lord Vishnu on the wooden panel.  

The seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu is Rama, the most revered one. Lord Rama killed the demon Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing the exile of fourteen years. The beautiful idol is placed on top of the wooden panel in the extreme right.

Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnation of the Supreme Lord. He ended the tyrannical rule of his maternal uncle Kansa and became an advisor to the Pandavas and guide of Arjuna in Mahabharat. This incarnation is widely adored and worshiped all over the world. His beautiful idol is located on top to the extreme left of Lord Vishnu.

The ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is Balarama (Krishna’s elder brother). He was known for his prodigious strength through many adventures. His decorated idol is placed at the bottom extreme right of the panel.

The tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is Hayagriva (horse-headed) worshipped for knowledge and wisdom. He instills speed, strength, and intellect in his devotees. His idol is located right next to Lord Vishnu.

In the center is the idol of Lord Vishnu in its complete grandeur and glory that is captured by the artisan in a fantastic aesthetic sense. The entire set weaves the vibe of harmony, positivity, and happiness in the surroundings. 

From Top Left Corner to Right:-

Kurma – 6.2 inch Height x 2.7 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Narasimha – 6.1 inch Height x 2.7 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Hayagriva - 6.1 inch Height x 2.7 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Matshya - 6.2 inch Height x 2.7 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Rama - 6 inch Height x 2.6 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Centre Statue - 9.2 inch Height x 5.2 inch Width x 3.3 inch Depth
Krishna - 5.7 inch Height x 2.7 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Parashurama - 6.3 inch Height x 1.9 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Vaman - 6 inch Height x 2 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Balarama – 5.8 inch Height x 1.9 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth
Varaha – 6.1 inch Height x 2.7 inch Width x 1.8 inch Depth

Sculpting Serenity: Unveiling the Art of Crafting Wood Statues

Wood has been a preferred material for sculptures and statues since ancient times. It is easy to work with than most metals and stones and therefore requires less effort to shape it into any desired shape or form. The texture of the wood gives an element of realism to the sculpture. The selection of an appropriate wood type is necessary for carving. Woods that are too resinous or coniferous are not considered good for carving as their fiber is very soft and thus lacks strength. On the other hand, wood such as Mahogany, Oakwood, Walnut wood, Weet cherry wood, etc., are preferred by sculptors because their fiber is harder. A wood sculptor uses various tools such as a pointed chisel in one hand and a mallet in another to bring the wood to the desired measurement and to make intricate details on it. A carving knife is used to cut and smooth the wood. Other tools such as the gouge, V-tool, and coping saw also serve as important tools in wood carving. Although the wood carving technique is not as complex and tough as stone carving or metal sculpting, nonetheless, a wood carver requires a high level of skills and expertise to create a stunning sculpture.

1. Selecting the right wood

The process of wood carving begins with selecting a chunk of wood that is required according to the type and shape of the statue to be created by the sculptor. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for making artistic pieces, however, hardwoods are preferred more than softer woods because of their durability and longevity. But if heavy detailing is to be done on the statue, wood with fine grain would be needed as it would be difficult to work with hardwood.

2. Shaping the wood

Once the wood type is selected, the wood carver begins the general shaping process using gouges of various sizes. A gouge is a tool having a curved cutting edge which is useful in removing large unwanted portions of wood easily without splitting the wood. The sculptor always carves the wood across the grain of the wood and not against it.

3. Adding detailing

When a refined shape of the statue is obtained, it is time for making details on the statue using different tools. This is achieved by using tools such as a veiner to make and a V-tool to create decorative and sharp cuts.

4. Surface finishing

Once finer details have been added, the sculptor is ready to smoothen the surface and give it a perfect finish. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are used to get a smooth surface. The finer polishing is obtained by rubbing the surface with sandpaper. If a textured surface is required, this step is skipped. Finally, to protect the statue from excessive dirt accumulation, the sculptor applies natural oils such as walnut or linseed oil all over it. This also brings a natural sheen to the statue.