Lord Nataraja is also addressed as Lord Shiva, the destroyer and the creator of the universe. Usually, it is believed that Lord Nataraja performs tandava whenever he is aggressive. But there are two different types of Tandava – the Rudra Tandava and Ananda Tandava. In Ananda Tandava Lord Nataraja dances in pure bliss, on the other hand, Rudra Tandava depicts the dance of the destruction of the cosmos.
In this statue, Lord Nataraja is performing Ananda Tandava in complete ecstasy celebrating the creation through the cosmic dance. A beautiful bronze sculpture expresses the rhythmic pattern of life. The ring of fire around the sculpture signifies the ring of cosmic fire (Prabha Mandala). The matted locks of the Lord are crowned with a skull, a crescent moon, and multiple hoods of the deadly serpents. The expressions exhibited on the face are of calmness, serenity, and completely submerged in the state of ananda (bliss). The right earring is in the shape of Makara (crocodile, worn by males), and the left earring is in the shape of Kundalam (circular, worn by females). The implication is the unity between the two entities that abolish all the differences and reflects the absolute reality. The Lord Nataraja posterior right-hand holds Damaru resonating the primal sound of creation and left-hand holds a blazing flame symbolising destruction. The Lord through his cosmic dance strikes the balance in the cycle of creation and destruction. He holds ‘Abhaya Mudra’ in anterior right hand through this gesture he provides bliss, peace, and protection to his devotees while he holds the other hand in ‘Gaja Anugraha’ (elephant hand) indicating removal of obstacles from the lives of his followers. It reminds the characteristic of his son Lord Ganesha. The right foot is firmly placed on a demon, Apasmara Pursha (indicating victory over ignorance and illusion) and the left leg raised high in the air reflects the liberation of the mature soul from the unending cycle. The lower torso of the Lord is wrapped with a cloth named Veshti and a strip of the sacred thread (Angavastram) is flaying in the right direction. The idol celebrates multiple and different ideas and identities without negating the opposite one and unites everyone in harmony and happiness.
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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