29'' Goddess Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Durga (sometimes Kali or Parvati) are the manifestations of the potencies of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva- the three male deities who look after the task of creating, preserving, and destroying. Without the presence of the active female element alongside them, the great male trinity (Tridevas) is rendered useless. Only when the passive male element or Purusha combines with the active female- Prakriti, the wheel of time is set into motion, and the phases of creation, stagnation, and destruction all occur in the desired harmony. Besides their role as the enabler of the Tridevas, these three goddesses are also seen as three different aspects of the primordial mother- Adi Shakti or Para Shakti, who is the culmination of all the active material aspects of the universe. It is She who becomes Saraswati and inspires Brahma to create, it is She who becomes Vishnu’s Mahamaya and assists him by creating the unending illusion of human existence and it is She who becomes Kali and instigates Shiva into performing his great dance of destruction. In her form as the great female energy, the goddess is evoked by the mantra or chant- “Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche”. The “Aim” in the chant represents Saraswati, “Hreem” Lakshmi and “Kleem” signifies Kali or Parvati. Together, these goddesses are the representative of the various characteristics of Chamunda- the omnipresent divine warrior goddess, who is the creator, savior, and annihilator of the universe. Therefore, the three goddesses as presented in this magnificent Panchaloha icon are not three different deities, but three aspects of one great divine made visible through the means of sculpture.

All three goddesses are four-armed, beautifully adorned with divine ornaments and attire, and are provided separate padmasana or lotus platforms. Maa Saraswati and Durga are seated in Lalitasana, while goddess Lakshmi stands gracefully in the center of the idol. The devoutness of the artist towards his craft, which is visible in this bronze work, appears to have pleased the great mothers, whose motherly presence is felt in their representations. This rare Panchaloha composite is nothing short of the Adi Shakti’s benevolence for her ardent devotee or anyone who seeks to benefit from the affectionate gaze of the Adi Shakti- the primordial mother.

Sculpting Dreams in Metal: The Enigmatic Alchemy of Panchaloha Bronze Masterpieces

Bronze statues and sculptures are known for their exquisite beauty and the divinity that they emit all around the space. Bronze is considered an excellent metal alloy, composed primarily of copper and tin. Many properties make it suitable for sculpting even the most intricate and complex structures. There was a period in history, known as the “Bronze Age'', in which most sculptors preferred to work with Bronze as it was considered the hardest metal. Bronze is especially appreciated for its durability, ductility, and corrosion-resistance properties. India is especially known for its elegant workmanship of skills working with Bronze. The artisans of a town named Swamimalai in South India have been following a tradition of bronze murti making for ages. They use a special material known as Panchaloha bronze to make fascinating icons of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. All of us are allured by the beauty of bronze statues and sculptures but there goes a tough hand in casting those masterpieces with little or no imperfections. Since it is an extremely elaborate process, a sculptor needs to be highly skilled in making bronze antiques. The most common technique for casting bronze sculptures that has been followed since ancient times is the “Lost-wax” process which involves many steps:

1. Clay model making

The making of a bronze statue or sculpture starts with preparing a full-sized clay (usually Plasticine) model of the sculpture. This allows the artist to have an idea about the overall shape and form of the desired sculpture before working with bronze, a much more expensive and difficult-to-work-with material.

2. Mould making

Once the clay model is ready, a mould of the original sculpture is made. This is done by carefully covering the clay model with plaster strips. This step is carried out in such a way that no air bubbles are formed. It takes up to 24 hours for the plaster to dry. Once dried, the plaster is then gently removed from the clay model. The removal happens easily because the inner mould is usually made of materials such as polyurethane rubber or silicone.

3. Wax filling and removal

In this step, molten bronze or wax is poured or filled into the mould in such a way that it gets even into the finest details. The mould is then turned upside down and left to cool and harden. When the wax has hardened, it is removed from the mould.

4. Chasing

Chasing is the process in which the artist refines the surface of the bronze statue using various tools to achieve fine details. This smoothens the surface and gives the statue a finished look. If some parts of the statue were moulded separately, they are now heated and attached.

5. Applying a patina

Bronze sculptures are known for their unique look or sheen on the surface. This may take several years to achieve naturally. Applying patina to bronze sculptures is an important step to make them appear attractive. Working with clay, plaster mould, and molten wax can be messy and therefore sculptors wear old clothes and remain careful. The entire process of making a bronze statue takes several months to complete. Bronze sculptures last for many centuries because of the high durability of the material. Many centuries down the line, these sculptures continue to be appreciated for their majestic beauty.