A uniquely interesting ‘panchaloha’ bronze image created in the ‘madhuchista vidhana’ lost wax technique is this anthropomorphic form of Vishnu’s powerful weapon (and the wheel of time), the Sudarshana Chakra. The anthropomorphic form – or ‘Ayudhapurusha,’ meaning the human manifestation of a divine weapon – began being prominently depicted with the rise of Tantrism, and the personification of the discus was associated with the Pala era and the Vrishnis. It is however with the Chakra Purusha that laid down the details regarding the independent worship of Chakraperumal along with the image of Vishnu.
As is detailed in the text, the ‘sthpati’ here has presented a double-sided image of Narasimha and Sudarshan. The four-armed half-man, half-lion avatar of Vishnu, responsible for the vanquishment of the demon Hiranyakashipu, is presented in a seated yogic posture (over the hood of Sheshnag) with a ‘yogapatti’ wrapped around his thighs to keep his posture erect. His four hands carry the ‘sudarshana chakra.’ On the other side we have the sixteen-handed personification of Sudarshan carrying various attributes of Vishnu. This Sudarshana-Narasimha image is enclosed within a circular rim of fire. The inscribed hexagram – ‘shat-kona-chakra’ – denotes the wheel of time and developing from the ideas of tantric cults and the Garuda Purana, the flames symbolise the wrathful power the Sudarshan Chakra provided a king to defeat his enemies with. In fact, much like how Nataraja’s hair represents the flow of Ganga, Sudarshan’s flaming hair represent the flow of his destructive energy. The elaborate image is poised on the back of two fearsome lions, possibly as the mount of the Chakrathalvar.
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.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist