There is strength and resolute innocence in the personality of the horse. An animal known for its indomitable speed and calm intelligence, its association with Lord Vishnu finds mention in the Pancaratra Agamas.
Lord Hayagreeva, one of the dashavataras (ten incarnations) of Lord Vishnu, has the body of Lord Vishnu and, from the neck (‘greeva’) above, the form of a horse (‘haya’).
The murti that you see on this page depicts the wise Lord Hayagreeva, seated in lalitasana with Devi Lakshmi on His lap. This murti is expressive of the complex symbolism of the Hoysala tradition.
The conch and the discus in His posterior hands are indispensable to the Vaishnava iconography. They are raised such as to frame the distinctive hayasheersha (‘sheersha’ is the Sanskrt word for head). On the lap of the folded leg is seated His wife, Devi Lakshmi.
Both the male and the female deities are clad in a dhoti below the navel while their upper bodies are bedecked with a world of shringar; this is in keeping with the traditional iconography of the millennium-old Hoysala tradition.
Lord Hayagreeva is seated on an upturned lotus pedestal. While the padmasana (‘padma’ stands for lotus, ‘asana’ for throne) may not be exclusive to Hoysala iconography, it is a fixture of the temple walls and complices of the times. The entire ensemble is on a flat quadrilateral base of bronze, making it a compact monotone composition.
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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