Lord Dhanavantari is the presiding deity over Ayurveda, system of traditional Indian medicine. He is a manifestation of none other than Lord Mahavishnu and, according to the Puranas, is said to have been birthed from the doodhsagar during the samudramanthan of the devas and the asuras.
The handpicked bronze sculpture that you see on this page is a finely done example of the textual iconography of Lord Dhanavantara.
Upon an upturned lotus atop latticeworked pedestal stands the gracious Lord Dhanavantari. The fullness of His stature is evened out by His four arms (He is chaturbhujadhari, or one possessed of four arms). His posterior hands bear the shankha (conch) and the dharmachakra (symbolic discoid) in keeping with His Vaishnavite roots, while in His anterior hands are a leech and a pot of amrta (elixir of immortality).
The presiding deity over health and existential well-being is richly adorned in gold ornaments and a dhoti of silk, complemented by a templetop-esque crown towering above His head. This Lord Dhanavantari composition, a fine example of Southern workmanship, has been finished with a great deal of symmetry and attention to detail.
A Kirtimukham motif directly below the navel holds His dhoti in place, and a bunch of fish-tailed sashes descend from either side of His hips. From the legs of the pedestal to the handsome features of His face and the crown on His head, symmetry characterises each aspect of this bronze murti.
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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