The primary purpose of Rama's avatar was to put down Adharma (personified by Ravana) and re-establish Dharma. Ravana has received a boon that he would never be defeated by a god or a demon. He looked so much down upon humans that he did not even consider including them into his wish. Therefore, Rama had to descend from his heavenly heights in the for of a man to take advantage of this loophole.
Here we see Rama holding a bow with decorated ends in his left hand, while the right is raised in a gesture of blessing. Rama is a great archer, and archery plays an important role in many significant events of his life. Some of the episodes are:
1). His winning over of Sita by breaking down Lord Shiva's bow.
2). Ravana makes off with Sita while he is away trying to capture a deer with his bow.
3). His killing of Vali, the brother of Sugriva with an arrow.
4). The mere sight of him pulling an arrow from his quiver frightening the sea to give him way to Lanka.
5). His killing of Ravana by a special bow made by Lord Brahma.
When Rama broke Shiva's bow, he was given another bow by Parashurama, another avatar of Vishnu. This bow, known as 'Kodanda', is one of the few things Rama takes with him to the jungle. Images of Rama, such as this, leaning on his bow are known as 'Kodanda Rama'.
This sculpture was created using Shivani Teak Wood in the southern Indian city of Mysore, Karnataka.
How to care for Wood Statues?
Wood is extensively used in sculpting especially in countries like China, Germany, and Japan. One feature that makes the wood extremely suitable for making statues and sculptures is that it is light and can take very fine detail. It is easier for artists to work with wood than with other materials such as metal or stone. Both hardwoods, as well as softwood, are used for making sculptures. Wood is mainly used for indoor sculptures because it is not as durable as stone. Changes in weather cause wooden sculptures to split or be attacked by insects or fungus. The principal woods for making sculptures and statues are cedar, pine, walnut, oak, and mahogany. The most common technique that sculptors use to make sculptures out of wood is carving with a chisel and a mallet. Since wooden statues are prone to damage, fire, and rot, they require proper care and maintenance.
It is extremely important to preserve and protect wooden sculptures with proper care. A little carelessness and negligence can lead to their decay, resulting in losing all their beauty and strength. Therefore, a regular clean-up of the sculptures is a must to prolong their age and to maintain their shine and luster.
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