Of all the female figures that have decorated the walls of Indian temples, with their beauty and form, the Nayika (heroine), applying vermillion or “Sindoor” is perhaps one of the most popular and elegant presentations of feminine grace. Usually, with a mirror or bowl of vermillion in her hand, the Nayika bedecked in jewels and fine clothing, can be seen giving the final touches to her “Solah-Sringar”- sixteen kinds of ornamentations according to ancient Indian beauty traditions that enhance the natural appeal of a lady. Attractive in every manner, fresh as a newly-blossomed lotus, the young Nayika in this mesmeric Panchaloha bronze is a recreation of the temple beauties, engrossed in the process of beautifying themselves.
On a simple upturned lotus platform, the delicate feet of the Nayika rest. Her round face and limber form suggest that she has just reached the threshold of youth. Rich ethnic ornaments- round earrings, beautiful necklaces, armbands, Chanavira (jeweled thread crossing her chest), and a heavy Mekhala (waist ornament) highlight the symmetry and gracefulness of this bronze Nayika sculpture.
Through the interplay of incised lines and carvings, a flowing braid has been crafted for the bronze Nayika, which clings to her form as smoothly as the serpents coil around the fragrant stem of the Sandalwood tree.
The bronze Nayika statue has sumptuous hints of green patina endowing it with an antique touch that cannot miss the eye. With her right hand arrested in the gesture of applying vermilion, the Nayika in this bronze is an age-old, aesthetic reminder of the importance of vermillion in Hinduism and Indian beauty tradition.
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