The Resplendence Of Devi Uma Within The Prabhavali

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There is no mistaking the Devi Uma. Daughter of the Himalayas, wife of Lord Shiva, and mother of Skanda-Ganesha, She is the most beautiful and the most powerful of Hindu devis. What you see on this page is a resplendent murti of Her, fashioned from bronze and handpicked from South India. Today it is the home of India's contemporary bronze tradition, having developed during the rule of the Pallavas followed by the Cholas. The themes revolve around Indian spirituality and the artist's personal devotion, a fine example of which is the Devi Uma murti you see on this page. She stands inside a prabhavali (flaming aureole), in the full glory of Her divine proportions.

Of a tall and powerful stance, Devi Uma's gorgeousness has been carved down to the last detail. The lifelike silks She is draped in, the divine shringar that adorns each part of Her. Her right hand is raised as She holds up a fresh lotus bloom (not in the sculpture). On Her brow is an expression of supreme wisdom and compassion, the spiritually engaging composure of which is best appreciated by zooming in on the same. She stands on an inverted lotus, as is characteristic of South Indian-made icons. It is at the lowest tier of this elaborate pedestal that the ends of the prabhavali meet. Indeed the multi-tiered pedestal, the towering crown that adds to Her stature, and graceful lines of the countenance are the hallmarks of the region's superfine workmanship.