15" Bronze Superfine Pratyangira Devi (Atharvana Bhadrakali) | Hoysala Art

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

In the textual tradition, Devi Pratyangira’s emergence is connected to the Narasimha incarnation of Vishnu, to calm whose rage, the lion-faced mother goddess originated from the wings of Sharabha (a form of Shiva, who was unable to pacify Narasimha). With her all-pervading powers, goddess Pratyangira calmed Narasimha, thus earning herself the epithet of Narasimhi, the female energy who came to be attached with the man-lion form of Vishnu. 

This superfine bronze goddess Pratyangira statue has adopted the style of the Hoysalas, in creating this glorious representation of the Devi. She appears on her lion mount, which has been impeccably presented in this Maa Pratyangira statue, with its attacking stance and magnificent mane. Devi Pratyangira is in the regal Lalitasana posture, her four hands carrying a serpent, a cup, a trident and a drum. She is adorned with beautiful jewellery, a crown and a dhoti, all of it being tastefully delineated in this bronze goddess Pratyangira icon. Devi and her mount are placed on a square bronze pedestal, embellished with lovely natural and geometric patterns and four celestial beings with wings, carrying garlands in their hands as a sign of goddess Pratyangira’s adulations in the four cardinal directions. Carved in a rounded manner, with the heavenly beings, this bronze goddess Pratyangira statue is a divine representation of the great goddess whose blessings are the path to Moksha (liberation). 

Making Process of Hoysala Bronze

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Due to its durability, corrosion resistance, and versatility, bronze is the most preferred metal for artisans to create sculptures. Other qualities that make it the ideal choice for creating statues is its ability to be cast easily. Aside from that, this metal allows the most intricate details to be captured by the artist.
The art of making bronze statues has been practiced in India for centuries, and evidence of it can be found in magnificent Hoysala bronze ornaments and bronze statues in South India. Of the many bronze idols produced in the country, Hoysala art statues are very famous. The hoysala style includes a depiction of embellishments and ornaments and an abundance of jewelry while making statues. It grew from the 10th to 14th centuries in the Hoysala dynasty that ruled the region, falling in present day Karnataka, hence the name of this craft. It involves intricate work, deep carving, and undercutting by artisans to create elaborate and decorative motifs.
Much time and effort goes into bringing these timeless pieces to life. It takes months to finish a single sculpture, and they are always created by casting. The most common casting type for bronze idols is the lost-wax casting technique. This is a 4000-year-old art form and requires a lot of concentration, patience, and finesse.

The first step of making bronze statues is making a model of the sculpture in clay. The artist creates an exact clay version of what he envisions to be made in bronze. He captures every little detail.

The second step involves making a mold of plasticine or silicon rubber around the clay statue. Once the mold hardens, it is separated from the clay sculpture.

After that, molten wax is poured into the mold so that a thick layer of coating is created inside the mold. This is done so that every detail of the sculpture is captured.

Once the wax hardens, the plasticine or silicon mold is removed, and a ceramic shell is created around the wax structure by dipping it in liquid slurry and silica sand.

This ceramic shell is heated upon solidification, and the wax is melted out. After that, molten bronze is poured into the mold through tubes.

Once the liquid bronze has hardened and taken the shape of the mold, the ceramic shell is removed, and the final product is checked for any imperfections.

The final step involves the application of patina onto the sculpture. This prevents corrosion and adds color to the statue. A final coat of wax is applied to preserve this and add luster.