Devi Pratyangira is the leonine Devi of the Hindu pantheon. A roopa (form) of Devi Durga Herself - which explains the simha (lion) vahana (mount) - She spews pure wrath as expressed in Her simha-mukhamandala (lion-face).
It is the head of the lion She bears, and not the lioness’: the mane flies upward as if Pratyangira is aflame with wrath and the tongue protrudes from the mouth in its thirst for triumph over adharma.
In the Pratyangira murti that you see on this page, it is the part sculpted with the greatest detail. Note the sharp canines that flank the base of the tongue, the perfectly symmetrical folds of the mane, and the ferocious seven-hooded snake at the zenith of it all. In terms of beauty of features and composure of countenance, the simha beneath Pratyangira is no less.
Its mane is realistic, the jaws seemingly quivering with life. The stance of its four legs conveys that the animal is ready to launch the most fatal attack upon whomever its divine mistress chooses. She wears around Her neck a garland made of the severed heads of the adharmees they have slayed so far.
Together with the kalpala (skullcup) in Her left anterior hand, these are elements of Tantra iconography and establish Pratyangira’s kinship to the wrathful Devi Kali. Interestingly, the implements in the rest of Her three hands (She is chaturbhujadharini, the one possessed of four hands) are reminiscent of the trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva.
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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