“Pashupati”- the Lord of Pashu or Animals, is a Vedic aspect of Shiva, revered in the hymns of the Vedas, which received the most spectacular visual depiction in the art of Chola bronzes. “Pashu”, is not only an animal, but all living beings, the soul or Aatman, which like a troubled animal in a forest, runs through life, erratically and unprotected, fearing the unknown. Pashupati Shiva regulates, holds, and protects the Pashu with his benevolence and bestows upon it the supreme wisdom, cutting the ties of the world and readying the soul for Moksha or salvation.
This beautiful bronze image shows Shiva as Pashupati, standing in a graceful pose on a pedestal with two handles, suggesting that it is a Chala or a movable icon. The divine form of Shiva is adorned with a Jatamukuta (crown made with his tresses), a third eye on his forehead, delicate necklaces, a Yajnopavita with two strings, Udarabandha or belly belt, and a dhoti made from tiger hide.
The mighty Pashupati carries an Ankusha or goad for controlling the Pashu, the symbol of Pashu as a Mriga or deer, and is adorned by a serpent curling around his arm, a symbol of Kaal (death and time).
In the iconography of Pashupati, the profound secret of this form of Shiva is revealed. With his gentle smile, Pashupati calms the deer (Pashu), by wearing the skin of his enemy and death, the tiger, suggesting to the soul to give up all fears when one takes refuge in 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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