The incarnations of Sri Vishnu, the great Hindu god are the preserver’s participation in his creation, in order to ensure that the balance is retained and the passage of time continues unhindered. The bronze sculptures of Krishna dancing on the hood of the serpent Kaliya, are one of the most awe-inspiring reproductions of the way in which Sri Vishnu in his various forms salvages his followers time and again. Known as “Kalinga-Krishna” (Kaliya- Krishna) or “Kalinga- Nardhana Krishna” (Krishna dancing on Kaliya), these bronzes bring out the beauty of Krishna as an adolescent, expressing his divine being through the lyrical movement that is skilfully captured by the Tamil Sthapatis in striking Panchaloha bronzes.
The inspiration behind Kaliya-Krishna bronze icons is the story of Kaliya, the serpent’s occupation of the waters of the Yamuna, the river that was the lifeline of the people of Mathura. As a result of the Visha (poison) of Kaliya, Yamuna was polluted and the residents of Mathura suffered when they drank from the river. Krishna, the savior of cows and cowherds upon seeing the condition of his people, dived into the depths of the river and challenged the serpent for the dual.
In the bronze Kaliya-Krishna sculpture here, you can experience the divine Krishna holding the tail of Kaliya in one hand and raising the other in a gesture of fearlessness towards his devotees. While his lotus-feet crush the pride of Kaliya, an inward smile plays on the face of the celestial Lord that mesmerizes the onlooker. Kaliya, shown as a half-human, half-serpent folds his hands, in reverence and in acceptance of his defeat. Darshana, literally “seeing” (experiencing the presence of the divine through the five senses), of this Kaliya-Krishna bronze, is a way of self-surrender in front of the cosmic consciousness that manifests itself in the form of Sri Krishna.
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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