48" Large Dancing Kamadeva and Rati (God and Goddess of Love) | Handmade | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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The Shiva Mahapurana tells us the story of the origin of this exquisite pair and their union that enabled the commencement of creation on the earth. When Lord Brahma was creating various gods, sages, and divine beings, from his thoughts was born a handsome man. His body gleamed like pure gold, his brows were conjoined and pleasing, his hair curled his face like a full moon, his eyes like the petals of a blossomed lotus, his attire heavenly and his appearance was so magnificent that he churned (Matha) the mind (Mana) of the audience of Lord Brahma’s assembly, and was thus called “Manmatha”. He was presented with five floral weapons, namely- Harshana, Rochana, Mohana, Shoshana, and Maaran. Soon after his emergence, Kamadeva’s sway over Brahma’s assembly left them in awe. No one, not even Lord Brahma himself was spared by the passionate thoughts that are the swiftest weapons of Kama. Daksha, the son of Brahma who was also present in the crowd, began sweating under the effect of the heat of desire, and from a drop of his sweat that fell on the ground was born a virtuous and gorgeous woman.

Fair-skinned, doe-eyed, and rivaling Kama with her gleaming youth, the daughter of Daksha was named Rati. Finding her to be the perfect match for the glorious youth Kama, Daksha offered her hand in marriage to the Lord of Desire. Enchanted by her beauty, Kamadeva’s elation knew no bounds. Lord Brahma praised the couple by comparing Kama-Rati to Mahavishnu and Mahalakshmi, the great preserver and his Shakti who look after the entire universe. With Rati as his female potency, Kamadeva was called “Vishvaketu”- the one who is victorious over the world. It is with the coming together of Kama and Rati that human life and all the most delicate pleasures of life are experienced.

An ode to the desire and passions that stir within all of us, this dancing Kamadeva and Rati bronze appears to be the culmination of mastered artistic passions. A two-tiered platform, with the upper portion in the shape of a beautiful upturned lotus, has become the stage for the mesmeric performance of Kama and Rati. In an immaculate symmetry, Kamadeva and Rati dance, their bodies moving in opposite directions, yet in sync, the perfect mirror image of one another. Their angelic physique is adorned with intricately designed ornaments of various kinds that highlight the allure of their exterior. Skillful use of carving and polishing on the bronze surface has succeeded in delineating naturalistically the features of Kama and Rati- glowing countenance, tasteful folds of the waist cloths, agility in their steps, and youthful bodies.

The enthrallingly formed aureole or Prabhavali that surrounds this dancing Kamadeva and Rati bronze statue, as an extension of their qualities, is made from curling and blossoming vines that emerge from the tails of two beautiful peacocks. The Kirtimukha or face of glory in the center is replaced by a pair of parrots (the bird-mount of Kamadeva) whose heads are joined with a peacock feather- the entire Prabhavali resplendent with motifs that convey eternal beauty, love, and passion is befitting addition to the dazzling performance of Kama and Rati. Sugarcane- symbolic of the divine nectar which also serves as Kamadeva’s bow is used in this dancing Kama-Rati bronze icon as a shaft holding on to which the couples indulge in ecstatic movement. Under their raised feet we can observe their respective bird mounts, the parrot (Kama) and peacock (Rati).

  Dance in Indian tradition is the expression of vigor and power. From Shiva’s Tandava to Parvati’s Laasya, dance conveys the strength of the rhythmic movements. The god and goddess of love and passion, Kamadeva and Rati, dancing briskly in this hypnotic Panchaloha bronze, are the representatives of the magnetism of desires, the pure creative energies whose beauty flows from this icon, is a one of its kind visual experience.

Sculpting Dreams in Metal: The Enigmatic Alchemy of Panchaloha Bronze Masterpieces

Bronze statues and sculptures are known for their exquisite beauty and the divinity that they emit all around the space. Bronze is considered an excellent metal alloy, composed primarily of copper and tin. Many properties make it suitable for sculpting even the most intricate and complex structures. There was a period in history, known as the “Bronze Age'', in which most sculptors preferred to work with Bronze as it was considered the hardest metal. Bronze is especially appreciated for its durability, ductility, and corrosion-resistance properties. India is especially known for its elegant workmanship of skills working with Bronze. The artisans of a town named Swamimalai in South India have been following a tradition of bronze murti making for ages. They use a special material known as Panchaloha bronze to make fascinating icons of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. All of us are allured by the beauty of bronze statues and sculptures but there goes a tough hand in casting those masterpieces with little or no imperfections. Since it is an extremely elaborate process, a sculptor needs to be highly skilled in making bronze antiques. The most common technique for casting bronze sculptures that has been followed since ancient times is the “Lost-wax” process which involves many steps:

1. Clay model making

The making of a bronze statue or sculpture starts with preparing a full-sized clay (usually Plasticine) model of the sculpture. This allows the artist to have an idea about the overall shape and form of the desired sculpture before working with bronze, a much more expensive and difficult-to-work-with material.

2. Mould making

Once the clay model is ready, a mould of the original sculpture is made. This is done by carefully covering the clay model with plaster strips. This step is carried out in such a way that no air bubbles are formed. It takes up to 24 hours for the plaster to dry. Once dried, the plaster is then gently removed from the clay model. The removal happens easily because the inner mould is usually made of materials such as polyurethane rubber or silicone.

3. Wax filling and removal

In this step, molten bronze or wax is poured or filled into the mould in such a way that it gets even into the finest details. The mould is then turned upside down and left to cool and harden. When the wax has hardened, it is removed from the mould.

4. Chasing

Chasing is the process in which the artist refines the surface of the bronze statue using various tools to achieve fine details. This smoothens the surface and gives the statue a finished look. If some parts of the statue were moulded separately, they are now heated and attached.

5. Applying a patina

Bronze sculptures are known for their unique look or sheen on the surface. This may take several years to achieve naturally. Applying patina to bronze sculptures is an important step to make them appear attractive. Working with clay, plaster mould, and molten wax can be messy and therefore sculptors wear old clothes and remain careful. The entire process of making a bronze statue takes several months to complete. Bronze sculptures last for many centuries because of the high durability of the material. Many centuries down the line, these sculptures continue to be appreciated for their majestic beauty.