58'' Large Dattatreya Idol | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai (Shipped by Sea)

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The iconography of this bronze Bhagwan Dattatreya statue follows the stories of his arrival in the hermitage of sage Atri. Rishi Atri was born from the mind (Mana) of Lord Brahma and had as his wife the daughter of Prajapati and Devahuti, Anasuya, with whom he was asked by Brahma himself to carry on the task of creation by following Grihastha dharma (duty of a householder). Accompanied by the virtues of his wife, sage Atri’s capabilities knew no bounds and the power of his Tapas (penance) reached a stage where it pleased the Tridevas who descended to his hermitage with their retinue.

The celestial aura of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva was as if lightning had struck sage Atri. Overwhelmed by what he experienced, he opened his eyes, offered adulations to the great gods, and received the boon of having the Trideva as his son. As soon as the Trinity went back to their heavenly abode, a transcendental being appeared in front of Atri and Anasuya. This divine being is Bhagwan Dattatreya, whose unmatched brilliance is recreated by the makers of this gigantic Panchaloha.

The son of Atri, Dattatreya had three faces and six hands. Each of the faces as seen in this Guru Dattatreya icon represents one member of the Trinity. All three heads have high-raising Jatamukuta (crown made out of Jata or hair strands) with the locks intricately delineated with flowing incised lines and held together with ornate hair ornament with a Makara motif on it. From the crescent moon that adorns the head in the center, we can infer that it belongs to Shiva and the other two are Brahma and Vishnu.

With impeccable detailing, the artist of this bronze Dattatreya icon has rendered the incomprehensible loveliness of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in the facial features of the great Yogi. Chains of the hair ornament reach the forehead to frame it, a U-shaped Tilak between the shapely eyebrows beautifies it, almond eyes draw our attention to them, and a sharp nose and lips with a hint of inward smile animate the three divine visages of Guru Dattatreya.

Furthering the description of his appearance at his birth, the Sthapati has carved various exquisite ornaments such as kundala (earrings), ekvali (one-stringed necklace), Ratnamalika (gem-studded necklace), udar banda (belly belt), bajubanda (armband), Kada (bracelet), angoothi (ring) and nupur (anklet) on the icon. The serpent with its hood raised from Sri Dattatreya’s left shoulder and a floral garland tastefully framing his torso swiftly calls the eye to observe the balance of sturdiness and gracefulness discernible in his physique.

The dhoti (lower body garment) worn by Guru Dattatreya is described as a Pitambara (yellow cloth), which appears to be naturally clinging to his legs to reveal his robust legs with identical curves on both legs and a single wavy flow in the middle to suggest delicate folds of the fabric.

In his four arms, Sri Dattatreya holds Japa mala (rosary), Damru (drum), chakra (discus), and shankha (conch). Two of his hands, sophisticatedly sculpted, are in distinctive gestures, probably for holding Kamandalu (an ascetic’s water pot) and a Trishula (trident). All these attributes belong to the Tridevas and their presence in the iconography of Bhagwan Dattatreya underlines his emergence as a culmination of their divine powers.

Four dogs or shwana sitting vigilantly on four sides of Guru Dattatreya are the four Vedas who are believed to be forever escorting the supreme Guru and the cow, realistically sculpted and adorned with bells and ornaments is none other than the mother Earth or Prithvi, who is the is a source of nourishment and motherly affection and finds refuge in the feet of the Tridevas with the assurance of her peaceful maintenance.

Bhagwan Dattatreya in this ethereal form as the sanctuary of Devi Prithvi and master of the Vedas is an iconic fusing of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are inseparable and indistinguishable to the mind which has achieved absolute wisdom-Brahma Gyan. In this manner, Guru Dattatreya in this Panchaloha bronze is the materialization of the Supreme knowledge, whose brilliance his form radiates.

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.