Born as Shri Venkana Bhatta, Shri Raghavendra Swami was a child prodigy. Having been left fatherless at a tender age, he was brought up by his elder brother Shri Gururajacharya and educated at his brother-in-law’s Lakshminarasimhacharya at Madurai.
It is said that he spiritually came of age post his wedding to the noble Sarasvati, through whom the blessing of the Devi Sarasvati Herself shone upon him. He went to Kumbhakonam to continue his education and establish himself as Mahabhashya Venkatanathacharya.
The sculpture that you see on this page is a murti of the great saint and scholar of Dharma. He is seated in ardha-padmasana, an indication of the contemplative tendencies that set him apart from his peers at Kumbhakonam. Clad simply in a dhoti and a veil (angavastram), he raises the right hand in blessing with the sacred rosary dangling from the thumb. The left-hand rests gently on the left knee.
Zoom in on the face of Shri Raghavendra Swami, and its superbly serene composure. Vaishnavite tilaka gracing the brow. Large eyes directed straight ahead, the brilliance of his scholarship pouring forth from them. Note the dense beard and moustache that characterise the saintly face of the Maharaj. Finally, the makeshift aureole at the back frames the saintly figure in the foreground.
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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