The dancing figure of Nataraja, Shiva as the lord of dancers, evolved as a fully developed icon, through the work of local Indian artisans during the Chola period, a little over a thousand years ago. The dance of Shiva is associated with the destruction of the world but there are other dances that he does too.
In this handmade bronze idol, he is depicted as killing Apasmara (the dwarf demon of ignorance) and dancing his Anand Tandav dance. The Athi-bhanga posture (many twists in the body and arms) of Nataraja is the portrayal of rhythmic fluidity and youthful energy during the cosmic dance. He perfectly balances himself on his right leg while treading upon the writhing body of the demon, Apasmara. His left leg is lifted across his body in the Bhujanga Trasita stance. This posture signifies falling away from the veil of illusion from the devotee’s mind. His right hand is in the blessing of Abhaya mudra. His left assumes the Gajahasta mudra ensuring the protection of the devotees. His rear right hand hold his damru (the hourglass drum) to that keeps the rhythm during his dance. Left-hand makes ardhachandra mudra, holding a flame in the hollow of his divine palm.
The Lord of Dance’s long matted tresses, usually piled up in a knot above his head, loosen during his dance, flying freely on both sides. Through his unruly tresses, the datura flower - his favorite - blooms and goddess Ganga emerges. The hairs of Nataraja are long enough to touch the encircling prabhamandala, the garland of flames representing an endless cycle of birth and death.
Made from Panchaloha in Swamimalai, this aesthetically pleasing super large Nataraja idol, is an art connoisseur’s delight and a prime reminder of the depth of ancient Indian art and culture.
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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