See It In Your Home
A highly simplified form cast in fine brass not betraying a lump or air bubble despoiling its natural glow and purity, this artifact with an antique look, represents not only Shiva in his aniconic ‘ling’ form but on one hand it represents one of the two early sectarian lines that the devotional mind took to interact with the Supreme, and on the other, manifests the mystery of procreation: the visualisation of the ultimate cosmic act – the creative principle manifesting in all things live or otherwise.
The Rig-Veda seems to identify the unity of this procreative principle as ‘Hiranyagarbha’ – a golden egg that which consisted of ‘prana’ – life, and ‘bhuta’ – matter, in one – the Cosmic Seed. In the entire Indian tradition ‘ling’ is seen contextually by Shiva, not merely as his aniconic manifestation as against his anthropomorphic form but rather as his totality. ‘Yoni’, its base, is its integral part.
Besides the two components : the ‘ling’ and the ‘pitha’ – the socketed base the ‘ling’ is placed into, a form of ‘yoni’ representing ‘Shakti’, Shiva’s live-force or enlivening Self, manifestly, Parvati, Shiva’s consort, the icon has been conceived also with a large lotus flower offered on its apex, perhaps part of offering.
The worship of votive ‘ling’, practised among Indus settlers, predates the Rig-Vedic era by many centuries. Different from his personalized manifestations : Pashupati or Mahayogi forms of Indus or any, that illustrate an act or represent an aspect of his being, ‘ling’ is symbolic of his formless timeless existence out of which all forms evolve, and hence, ‘ling’ is essentially Shiva’s most essential manifestation and his most appropriate form for worship.
For a Shaiva mystic Shiva-ling is the aggregate of all forms – manifest or unmanifest, as what appears to be having a form is in reality without a form. To him, formlessness is the progenitor or the mother of all forms.
How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?
Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.
Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.
In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.
Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.
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