84" Large Wooden Lakshmi, Ganesha and Saraswati Wall Panel

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On the top of the arched pavilion, one can see separate Shikhara (towering roof) of the shrines of the three deities, carved in the style of South Indian temple architecture. Sri Lakshmi on the left is sitting on a lotus, four-armed, carrying lotuses with her hands in the Abhaya mudra (gesture of fearlessness) and Varada Mudra (gesture of disseminating boons). Bhagwan Ganesha is in the center and is a rare six-armed form. On the right is goddess Saraswati on a lotus throne, four-armed, with her Veena, rosary, and the Veda.

All three deities have celestial beings hovering over them with folded hands. In the space between the pillars near Sri Ganesha are two devotees, a male, and a female, probably a couple paying respect to the deities. Between the pillars close to the goddesses, there are male dancing figures in the posture that is popularly associated with Shiva’s Nataraja form. At the extreme left and right corners are Yali (mythical lion-elephant composite animals) guarding the sacred space with their ferocious presence.

In the upper half of the wooden Lakshmi-Ganesha-Saraswati wall panel, detailed carvings represent (from left to right) Sri Vishnu, Sri Ganesha, Lord Shiva, and Bhagwan Brahma flanked by attendants and fly-whisk bearers. The lowermost section of the wooden wall panel has a curious collective of lotus flowers, acrobatic dwarfs, and lions filling a narrow space, with the dwarfs appearing to be carrying the shrine in their hands.

The deities in the center of this wooden wall panel- Lakshmi-Ganesha and Saraswati are commonly worshipped during Deepawali, the festival of lights as the harbinger of wealth, auspiciousness, and wisdom. The boons that this group of deities provides are substantially basic and thus vital in human life, which is what makes this Lakshmi-Ganesha-Saraswati wooden wall panel a Yantra (sacred image) for a devotee. With the presence of the Trideva- Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva and aesthetic elements this woodwork is both a ritual object and a prized example of the magnificence of ancient Indian art.

Sculpting Serenity: Unveiling the Art of Crafting Wood Statues

Wood has been a preferred material for sculptures and statues since ancient times. It is easy to work with than most metals and stones and therefore requires less effort to shape it into any desired shape or form. The texture of the wood gives an element of realism to the sculpture. The selection of an appropriate wood type is necessary for carving. Woods that are too resinous or coniferous are not considered good for carving as their fiber is very soft and thus lacks strength. On the other hand, wood such as Mahogany, Oakwood, Walnut wood, Weet cherry wood, etc., are preferred by sculptors because their fiber is harder. A wood sculptor uses various tools such as a pointed chisel in one hand and a mallet in another to bring the wood to the desired measurement and to make intricate details on it. A carving knife is used to cut and smooth the wood. Other tools such as the gouge, V-tool, and coping saw also serve as important tools in wood carving. Although the wood carving technique is not as complex and tough as stone carving or metal sculpting, nonetheless, a wood carver requires a high level of skills and expertise to create a stunning sculpture.

1. Selecting the right wood

The process of wood carving begins with selecting a chunk of wood that is required according to the type and shape of the statue to be created by the sculptor. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for making artistic pieces, however, hardwoods are preferred more than softer woods because of their durability and longevity. But if heavy detailing is to be done on the statue, wood with fine grain would be needed as it would be difficult to work with hardwood.

2. Shaping the wood

Once the wood type is selected, the wood carver begins the general shaping process using gouges of various sizes. A gouge is a tool having a curved cutting edge which is useful in removing large unwanted portions of wood easily without splitting the wood. The sculptor always carves the wood across the grain of the wood and not against it.

3. Adding detailing

When a refined shape of the statue is obtained, it is time for making details on the statue using different tools. This is achieved by using tools such as a veiner to make and a V-tool to create decorative and sharp cuts.

4. Surface finishing

Once finer details have been added, the sculptor is ready to smoothen the surface and give it a perfect finish. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are used to get a smooth surface. The finer polishing is obtained by rubbing the surface with sandpaper. If a textured surface is required, this step is skipped. Finally, to protect the statue from excessive dirt accumulation, the sculptor applies natural oils such as walnut or linseed oil all over it. This also brings a natural sheen to the statue.