Gajendra-Moksha: Redemption of the Elephant King

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"Cry to the Lord with an intensely yearning heart and you will certainly see Him." (Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa)

This sculpture narrates a tale from the Bhagvata Purana: The king of elephants, Gajendera, was once sporting in a lake accompanied by his herd. Like a true leader, while they were returning to the shore, Gajendera first allowed his troop to flock out and only then did he himself attempt to venture out of the water body. No sooner had he taken the first step than a crocodile whose peace had been disturbed grabbed one of Gajendera's legs and started dragging him back into the water. However hard he tried, the chief of pachyderms was unable to free himself from the vice-like grip of the alligator. In agony he appealed to his herd to help pull him out. The combined might of the whole group was insufficient to rescue Gajendera from his impending doom. Slowly and steadily, the reptile continued to drag him into the lake. Finally, his herd gave him up for good and retreated to the woods.

Thus deserted, Gajendera appealed to Him who is the last refuge of all - Lord Vishnu. The deity heard the fervent appeals of His devotee and mounting the half-man, half-avian vehicle Garuda, rushed to his defence. With one throw of His chakra (discus), Vishnu annihilated the villain.

Here we see Lord Vishnu seated regally and majestically on the shoulders of a moustached Garuda. The desperate pachyderm seems to issue out from the mouth of the unrelenting reptile, such is the fluidity of forms depicted in this dynamic atmosphere.

Indeed, the sculptor Shri Sengottuvel seems particularly adept at carving out figures in motion and the artwork is dominated by the vigorous action which finally culminated in the emancipation of Gajendera both in the physical and spiritual sense (not only was he saved from a gory death but Vishnu also carried him away to his divine abode Vaikuntha).

At the apex of the sculpture can be seen the 'Kirtimukha,' which is a universally revered auspicious symbol.

This sculpture was carved from Vengai wood which has traditionally been the medium for carving temple artworks. It was created in Thammapatty (district Salem) in Tamil Nadu. The sculptor is Sengottuvel.

Of Related Interest

Vishnu - A Symbolic Appreciation

Vishnu, In All His Glory

Vishnu as Padmanabha

Vishnu, In His Own Words

Shesh-Shayi Vishnu

Devotees of Vishnu

Tales of Vishnu

The Book of Vishnu

108 Names of Vishnu

Vishnu with Bhu and Sri

Garudasana Vishnu

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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.