In the Tamil Shaiva tradition, Uma-Parvati, the beloved of Lord Shiva is evoked as the energy that empowers Shiva, her presence is what makes Mahadeva Shiva auspicious for his devotees. This belief in the inseparability of Shiva and Shakti manifests itself in a rich profusion of Panchaloha Uma bronzes which depict the mother goddess as Palli Arai Devi or the goddess of the Bedchamber (of Shiva).
These Uma bronze icons are sparsely adorned yet represent one of the most enchanting forms of the great Hindu goddess, who is endearingly called- “Bhogashakti”- the goddess (Shakti) who is the sole cause of Shiva’s pleasure (Bhoga). A tapering waist, lithesome arms, and sharp facial features accentuate the exquisiteness of this Panchaloha bronze Uma Parvati statue.
Devi Parvati’s luxuriant tresses are secured in a high-raising Jatamukuta crested with a peacock feather. A round bindi of the goddess’s forehead along with a crescent-shaped mark represents the Sun and the Moon, whose luster is rivaled by the loveliness of this bronze Uma Parvati icon.
Devi sits in the posture of royal ease or Lalitasana ornamented by a Siraschakra (head ornament), a single-stringed necklace with pendant, armlets, waistband, and anklet, all of them simple in make to keep the focus on the flawless physical allure of Maa Parvati, which requires no jewels. The lotus throne on which Devi Parvati is installed is traditionally placed near Shiva’s icon in the inner sanctum, placed on which the great goddess charms the great ascetic.
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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