Srimad Devibhagavata Mahapurana, the seminal text dedicated to the great mother goddess Durga, describes the endearing conversations between Ambika (Durga) and Mahakali on the battlefield. During these ethereal exchanges, Maa Ambika addressed goddess Kali as “Samarapriye”- she who enjoys (Priya) war (Samara).
In the Hindu-Tantra tradition, Devi Kali is evoked as a potent warring female energy, who with an otherworldly swiftness jumps in the Yuddha-bhumi (battleground), enchanting the gods as their saviouress and making the hearts of the demonic forces tremble with her unquenchable thirst for the lives of those who harm her devotees. Epitomized in her ten-armed form as Mahakali, this hypnotic Panchaloha goddess Kali icon is the result of the artist’s devotion that has managed to hold the unstoppable mother in her iconic posture.
The most striking part of this Panchaloha composition has to be Devi Mahakali’s countenance, which perfectly draws from her textual descriptions- gaping eyes, lolling tongue, and an expression that makes the Daanava (demons) abandon the battle. Beautifying her visage is a regal gold Kiritamukuta (conical crown) with the crescent moon as its embellishment, Dehri (disc-shaped earrings), and a Bindi (auspicious dot) between her extensively arched brows.
Numerous ornaments of gold adorn the mystical beauty of the goddess in this bronze Mahakali statute, being complemented by the Naramunda-mala (garland or mala made from the skulls or Munda of Nara or men) and an elaborate girdle fashioned out of the severed heads and arms of Devi’s enemies. Sculpted in a rounded manner, this Panchaloha Devi Mahakali murti displays excellent attention to detail on the reverse as well, where the flowing tresses of Mahakali make eye-catching waves and are ornamented by an ornate Sirachakra (circular hair ornament).
In her ten arms, the goddess holds various divine weapons such as her Trishula (trident), khadaga (sickle), khappara (skull cup), and so on, using which she eradicates demonic armies extending several thousand miles, the instant she appears in the battle. Under her feet positioned in a dynamic posture, lies the Mahadeva Shiva with his damru (drum) in his right hand. Placed on a rectangular bronze platform, this Pachaloha Mahakali is a complete shrine, ready to imbibe in your house the powers of Mahakali.
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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