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 towering Jatamukuta, a crown made by securing the thick tresses of Uma Parvati with a tiara and beaded strings allow a row of curls to fall on Devi’s forehead framing her flawlessly round face, bowed eyebrows, almond eyes, sharp nose, and upward curving lips smiling gently.
Uma’s right hand is raised in the Katakahasta mudra while her left-hand rests comfortably on the bronze lotus throne. A beautifully decorated Masanad (bolster) supports the Panchaloha bronze Uma Parvati’s leg placed on her seat which along with her pendant left leg is wrapped in a snug dhoti decorated with faint waves that represent the fine folds of its fabric.
The greyish tone of this bronze Uma has infused the icon with a distinctive earthy shade which is enhanced by the fleshiness of Devi’s bosom and shapely waist. Emphasizing the inert beauty of Uma, the maker of this Panchaloha bronze has kept her ornamentation to a minimum, which includes a beaded necklace, armbands, waistband, Yajnopavita (sacred thread) knotted on the shoulder, and anklets.
This bronze Uma statue is sculpted in a rounded manner resulting in a true-to-life representation of the perfection of Shiva’s beloved. A floral Siraschakra (hair ornament), five strands of hair, and adornment of the waistcloth on the reverse of the Uma statue speak for the balance with which all the attributes of Uma Parvati are molded in this bronze.
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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