Though this iconography was used mostly for Mukha-ling – phallus-with-face icons, not anthropomorphic, where the rest of the body’s anatomy did not condition this placing, it has been for long the most accepted form of Panchamukha Shiva icons. In conceiving and casting this brass statue the artist has completely rejected this model of the Shiva’s five-faced icon. His arrangement of faces in straight lines has helped attribute to one of them the central position affording him the scope for specifying which of the Shiva’s many manifestations he proposes to represent as the main form in the statue. This manipulation has afforded adequate space for the rest of the body’s anatomy, especially for each of the ten arms to emerge in its full form, not as branching from the main two, and for a sitting posture helping determine the image kind.
All five heads have independent elegantly knotted coiffures. A massive form of river Ganga has been rendered as emerging from the coiffure of the face in the centre. The coiffures on all other four faces have snakes with their hoods up encircling their knots. Obviously, the craftsman intended to represent Sadashiva in his manifestation as Gangadhara – one who carries the river Ganga in his coiffure. A well-known myth, pleased with the long rigorous penance of King Bhagiratha, Ganga, a river also a vain goddess residing in heaven, agreed to descend on the earth for the redemption of the cursed selves of Bhagiratha’s sixty thousand ancestors wandering for a long. However, she warned him that in the course of her descent, the earth would not be able to hold her current and would be swept. Ganga had a passion for Shiva and wished to possess him but Shiva never approved her feelings for him. Ganga, out of her lust for him, designed to obtain him by cunning. She advised Bhagiratha to please Shiva to hold her on his head when she descended on the earth as he alone could bear her flow. By another round of penance, Bhagiratha pleased Shiva who arrested Ganga in the locks of his hair and discharged only after she long entreated. This gave Shiva his Gangadhara name.
Equally significant is the sitting posture – ‘asana’, of the image, with both feet turned upwards like lotus petals, known in the iconographic convention as ‘padmasana’, usually a posture of Yogic meditation. Apart, he is seated on a tiger skin, the usual mattress of Yogis. This sitting posture along with the style of locks of hair braided like snakes scattered all over, a form of eyes and the demeanour of the face, as also an abundance of snakes with a couple of them comprising his ear-ornaments of the central face and his soiled figure, all suggest that he is in Yogic posture. Thus the statue also defines his form as Yogeshvara. The image is ten-armed, a logical sequence of a five-headed form. He is holding on the right side a knife, trident, bell and spear; the fifth is held in ‘abhaya’; in those on the left, he is carrying fire, mace, noose, serpent and a rod with a head. He has a bold iconographic form with a broad round face and forehead with ‘tri-Punda’ mark and ‘tri-netra’ – the third eye. The face in the centre has a crescent on its coiffure – Shiva’s form known as Shashidhara, one who bears the moon.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes in the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.
How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?
Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.
Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.
In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.
Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.
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