Lord Shiva is the ultimate being as per the Hindu traditions. He is the first person to realise the true potential of human consciousness and opened up the gates of another dimension for mankind. While sometimes Shiva sits in deep meditation, he could also be found dancing in extreme ecstasy and exuberant wilderness. Unlike others, he dances with his complete self, as if this is all, this is the end. This creates an unimaginable intensity and vibrant intimacy in his dance.
Shiva in his dancing form is known as Lord Nataraja which means the 'the king of dancers' or 'the king of performs'. This form of Shiva is especially worshipped by those who practice performing arts. The statues of Lord Nataraja are found in almost every ancient Shiva temple in India. He symbolises the importance of arts in elevating human consciousness and giving expression to one's creative impulses. Shiva is associated with the Tandav nritya (dance) in this form. Tandava nritya could be both for creation and destruction signifying the dualities of our existence.
This beautiful bronze statue is made using the ancient Madhuchista Vidhana technique (lost wax) by the excellent craftsmen of Swamimalai. This exemplary work of art captures the lord amidst the movement of his body, yet making him look silent still. That's also the message that the Nataraja pose delivers, to be still within and vibrant outside. While the lord is standing with his right leg on a demon (symbolising ignorance), he is holding his left leg raised in the air bent towards and crossing the right leg. His upper hands are holding a Damru (a musical instrument) and fire which cuts through the darkness of ignorance of the discipline. His lower hands in conjunction with each other are completing his beautiful Nataraja posture. His matted hair is spread behind him in thin strands while his cloth is gliding in mid-air illustrating the intensity of his movements. The lord is dancing in the middle of a ring of fire and a snake is wrapped around his lower right hand. The face of the lord is perfectly calm and serene as if unaffected by the surroundings.
Lord Nataraja is the purest manifestation of energy as well as the perfect personification of stillness. His calmness between the contrasting forces of nature is the example he embodies. The Nataraja pose and the way it is illustrated in the statue is a perfect work of art, enough to enchant every eye that sets upon it.
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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