Attain spiritual wisdom with our Jatadhara Dakshinamurthy Shiva sculpture, meticulously crafted through Madhuchista Vidhanam in Swamimalai's Panchaloha Bronze. This masterpiece beautifully portrays Lord Shiva as the divine teacher, imparting knowledge to his disciples. Lord Shiva is worshipped as the Ultimate Teacher of yoga, wisdom, and even music in his Dakshinamurthy form. When He manifests as Sri Dakshinamurthy, the vast resources of wisdom found in the Shastras become accessible. It is said that Sri Dakshinamurthy imparts knowledge through para vak, a heavenly speech form that dwells in the depths of stillness and is inaudible to human ears.
The teachings of Sri Dakshinamurthy, who expresses the actual meaning of Brahmaan naturally, may be understood without using ordinary terms. In this statue, he is depicted sitting, his right leg extended downward, and he rests on a dwarf-like demon (apasmara, which symbolizes ignorance and darkness). He is seated on a surface covered in tiger or deer skin. His right knee or thigh is resting on his bent left foot. The sculpture embodies the Hindu philosophical concept of 'Divine Wisdom,' symbolizing the source of all knowledge and cosmic intelligence. The lost-wax technique details Dakshinamurthy's serene countenance, inviting you to contemplate the profound teachings and embrace the path of spiritual enlightenment.
Shiva’s divine manifestation is not simply of one as the great wandering ascetic or the celestial destroyer of the cosmos – but also as of the supreme guru, the lord of gnosis, the Jnana Dakshinamurthi. This ‘panchaloha’ bronze image, monumentally conceived by the skilled ‘sthapati,’ enthrones this form of Shiva in the heroic ‘lalitasana’ on a mountainous pedestal. In fact, Shiva’s head is symbolic of the summit of Mount Kailasha, his abode, and in this presentation, the axis mundi of the cosmos. The Dakshinamurthy’s stylisation as an erect figure is further symbolic of the bark of the tree under which Shiva imparts his knowledge – Shiva’s image in this manner is literally of one that supports growth and prosperity.
Dakshinamurthi designates Shiva as the ‘Lord Who Faces South;’ moreover, the word ‘dakshina’ signifies the gift of respect and reverence that the pupils provide their gurus with. The pupils here – four sages seated at the base of the idol, are flanking the figure of Apasmara, the demon of ignorance that Shiva is using as a footstool for his pendent leg (Apasmara’s vanquishment comes from the Nataraja mythology of Shiva). The Dakshinamurthi’s indisputable command over gnosis is manifested with his various divine attributes: in the ‘vyakhyanamudra’ of imparting knowledge, Shiva is holding a rosary in the raised hand that performs the ‘abhaya mudra,’ while his other hands clutch onto the Vedas, the ‘damru,’ and a flame symbolising the eternal fire. Shiva’s matted hair, cascading downwards relates to the legend of the river goddess Ganga residing and flowing from his head. A five-headed snake is hooded over the figure of Shiva. The Dakshinamurthi image’s attention to inornate dressing alludes to the strict austerity Shiva upon the dissemination of gnosis.
Hindu mythology has deliberated upon several aspects of Shiva as the Dakshinamurthi – including the form of the lord of music or Vinadhara Dakshinamurthi, and the supreme teacher of yoga or Yoga Dakshinamurthi. The Dakshinamurthi Upanishada details that throughout such forms, Shiva is said to have been understood as representing the supreme being, or ‘paramatman.’
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.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist