Goddess Uma-Parvati, the third member of the trinity of Hindu female goddesses- Tridevis and the potency of Mahadeva Shiva in her textual and visual descriptions represent the zenith of wifely and maternal virtues. It is the divinity of her persona that inspired the Tamil Sthapatis to create marvelous standing Uma icons presenting a form of the great-goddess which is known as “Shivakamasundari”- a beautiful woman (Sundari) who inspires passion (kama) in Shiva.
Maa Parvati’s standing images, similar to the Panchaloha bronze statue we have here, are often related to her role as the prime audience to Shiva’s transcendental dance- Tandava. She remains gracefully poised and still as Shiva moves, enriched by the Shakti (energy) that is provided by Parvati herself. Enriching the actions of Shiva, enjoying marital bliss with Him in his presence, and meditating upon Him in his absence, becoming Uma for Maheswar (Shiva) when the world order requires the divine couple to procreate and becoming Kali when the universe needs them to wreak havoc, - Parvati is the ideal wife, whose only concern is supporting every endeavor of her husband.
This roopa (form) of Uma-Parvati is offered on an upturned lotus pedestal to stand on by the sculpture on which the goddess remains, the very picture of femininity and poise. Personifying the ethereal beauty of the blossomed lotus on which she appears, this bronze Uma icon fills the mind with a devoted appreciation of her celestial beauty. Devi Uma-Parvati wears a conical crown embellished with fine patterns and the Makara motif, earrings, a set of exquisite necklaces, Bajuband (armband), Keyura (arm ornament), Kada (bracelet), Nupur (anklet). Beautifying her torso, this Panchaloha bronze Uma Shivakamasundari icon has a delicate Yajnopavita diagonally clinging to her body. Devi’s dhoti (lower body garment) wraps her legs to highlight her graceful form, which can be better appreciated on the reverse of this bronze Uma statue.
Devi Uma Parvati’s heavenly aura is captured by the sculpture in her visage, which is carved with curving eyebrows, wide, almond eyes, a sharp nose, and full lips- features that are derived from the Hindu ideal of feminine beauty. Goddess Uma has her right hand in the “Katakhasta” mudra for holding a flower offering, while her other hand dangles appealingly in “Lolahasta” mudra named after the curving tail of a horse. Smiling inwardly in this bronze icon, Maa Parvati as Shivakamasundari enchants the whole universe.
WHAT IS PANCHALOHA BRONZE AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT ?
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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