Goddess Lakshmi in Hindu culture is one of the first deities to be represented in art. She is the supreme source of auspiciousness, opulence, and eternal beauty. Through her, the great preserver Lord Sri Vishnu performs his task of sustaining the universe. The benevolence of Sri Lakshmi is sought after by every being for the fulfillment of life goals- dharma (duty), artha (matters of money), kama (matters of pleasure), and moksha (salvation).
In South India, goddess Lakshmi is ardently called “Padmavati”- the lotus lady, whose splendor is celebrated in her Panchaloha bronzes, sculpted by the artists of Swamimalai using the lost-wax technique. Using pure bronze and the complex method of “Madhuchistha vidhana”, where a hollow or solid model of clay is layered with wax, heated, filled with molten metal, and cooled, the artists achieve the icon.
In the case of a large murti like this, different parts are modeled separately and then attached. The measurements of limbs, size, and designs of ornaments and other details are taken from the ancient treatise of iconography and followed word by word to attain these stunning Indian artworks.
The statue of Devi Sri Lakshmi is placed on a double-tiered pedestal, on an inverted lotus or Padma. She stands contrapposto, with her body weight shifted on one leg, giving her physique a lovely elegant appearance. Maa Lakshmi is four-armed- each of her hands sculpted to mimic the slenderness of lotus stems. Devi’s primary hands are in the gestures of giving boons (Varada mudra, left) and fearlessness (Abhaya mudra, right). She instructs her devotees to leave all fears behind because the great mother is ever present to guide and enrich their endeavors with her auspicious boons.
The ornamentation of this bronze goddess Lakshmi statue is intricately sculpted, befitting the glory of the universal provider of riches and abundance. An elongated Kiritamukuta crown sits on her head, marked with incised lines and decorated with a pair of parrots above her forehead. Parrot or Shuka in Hinduism represents youth, love, and beauty, which are bestowed upon a human who evokes the great Maa Lakshmi. The balance of fleshiness and slenderness on the limbs of Devi creates a naturalistic aesthetic. Arched eyebrows, elongated eyes, fine noses, and full lips fill the icon with a true-to-life quality.
The torso of the goddess is replete with a series of jeweled strings, necklaces, brocaded Kucabandha (breast band), and channavira (stringed ornament running diagonally on the chest). A diaphanous dhoti worn by the goddess is presented with superb fabric details. Her girdle is adorned with Kirtimukha (face of glory, a symbol of divinity), a beaded chain forming a gorgeous semi-circle in the front and the center folds of the dhoti falling between Devi’s legs. Delicate uttariya (upper body garment, scarf) is draped around Devi Lakshmi’s secondary hands.
On the reverse of the Panchaloha icon, one can observe the wonder of rounded sculpting. Details of Devi’s sirachakra (circular support attached to the crown), Kuchabandha, piece of cloth tucked under the girdle, and the slight tightening of the fabric around the legs exemplify the efforts of the Shilpi (craftsman) in blowing divine life into the solid 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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