32" Large Shri Vallabha Ganapati | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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Vighnaharta Shri Ganesha sits on an upturned lotus pedestal with its double-layered base in the shape of a rectangle. Because of his elephant head and the human body, he is often called ‘Gajanana’. The lord in the form of Vallabha Ganapati possesses 10 arms with each hand carrying a weapon or some eatables. One tusk being broken, while the other being whole, He is also known as ‘Ekadanta’.

The broken tusk can be seen held in His lower right hand, while the upper hands carry a Pineapple, a lotus, a chakra, and an arrow. On his left thigh sits his consort ‘Vallabha’, who is the personification of the power (Shakti) of the lord. She carries a lotus in her hand. The upper left hands of Ganesha hold a Modak (an Indian sweet, which he is very fond of eating), a bow, a noose, and a lotus flower.

The pot-bellied Ganapati along with his consort protects his devotees from the evil forces and blesses them with prosperity and wealth. The elephant-headed Lord Ganesha is one of the most prominent deities in Hinduism. He is often identified with knowledge and wisdom. Also known as Vighnaharta, he is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion so as to eradicate all the possible evils.

Anyone who worships him with honesty and purity is blessed with a life free of obstacles and full of clarity. Lord Ganesha manifests himself in 32 different forms among which Vallabha Ganesha is one of his most divine forms. In Sanskrit, the word Vallabha means 'beloved above all'. In this form, the lord appears in his full glory with an aroma of bliss and divinity surrounded all over his magnificent manifestation.

This beautiful bronze statue captures the lord in his all-pervading stillness. Made using the ancient Madhuchista Vidhana (lost wax) technique, this statue is an exemplary artwork of the brilliant craftsman of Swamimalai. The lord in this statue is sitting on a slightly raised platform with his consort Vallabha on his left side. Her consort is the personification of 'aadi shakti' and along with Ganesha, symbolizes the duality of Purusha and Prakriti in the existence.

The lord has ten arms that are carrying a flower, fruit, Modak (an Indian sweet), bow, and various other weapons. He is wearing a dhoti along with various ornaments that are adorning his body. He could also be seen wearing a beautiful crown whose delicate details are enough to captivate anyone's eyes. One of his tusks is broken too, which makes him popularly known as 'Ekdanta'.

Lord Vallabha Ganesha, the very embodiment of knowledge, finds his complete inner expression in the complex beauty of this statue. Delivering the very essence the lord stands for, this statue leaves nothing more to ask for.

Sculpting Dreams in Metal: The Enigmatic Alchemy of Panchaloha Bronze Masterpieces

Bronze statues and sculptures are known for their exquisite beauty and the divinity that they emit all around the space. Bronze is considered an excellent metal alloy, composed primarily of copper and tin. Many properties make it suitable for sculpting even the most intricate and complex structures. There was a period in history, known as the “Bronze Age'', in which most sculptors preferred to work with Bronze as it was considered the hardest metal. Bronze is especially appreciated for its durability, ductility, and corrosion-resistance properties. India is especially known for its elegant workmanship of skills working with Bronze. The artisans of a town named Swamimalai in South India have been following a tradition of bronze murti making for ages. They use a special material known as Panchaloha bronze to make fascinating icons of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. All of us are allured by the beauty of bronze statues and sculptures but there goes a tough hand in casting those masterpieces with little or no imperfections. Since it is an extremely elaborate process, a sculptor needs to be highly skilled in making bronze antiques. The most common technique for casting bronze sculptures that has been followed since ancient times is the “Lost-wax” process which involves many steps:

1. Clay model making

The making of a bronze statue or sculpture starts with preparing a full-sized clay (usually Plasticine) model of the sculpture. This allows the artist to have an idea about the overall shape and form of the desired sculpture before working with bronze, a much more expensive and difficult-to-work-with material.

2. Mould making

Once the clay model is ready, a mould of the original sculpture is made. This is done by carefully covering the clay model with plaster strips. This step is carried out in such a way that no air bubbles are formed. It takes up to 24 hours for the plaster to dry. Once dried, the plaster is then gently removed from the clay model. The removal happens easily because the inner mould is usually made of materials such as polyurethane rubber or silicone.

3. Wax filling and removal

In this step, molten bronze or wax is poured or filled into the mould in such a way that it gets even into the finest details. The mould is then turned upside down and left to cool and harden. When the wax has hardened, it is removed from the mould.

4. Chasing

Chasing is the process in which the artist refines the surface of the bronze statue using various tools to achieve fine details. This smoothens the surface and gives the statue a finished look. If some parts of the statue were moulded separately, they are now heated and attached.

5. Applying a patina

Bronze sculptures are known for their unique look or sheen on the surface. This may take several years to achieve naturally. Applying patina to bronze sculptures is an important step to make them appear attractive. Working with clay, plaster mould, and molten wax can be messy and therefore sculptors wear old clothes and remain careful. The entire process of making a bronze statue takes several months to complete. Bronze sculptures last for many centuries because of the high durability of the material. Many centuries down the line, these sculptures continue to be appreciated for their majestic beauty.