Gaja Samhara is a ferocious form of Lord Shiva popularized during the Chola period. Gaja Samhara Shiva means the slayer of elephant and represents him as ego annihilator and soul emancipator.
Legends tell of an asura who in the guise of an elephant, Gajasura, became so strong in time that he began to torture and kill even the devas. There was none left in the three realms who would stand before Gajasura’s tremendous might.
The asura deluded himself into thinking that he ruled the universe and made a fatal mistake; blinded by his elephantine ego, he attacked a group of sages engaged in the act of offering ritual sacrifices to the linga.
As Gajasura descended in anger over the sages, the stone of the linga shattered. They all gasped in wonder as Gajasamhara Shiva emerged from the linga. True to his name, Shiva’s ferocious Gajasamhari form ripped Gajasura’s elephant body in two halves; conclusively ending Asura's delusions of grandeur. The Gajasamhara Shiva wraps the elephant skin around him, a symbol of the big ego that was broken.
What we have for you here is a rare piece, indeed. Not more than a bare handful of such Gajasamhara Shiva icons exist, made using Lost Wax technique, that showcase a detailing of such intricate levels. Four legs of the elephant are shown by the side of Prabhavali. His tail is visible on the top. This ferocious manifestation of Shiva, with rolling eyes and protruding fangs, crushes the elephant head with his right leg.
On either side of Prabhavali, Shiva ganas are dancing and playing cymbals. Shiva’s left leg is raised in Utkatasana posture. Gajasamhara has eight arms. Two of them have the torn skin of the elephant in their hands. He holds, in his other six arms: a damru, a sword, a shield, a snake, and a kapala. Kapala is a type of begging-bowl carved out of a human skull. A garland of bells adorn the god’s neck.
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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