50'' Large Dattatreya with Kamadhenu | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai (Shipped by Sea)

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$51,345

Bhagwan Dattatreya- datta (given to), atreya (sage Atri) is the Hindu deity who is the supreme personification of the ancient Hindu idea of Trideva (three gods)- BrahmaVishnu, and Shiva around whom revolves the germination, functioning, and dissolution of the universe. Also known as Datta and Datta Guru (teacher) in the western and south-western regions of India, he is considered the son of Brahmarishi Atri and his wife Sati Anusuya, a couple who with their Tapasya (asceticism) and Bhakti (devotion)  transformed the primordial Tridevas into a heavenly child. Revered as the provider of all knowledge- revealed and esoteric, and an ultimate Yogi (one who has mastered “Yoga” or union with the Brahama Gyana or supreme knowledge) Guru Dattatreya is represented in this life-size Panchaloha bronze in his deific Trimukha (tri-three, Mukha- face), Shadabhuja (Shada-six, bhuja-arm) form, the most potent visualization of Om (the primordial sound which represents the Trideva) in a sculpture.

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Item Code: PHC225
Specifications:
Bronze
Height: 50 inch
Width: 28 inch
Depth: 27 inch
Weight: 510 kg
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide

The iconography of this bronze Bhagwan Dattatreya statue follows the stories of his arrival in the hermitage of sage Atri. Rishi Atri was born from the mind (Mana) of Lord Brahma and had as his wife the daughter of Prajapati and Devahuti, Anasuya, with whom he was asked by Brahma himself to carry on the task of creation by following Grihastha dharma (duty of a householder). Accompanied by the virtues of his wife, sage Atri’s capabilities knew no bounds and the power of his Tapas (penance) reached a stage where it pleased the Tridevas who descended to his hermitage with their retinue. The celestial aura of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva was as if lightning had struck sage Atri. Overwhelmed by what he experienced, he opened his eyes, offered adulations to the great gods, and received the boon of having the Trideva as his son. As soon as the Trinity went back to their heavenly abode, a transcendental being appeared in front of Atri and Anasuya. This divine being is Bhagwan Dattatreya, whose unmatched brilliance is recreated by the makers of this gigantic Panchaloha.


The son of Atri, Dattatreya had three faces and six hands. Each of the faces as seen in this Guru Dattatreya icon represents one member of the Trinity. All three heads have high-raising Jatamukuta (crown made out of Jata or hair strands) with the locks intricately delineated with flowing incised lines and held together with ornate hair ornament with a Makara motif on it. From the crescent moon that adorns the head in the center and the miniature figure of anthropomorphic Maa Ganga sprouting from his hair, we can infer that it belongs to Shiva and the other two are Brahma and Vishnu. With impeccable detailing, the artist of this bronze Dattatreya icon has rendered the incomprehensible loveliness of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in the facial features of the great Yogi.  A U-shaped Tilak between the shapely eyebrows beautifies it, almond eyes draw our attention to them, and a sharp nose and lips with a hint of inward smile animate the three divine visages of Guru Dattatreya. Furthering the description of Bhagwan Dattatreya as the supree yogi, the Sthapati has offered the Lord with tasteful ornaments fashioned out of Rudrakasha beads that form four layered necklace, armlets and earrings. The serpent with its hood raised from Sri Dattatreya’s left shoulder tastefully framing his torso swiftly calls the eye to observe the balance of sturdiness and gracefulness discernible in his physique. The patterned dhoti (lower body garment) worn by Guru Dattatreya is described as a Pitambara (yellow cloth), which appears to be naturally clinging to his legs to reveal his robust legs with identical curves on both legs and a single wavy flow in the middle to suggest delicate folds of the fabric.


In his three arms, Sri Dattatreya holds the damru (drum), Kamandalu (water pot), and Shankha (conch), while his other three hands are positioned variously in gestures of carrying a Chakra (discus), Gada (mace) and Trishula (trident). All these attributes belong to the Tridevas and their presence in the iconography of Bhagwan Dattatreya underlines his emergence as a culmination of their divine powers.  The cow, realistically sculpted and adorned with bells and ornaments is none other than the mother Earth or Prithvi, who is a source of nourishment and motherly affection and finds refuge in the feet of the Tridevas with the assurance of her peaceful maintenance. Bhagwan Dattatreya in this ethereal form as the sanctuary of Devi Prithvi and master of the Vedas is an iconic fusing of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are inseparable and indistinguishable to the mind which has achieved absolute wisdom-Brahma Gyan. A potli (cloth bag) used by Hindu ascetics hangs from the left shoulder of Guru Dattatreya. Endowed with the otherworldly brilliance of Tridevas, Bhagwan Dattatreya is the foremost yogi, in whose feet lie the wisdom of the universe and the path to self-realization.



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.


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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q. Is the statue hollow or solid ?
    A. Panchaloha bronze statues are made through a process of lost wax casting, hence they are solid. To know more about how bronze statues are made, please read our article on Panchaloha Bronze Statues. Whereas, brass statues are made through a process of clay casting, hence are hollow.
  • Q. Can I see the original photo of the product ?
    A. For original pictures of the statue, kindly email us at [email protected].
  • Q. Can I return the statue ?
    A. All returns must be postmarked within seven (7) days of the delivery date. All returned items must be in new and unused condition, with all original tags and labels attached. To know more please view our return policy.
  • Q. Can you customise the statue for me ?
    A. For any customisation, a new bronze statue has to be made. To know more, kindly email us at [email protected].
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