Thalai Keel Tandav is a transitional dance pose of Nataraj where Shiva’s aspect as a cosmic dancer, is represented in an upside-down position. In Tamil, Thalai means head and Keel means inverted. The 108 katanas - or the key positions - of Tandava, have inspired the composite image found at the Nataraja temple of Chidambaram.
This gorgeous bronze statue is a typical four-armed depiction of Shiva. The upper right-hand holds a damaru in a gesture called damaru-hasta symbolizing rhythm and movement in time. The left is in Ardha Chandrakar mudra holding the flame of fire in the palm. Fire signifies forces of creation and destruction. The lower right palm shows the Abhaya mudra to the devotees. A cobra uncoils from his lower right forearm suggesting to the devotees, not to fear any evil. Nataraja dances on the supine body of dwarf demon Apasmara, representing ignorance and evil, subdued by the dancing god. The ring of flames (prabhamandala) which surrounds the figure is a symbol of the endless cycle of birth and death. Shiva is surrounded by 4 dancing female figures. The idol stands upon a lotus pedestal with the shiva linga in the middle. It’s a heavy handmade sculpture, weighing over 100 kgs, made from Panchaloha Bronze in the tradition of Swamimalai. The artisans of this region follow an ancient tradition of bronze sculpting by a unique method called Madhuchista Vidhana, or the Lost-wax method, which is described in the Silpasastra. The sculpture has been crafted with great precision to achieve the fine details. Panchaloha is the traditional five-metal alloy of sacred significance and is used for making temple idols and jewelry.
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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