This magnificent image with three faces and six arms, the central one, or the principal, reflecting a sublime saintly emotion, full of great divine aura and a rare quiescence enshrining it, represents sant Dattatreya, the son of sage Atri by Anasuya, but revered in theological tradition as one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Sage Atri had three sons, Datta, Soma and Durvasas, Soma is said to have incarnated Brahma, Durvasas, Shiva, and Datta, Vishnu.
However, in the theological tradition, the three Dattatreya alone elevated to the divine status and entered into the hierarchy of Hindu gods and even those who hesitate in considering Dattatreya as one of the incarnations of Vishnu revere him as one of the most sublime divinities.
Different from the Puranic position in popular tradition Dattatreya seems to have assimilated in him the incarnation aspects also of his two other brothers, Soma and Durvasas, revering him as incarnating the Great Trinity, not one of the Three. As regards the incarnation status of Dattatreya he seems to have acquired recognition as Vishnu’s incarnation quite early. Allusions to Dattatreya’s divine powers occur in the Mahabharata around the sixth century BC.
As early as 650 AD the great Sanskrit poet Magha alludes to Dattatreya in his famous poem ‘Shishupala-vadha’ as the incarnation of Vishnu. The Brahmanda Purana gives a detailed account of how the Great Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva conjoint, themselves have granted to Anasuya the boon that they would take birth as her sons in appreciation of the services she rendered in persuading Silavati to take back her curse and let the sunrise.
Ugrashravas, the husband of Silavati, the faithful wife, was cursed by Animandavya that with the rise of the sun, his head would break and he would die. Silavati by the power of her chastity ordained that the sun would never rise. This imperiled the existence of life in the cosmos. The crisis compelled Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to make a joint effort to persuade Silavati to take back her curse. In this, Anasuya proves to be the ultimate help.
How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?
Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.
Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.
In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.
Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.
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