Shiva-Lingam, the aniconic or Nirguna manifestation of Mahadeva’s eternal powers, is the most potent and popular icon worshipped in India. In the Shiva, Linga, and Skanda Purana, it is mentioned as “Dhruva” or “Sthanu”- steady, and the symbol of Param-Brahman, which stands ceaselessly, before, during, and after Srishti (Creation of Brahma). The Linga Purana describes the Linga as Maheshvara and its altar or Vedi as goddess Uma, while Skanda Purana associates the linga with the sky and its altar with the earth. Firmly rooted in the sacred space of India from ancient times, a Shiva Lingam in Puja Ghar transforms a home into the abode of Shiva.
Sculpted in pristine bronze, this Shiva-Lingam emits a solar radiance, which is reminiscent of the Lingam’s emergence as a pillar of flaming effulgence in the Puranas. The Lingam is placed on a three-leveled bed of serpent Vasuki’s coils, whose scales are delineated with fine etchings on the metal. Adorned with the Tripunda mark of Shiva, the Lingam arises from the exquisitely formed Vedi which has a small pot attached to its end, to collect the pouring ritual water. Separating Shiva’s celestial aura from the human realm, a meticulously molded five-hooded Vasuki stands attentively behind the Shiva-Lingam, completing the sacred iconography of this roopa.
Ancient sages have exhausted themselves in exalting the worship of the Nirguna roopa of Shiva as a Lingam. Ritual offerings to a Lingam are bound to bestow upon the devotee the material and spiritual wealth of the three worlds governed by Shiva-Tripuresha (the Lord of Three Worlds). It is a mighty blessing bestowed on the Bhaktas, by Shiva himself.
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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