A Shiva-head in brass, adorned in a striking green hue, is a captivating artistic representation of Lord Shiva, a prominent deity in Hinduism.
This brass sculpture features elongated earlobes, symbolic of his wisdom and compassion, while his half-closed eyes exude a tranquil and meditative expression.
The Jata Mukuta hairstyle, composed of matted locks, signifies his asceticism and connection to nature. This is also the most striking feature of the statue.
Here the knotted hair locks are entwined to make a lofty crown on top of the head. The hair in this sculpture is organized into five levels and finished with a tiara.
Then it is adorned with many gems. On the left side, Lord Shiva wears it with a crescent moon, skull, and coiled snake.
This art piece is a divine embodiment of Lord Shiva's characteristics, including his deep spirituality, serene demeanor, and the power to transmute destructive forces.
The Shaivite tradition perceives Linga as Shiva’s ultimate manifestation for while an anthropomorphic form has just one face and one back, Linga is only a face, each of the four sides, as also its apex, is a face. Thus, while a Linga icon is seen as having a face, an anthropomorphic head of Shiva, as this statue, is sometimes seen as resembling a Linga form. As is obvious, in his statue of Shiva the artist has sought to represent an anthropomorphic vision of Shiva’s face, however a towering crown having graded ascendance substituting his matted hair, resembling a Vaishnava model, an element foreign to Shaivite cult, seems to have been added for imparting to the iconography of Shiva’s head linga-like dimensions.
Though partially, the artist has retained the form of 'yoni-pitha' while conceiving the form of pedestal for his statue. The use of deep black paint is also meaningful. Representing abyssal darkness in which all forms dissolve it dilutes entire iconicity and shifts the eye from features to figure’s dimensions, particularly its rise. The front-facing crown’s vertical decorative band comprising flames-like motifs, twelve in number, might have been conceived as symbolising twelve ‘Jyoti-lingas’, again linking the statue with Linga iconography.
The face in the statue is taller in relation to its breadth; however, a crown taller than the face dominates it. The figure has sharp pointed nose, large eye with prominent eye-balls, though closed as in meditative trance, arched eye-brows extending across the breadth of the face, prominent cheeks, pointed chin, cute lips, a proportionate neck and broad forehead with tripunda mark and tri-netra. There enshrine on the face, besides a kind of glow and tenderness, inner contentment, intrinsic bliss and spiritual serenity. It appears to be simply wondrous how in a tough and uncompromising medium like brass the artist should have packed such tender dimensions and so much of meaningfulness.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.
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.
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist