Lord Harihara is a composite deity. Like Ardhanarishvara, which is a confluence of Shiva and Parvati, Harihara is a confluence of Shiva (Hara) and Vishnu (Hari). The Harihara sculpture that you see on this page depicts Him in all His beauty and stateliness. These qualities are accentuated by the colour of molten gold.
Harihara stands tall and erect on an upturned lotus pedestal. He is possessed of four arms, the chaturbhujadhari: shankha va chakra in the posterior hands, gada va padma in the anterior ones. A tall, tapering crown sits on Harihara’s head. Zoom in on the dense engravings on its body, devoid of symmetry in order to convey the distinctness between Hari and Hara. Speaking of distinctness, Hara’s short loincloth contrasts with Hari’s long, silken dhoti; and the arch of Hara’s determined brow contrasts with the gracefully relaxed curve of Hari’s.
Note the attire and adornments on the body of Harihara. Densely packed across limb and torso, they are in keeping with the aesthetic of ancient temple iconography.
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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