This easily portable ‘madhuchista vidhana’ or lost wax bronze image comes to us from the region of Swamimalai and evokes the wonderful skill of our traditional fine arts. As the god embodiment of knowledge and wisdom, this ‘panchaloha’ image is of the avatar of Vishnu known as Hayagreeva. As the half horse half man form, his presence is brilliantly captured by the ‘sthapati,’ who has presented Hayagreeva seated in the yogic ‘padamasana’ posture. His four armed form carries Vaishnavite symbols, and, importantly, the Vedas in his lower left hand while the lower right is raised in the fear dispelling ‘abhaya mudra.’ The association of Hayagreeva with the Vedas remarks the triumph of knowledge and righteous action to the path of dharma. While the legend of Hayagreeva has presented him in a powerful and fierce form of appearing on a large chariot and drawing powers from several gods, in this aesthetic creation, we see a benign and benevolent Hayagreeva, shining in lustrous bronze plating, with ornamentations across his body right up to his ‘mukuta.’ This conveniently mobile image is easily accessible by the Vaishnavite devotee, who can place it in its household or carry it otherwise.
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