She is the enchantress of Devas (gods), celestial beings, sages, and poets. She is the ornament of the Devalaya- home of the gods, she is the Devanganga- celestial maiden, whose beauty originated from Sri Vishnu himself. The Apsara, dancing in ecstasy and immersing the viewer in the ecstasy of her magnificence in the Panchaloha medium, is an essential feature of ancient Hindu and other sectarian shrines. The beauteous maiden was among the many great gifts to the deity who resided in the temple. Her loveliness and physical charm are an offering from the sculptor, who presented to the Lord with all his heart and devotion, all that was pleasing and awe-inspiring in the world, condensed and materialized as the divine beauty.
The Devangana dances atop a platform she shares with two other female figures, who are much smaller in size when compared to her, signaling that their status is secondary to hers. And who could rival such beauty? Her tresses long and curly are set in a gorgeous bun, held together by a jeweled tiara and hair accessories. Her face is a pleasing sight to behold- eyebrows arched like the bow of warriors, whose hearts she pierced with her almond eyes' sharp gazes. Her perfect nose sits over lips that are no less than the petals of a freshly blossomed lotus. Her breasts are rounded, her waist curving, and her hips wide- she is the zenith of feminine beauty. With a form so dazzling, the celestial maiden needs no ornaments, but for the sake of convention, the sculptor of this brass icon has offered her some of the best pieces of jewelry you will ever see. Especially noteworthy is her heavy bejeweled girdle that forms a skirt around her bare lower body and the chain attached to her necklace that runs from the middle of her torso to her back, in a gorgeous bend. Thanks to the artistic precision, her legs- raised and steady, appear dynamic and life-like. Her arm- one raised in the air, while the other touching the sole of her foot are delicately designed, with each finger immaculately delineated.
How her hands are presented reminds us of the yoginis and celestial nymphs playing Veena-stringed instruments. Though there is no instrument present in this brass sculpture, with her beauty and vibrant aura, the divine maiden undoubtedly tugs at more than a few strings of our hearts, filling us with sweet melodies dedicated to the great divine, who enables the sculptor to envision such marvellousness, and us to witness it.
WHAT IS PANCHALOHA BRONZE AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT ?
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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