In front of us is a highly unique and divinely humble image of the ‘vanara devata,’ the monkey god Hanuman. One of the central characters of the epic Ramayana, part of the divine group of Chiranjivis or the group of immortal beings that shall remain alive until the end of the Kali Yuga, and son of the wind god Vayu – Hanuman’s imagery is presented in the bronze ‘panchaloha’ manner of ‘madhuchista vidhana’ or lost wax technique. Seated on a raised circular pedestal, Hanuman is shown in a yogic semi-padamasana posture with a ‘yogapatti’ wrapped around his knees which supports his posture and allows him to meditate for long. Hanuman’s tail is coiled over his head in a manner that makes it a ‘prabhamandala’ or a hallowed circle of light, and his powerful ‘gada’ or mace is kept on the pedestal beside him,
Of significant interest is that his four-armed image here carries the Vaishnavite symbols of the ‘shankh’ or conch and the ‘sudarshana chakra’ or war discus. However, we must remember that given his association with Rama – an avatar of Vishnu – this shouldn’t come as a surprise. In fact, an amusing incident recalls how, when Krishan beckoned Hanuman to Dwarka, Hanuman, so as to not be delayed, ate the chakra (which was in its anthropomorphic form, seen here) that was proudly guarding the gates of the city as the mighty weapon of Vishnu. Hanuman’s act humbled the Chakrathalvar into recognising the divine powers of our powerful god here.
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