“Somaskanda”- sa (with), Uma (Parvati), and Skanda (Karttikeya or Murugan), is one of the forms of Shiva, popularized in Indian sculptures and art as a symbol of the conjugal bliss of Shiva and Shakti and the auspiciousness that emerges out of it, in the form of Skanda, depicted as a young boy.
On a rectangular pedestal, the divine family appears in this bronze statue from Swamimalai. Shiva with a towering Jatamukuta, strings on his neck, sacred thread, Makara-shaped earrings, a third eye on his forehead, and the crescent moon in his tresses, is represented as Pashupati, or the Lord of all beings. Seated to his left, Uma appears as Bhogashakti, who is desired by Shiva, an aspect associated with the fortunate and fecund powers of the great goddess. The apple of their eyes, Skanda is shown on an extension of the throne, holding two lotus buds in his hands, completing the sacred image of familial bliss and auspiciousness.
According to the Puranas, Skanda was born from Shiva and Shakti as an answer to the prayers of gods, to become their guardian and annihilate Tarakasura. Accompanied by his mother and father, Skanda in this iconography seems to be meeting the universe, as Shiva and Uma proclaim him as their son and rejoice as the parents of a virtuous son.
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.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist