The proud, active, and fluidic body of goddess Uma dancing is the manifestation of her performing the ‘uma tandava.’ As Sivagami, Uma manifests this form of the ‘rudra tandava,’ and complements the supreme celestial dancer Shiva in representing the unity of ‘Purusha’ and ‘Prakriti.’ As the dutiful consort of Shiva, her celestial presence is the ultimate representation of love, fertility, and devotion. To that end, Uma’s right hand is raised in either the gesture of ‘ahaya varada’ or ‘kataka mukha’ – the former gesture beckons the devotee towards the supreme being so that she may bless them, and the latter is the gesture of holding a flower such as a lily or lotus.
The lotus is itself a powerful element in the visual iconography of gods and goddesses of Hinduism – Lakshmi, for example, holds two lotuses signifying purity, the attainment of knowledge, and self-realisation. These attributes are enshrined in our quintessential devi here as well, for she is seen dancing on top of a raised lotus platform. Uma, moreover, is unassertively draped in an inornate diaphanous ‘dhoti’ and beads and tassels over her body. She is humble, yet her ‘tandava roopa’ or form here portrays how powerful she can truly be.
Interestingly, Uma has had several visual manifestations in the ‘madhuchista vidhana’ bronze wax technique, and here we can see her more benevolent form.
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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