Kamadeva and Rati Dancing in Front of Shiva (From the Shiva Maha Purana) Large Panchaloha Bronze

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When Kamadeva reached Kailasha, the sway of Vasant was spread all over. Ethereal flowers were blossoming, the chirping of birds turned into songs of romance, rays of the moon made the ambiance even more lovely, and the breeze of Kailasha was laced with exquisite fragrance. Much like this life-sized bronze dancing Kamadeva and Rati icon, in divine words, the Shiva Purana mentions that drenched in the ecstatic nectar that was flowing from Kama-Rati, not just the living beings, but the non-living, immovable objects were enlivened.

It is as though Kama himself inspired the artist to create an image that ceases the heart with desires, this bronze Kama-Rati icon is beyond words in its beauty and aesthetic qualities. The lotus platform on which the duo stands is an oval-shaped structure, demarcating the area of performance for Kamadeva and Rati. Their countenance is modeled in a manner that reminds us of the incomparable allure of Kama and Rati- perfect almond eyes, sharp nose, and lips like fresh petals of lotus blossoms. Peacock, the Hindu motif that represents royalty, passion, and beauty is a symbol used repeatedly in the adornment of this dancing Kamadeva and Rati icon, with two stylized peacocks on the crowns, and a singular feather in the necklace, armbands, and garlands that frame their dynamic posture. Kamadeva is also known as “Makaradhvaja”- one whose emblem (dhvaja) is Makara (a mythical animal that symbolizes divine beauty). This mythical creature has been employed by the Sthapati of this bronze in the ear ornaments of Kama-Rati, as “Makarakrita-Kundala”, carrying whose weight, the earlobes of the celestial couple droop, a feature captured in the bronze tastefully.

It is no surprise that the god and goddess of love and desire have the most mesmerizing form- from the toenails to the arched eyebrows and soles of their upraised feet to the hands raised in the air, Kamadeva and Rati in this bronze are the epitomai of a mystical elegance and beauty. The Tamil craftsman has left no stone unturned in making this dancing Kamadeva and Rati icon into a sensual and spiritual experience for the viewer and has carved the icon in a rounded manner to bring a true-to-life character to it.

Hand in hand, Kama and Rati, desire and its fulfillment dance in this bronze and in their spirited posture, bring out the unhindered and free nature of passions. The agility and vigorousness of the two in this bronze are symbolic of the expansion of Kama and Rati’s powers over the universe, Brahma’s Srishti, which also serves as the stage where the Lord of Desire performs with his potency.

To go back to the episode from Shiva Purana, Kamadeva shot Shiva with his arrow of desire at the moment when goddess Parvati was standing near him. Shiva came out of his meditative state and admired his Shakti, Maa Parvati for a moment, and then enraged by the hindrance in his austerities, opened his Third eye and burnt Kama to ashes. The story of Kama-Rati does not end here. For playing his part in protecting the gods and universe from Tarakasur, Kamadeva was brought back to life soon, and since then, empowered by his Shakti Rati, Kamadeva, the Lord of Desire, continues to dance within all of us, assisting Lord Brahma in his task of creation.

Sculpting Dreams in Metal: The Enigmatic Alchemy of Panchaloha Bronze Masterpieces

Bronze statues and sculptures are known for their exquisite beauty and the divinity that they emit all around the space. Bronze is considered an excellent metal alloy, composed primarily of copper and tin. Many properties make it suitable for sculpting even the most intricate and complex structures. There was a period in history, known as the “Bronze Age'', in which most sculptors preferred to work with Bronze as it was considered the hardest metal. Bronze is especially appreciated for its durability, ductility, and corrosion-resistance properties. India is especially known for its elegant workmanship of skills working with Bronze. The artisans of a town named Swamimalai in South India have been following a tradition of bronze murti making for ages. They use a special material known as Panchaloha bronze to make fascinating icons of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. All of us are allured by the beauty of bronze statues and sculptures but there goes a tough hand in casting those masterpieces with little or no imperfections. Since it is an extremely elaborate process, a sculptor needs to be highly skilled in making bronze antiques. The most common technique for casting bronze sculptures that has been followed since ancient times is the “Lost-wax” process which involves many steps:

1. Clay model making

The making of a bronze statue or sculpture starts with preparing a full-sized clay (usually Plasticine) model of the sculpture. This allows the artist to have an idea about the overall shape and form of the desired sculpture before working with bronze, a much more expensive and difficult-to-work-with material.

2. Mould making

Once the clay model is ready, a mould of the original sculpture is made. This is done by carefully covering the clay model with plaster strips. This step is carried out in such a way that no air bubbles are formed. It takes up to 24 hours for the plaster to dry. Once dried, the plaster is then gently removed from the clay model. The removal happens easily because the inner mould is usually made of materials such as polyurethane rubber or silicone.

3. Wax filling and removal

In this step, molten bronze or wax is poured or filled into the mould in such a way that it gets even into the finest details. The mould is then turned upside down and left to cool and harden. When the wax has hardened, it is removed from the mould.

4. Chasing

Chasing is the process in which the artist refines the surface of the bronze statue using various tools to achieve fine details. This smoothens the surface and gives the statue a finished look. If some parts of the statue were moulded separately, they are now heated and attached.

5. Applying a patina

Bronze sculptures are known for their unique look or sheen on the surface. This may take several years to achieve naturally. Applying patina to bronze sculptures is an important step to make them appear attractive. Working with clay, plaster mould, and molten wax can be messy and therefore sculptors wear old clothes and remain careful. The entire process of making a bronze statue takes several months to complete. Bronze sculptures last for many centuries because of the high durability of the material. Many centuries down the line, these sculptures continue to be appreciated for their majestic beauty.