Lord Shiva or Mahadeva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism and an important part of the great Trinity; he is the destroyer and the transformer and the one without a beginning and end. Yajur veda identifies his being as without an image, considering him to be formless. This smooth textured white matte finish marble statue places Shiva as cross-legged on a pedestal which is covered with tiger skin and its face adorned in the front. Unlike his usual iconography of four hands holding his weapons, this sculpture is shown with two hands, with the left one holding a serpent and right held high in Abhaya mudra.
Snake represents the Kundalini shakti that resides within him and Shiva is adorned with enormous snakes coiled on his hands, legs, neck, hair and trishul showing him to be immune to the wrath of time and death; these coils around the neck represent past, present, future and the cyclic nature of it. Each and every ornament on Shiva’s body holds a unique significance. He is garbed in a tiger skin dhoti and a rudraksh mala in his neck. Waxing and waning of moon was used as a means to calculate the days and months, hence this large ardha chandrama (crescent moon) adorned behind him and the other on his matted hairs represents Shiva’s complete control on time.
Zoom in to the deity’s face to have a keen look at his precisely carved features, half open eyes signifying the ongoing process of creation and the tripunda on either side of his third eye symbolizing the three gunas (sattva, rajas and tamas). Beautifully ornated trident at his back and the kamandalu on the pedestal are Shiva’s weapons of destruction and purity. The sculptor has beautifully carved the golden matted hair with river Ganga as her abode.
How to clean and maintain marble statues?
Marble has been a preferred material for sculptors and artists for more than a thousand years. It is a rock that undergoes metamorphism which causes recrystallization of the original carbonate mineral grains. Marble comes in various colors, designs, and dimensions. Pure white marble is the most preferred type of marble for making sculptures and statues since time immemorial. White marble is especially used for sculpting stone monumental sculptures since ancient times. The natural shine and luster of the carbonate crystals of white marble give a lavish and beautiful appearance to the statue.
Marble stone statues are highly durable and can even withstand harsh weather conditions without getting corroded, therefore, they can be kept indoors or outdoors without getting damaged or weathered. Although these statues can last for many decades, their regular care and cleaning are essential to increase their longevity and beautiful appearance.
Marble statues need periodical cleaning to maintain their flawless look. However, harsh and deep cleaning can result in making the statue look dull. If your marble statue is withering away, it is recommended to take the help of a professional cleaner. Marble is a delicate material and therefore needs proper care.
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