Mirabai Immersed in Gopi-Bhava

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

$520

Quantity

Notify me when this item is available

Item Code:	RR93
Specifications:	White Marble Sculpture
Height:	11 inch
Width:	7 inch
Depth:	4 inch
Weight:	4.18 kg

Handmade

Free delivery

Fully insured

Shipped to 153 countries

More than 1M+ customers worldwide

Mirabai was the supreme bhakta. When she danced, in her legs revealed her surrender to her Lord; when she sang, in her words revealed her yearning to unite with Him. Neither a dancer, nor singer, Mira was ‘bhakti’ incarnate – surrender in love, a surrender beyond questions, calculations, fear, and all thoughts of profit or loss, something that Chaitanya called Gopi-bhava – single-pointed submission as Gopis had for Krishna. It is said that once sage Narad saw Narayana tormented by acute headache. A bewildered Narad asked him if he could do anything that would relieve him of pain. Narayana told him that the dust of someone’s feet alone could do it. Narad could give the dust of his own feet but how could he, an humble devotee of Narayana, do it? He went to Narayana’s spouses but considering it a sin they too declined. Narad thought he could find someone in Brij who could give his or her feet’s dust. He went to Brij, met Gopis and told them all about Narayana’s pain and the remedy he sought. Not a moment of hesitation, Gopis collected a basketful dust of their feet and gave it to Narad. A sin or virtue, beyond all calculations of profit and loss the concern of Gopis was their Lord’s relief – the Chaitanya’s Gopi-bhava. This was the form of Mira’s ‘bhakti’, and in this Mira discovered her ultimate strength to face whatever came her way : ‘Koyi nindau koyi bindau main chalungi chal aputhi’ –whether condemned or lauded Mira would go the way not treaded ever before.

To Mira, the ties between her Lord and her were those of love, the love that looked like this world’s. Not an inhabitant of this world, Mira discovers in it the frame for her Lord’s picture, in the world’s sensuous ways, her Lord’s ways, and in its idiom, the diction to communicate with Him. Not a symbolic or elemental merger, Mira desired, with her body, soul and all faculties, that her Lord, when He met her, rushed to her, smiled and embraced her – ‘Uthi hans kantha lagao’. In love, her form of devotion and its essence, Mira sought release from the cycle of birth and death : ‘Jana Mira Kun Girdhara milaya, dukha metan sukha bheri, Ruma ruma sata bhayi ura mein, miti gayi phera pheri’ – the moment Mira met Girdhara, sorrows vanished and happiness emerged, all agitations of mind and body extinguished, and the cycle of birth and death is destroyed.

This white marble sculpture from Jaipur shows Mirabai dressed in the simple yellow sari of a yogi, playing on a stringed instrument with her right hand and cymbals with the left. There is a pleasant, inward looking serenity on her face, representing her continuous immersion in the Gopi-bhava.

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.

The simplest and basic way of cleaning a marble stone statue is to clear away dirt accumulated on the surface. Outdoor statues are especially prone to biological growth and dirt build-up that may take away their natural beauty. You may rinse the statue with warm water and mild soap to clean the dirt as much as possible. You can use a sponge or cotton cloth to scrape off dirt accumulated in crevices and cracks.

You must never allow water to stand on the surface of the statue for a long time. Standing water gets absorbed by the marble’s porous surface which results in its discoloration. Therefore, it is always recommended to dry-clean the statue with a towel or damp cloth.

Applying beeswax, a non-toxic product, on the surface of the marble statue offers protection against staining, dirt, and pollutants. It also polishes the surface and gives a natural shine to the statue.

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.

Marble Mastery Unveiled: The Artisan's Symphony in Sculpting Timeless Beauty

Marble is a soft and delicate metamorphic rock derived from limestone. It is composed mainly of recrystallized carbonate minerals. The appealing appearance of marble gives rise to the making of beautiful sculptures and statues. Jaipur city of Rajasthan, India, is considered the capital of marble carving where various marble idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are made. These magnificent statues are carved by skilled sculptors out of the purest white marble. The slight softness of white marble makes it easier to be carved and chiseled into any desirable form or shape. Another impressive feature of marble is that the calcite has a low refractive index that allows light to penetrate the stone before getting scattered out. This results in bringing a translucent appearance and luster to the marble sculpture. This is the reason why most sculptors prefer to work with marble for sculpting life-size statues that require intricate details, evoking a certain realism to the work.

There is a detailed or step-by-step process of developing the desired structure of a sculpture from marble stone. These steps are:

1. Clay mould

Most sculptors prefer to sculpt a preliminary model out of clay or wax to translate its complex and intricate details into the final stone sculpture with the use of calipers or a pointing machine. The plasticity of the clay mould helps sculptors capture the success of the final sculpture before carving the stone. The clay is moulded into the desired shape or form and this acts as a rough

2. Roughing out

The second step of carving or sculpting is to remove large portions of unwanted marble stone. This task is done by using a special tool known as a point chisel. The pointed end of this tool is useful for splitting the large stone and removing big chunks that are not wanted. Usually, a mallet (a tool similar to a hammer) is used to transfer energy through the chisel to shatter the stone evenly and accurately.

3. Refining the figure

Once the sculptors have determined the general shape of the sculpture, a toothed chisel or claw chisel is used to refine the stone. These tools create parallel lines in the stone to add texture to the figure. During this stage, the rough block of stone has now changed into the general shape of the sculpture.

4. Adding the details

The sculptor is now ready to carry out detailed work to develop a more refined form of the sculpture. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are then used to enhance the shape into its final form. These tools finely create details such as frills or folds of clothing or locks of hair.

5. Polishing

This is the last step in marble sculpting in which the sculptor uses materials such as sandpaper to bring out a natural sheen to the sculpture. The sandpaper is rubbed against the surface to make it smoother and flawless. Sometimes, tin oxide is also used to make the sculpture appear glossy and more translucent.

Marble sculptures are highly durable and can last for many decades if maintained and taken care of properly. They are also extremely weather-resistant and therefore, can be kept outdoors or indoors. The exquisite beauty of marble statues elevates the aura of the space and emanates positivity all around.