Bronze Collection

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Bronze Collection

Shiva

Shiva the Destroyer is also Shiva the Creator. One of the foundations of Hindu belief is duality and Shiva, a character of contradictions, is no exception. As he destroys he creates something new which will arise from the ashes; therefore he is both Destroyer and Creator.

He's the ultimate ascetic but in the true spirit of duality he is also Lord of Tantra, where sexual union is the path to spiritual enlightenment. Hindus do not interpret Shiva's behaviors as contradictory, but see him as a deity who wisely integrates the extremes of human nature, transcending rigid attachment to fixed ideology.

According to myth, Shiva lives atop sacred Mount Kailash in the remote Tibetan Himalayas. There he spends his time practicing yogic austerities, making love with his divine wife, Parvati and smoking the sacred ganja. His holy Vahana (Sanskrit for transport) is Nandi, a white bull and symbol of happiness, strength and Mother Earth (therefore every bull and cow in India is considered sacred). He is associated with; the third eye, indicating divine omniscience; a trident, symbolic of the aspects of Brahman - Creator, Destroyer and Preserver; snakes, which represent his power over death; and a crescent moon, as it waxes and wanes, a symbol of time and death. He is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation at his home where he is seated upon, or wearing, a tiger skin representing the mind.

Shiva and Parvati

The relationship between Parvati and Shiva represents the eternal tension in Hinduism between the mystic and the domestic. Until Parvati enters his life, Shiva leads the ascetic life of a sage, meditating motionless in the mountain forests. Her mission is to lure Shiva into the world of marriage, sex, children and tempt him away from intense spiritual self-absorption. Parvati breaks into Shiva's mystic world by becoming as austere as he, to the extent other gods fear her intensity will generate enough heat to scorch not only themselves but the entire world. The gods persuade Shiva to accept Parvati as his bride so she will cease her efforts.

As Shiva's wife, Parvati upholds the order of dharma and it is she who represents the beauty and attraction of wordly, sexual life, who cherishes the home and society rather then the ascetic life. Parvati civilises Shiva with her presence. She domesticates him and in so doing, enables him to become accessible to the mortal worshipper.

Parvati

Parvati's name in Sanskrit means: ' She of the Mountains'. She is the daughter of the mortal Himavat, King of the Himalayas and Mena, a celestial dancing spirit of the clouds.

Parvati is the physical and spiritual Hindu feminine ideal. She is eternally the beautiful, self-sacrificing young woman, who through the force of will, brought Shiva out of his mystic world into the worldly human realm; but in true Hindu duality, she also the multi armed, black skinned slayer of demon kings. In this aspect she is known by names such as Durga and Kali.

Though immensely powerful in her own right, Parvati's central role is as the embodiment of Shiva's creative power or shakti. In this role she calms his destructive extremes thereby maintaining cosmic order or dharma in the universe.

In the Chola tradition, Parvati after marriage is known as Shivagami - wife of Shiva; as a mother - Boga Shakti.

Krishna

Hindus consider Krishna their leader, hero, protector, philosopher, teacher and friend, all rolled into one. Of all the Vishnu avatars he is the most popular, and perhaps of all Hindu gods the one closest to the heart of the people. Krishna has influenced the Indian thought, life and culture in myriad ways, influencing not only its religion and philosophy, but also into its mysticism, literature, painting, sculpture, dance and music. Scholars accept the period between 3200 and

3100 BC as the period in which Krishna lived on earth.

Krishna is the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu and the embodiment of love and divine joy. He is eternally a beautiful youth with an enchanting smile and glowing complexion of the colour of new clouds. Bewitching all who hear him, Krishna plays a flute, wears a peacock feather in his curly black hair and a flower garland around his neck. His beautiful garments are the color of lightning.

Ornaments caress Krishna's body, but his transcendental body is so beautiful that it beautifies the ornaments he wears. Therefore Krishna's body is said to be the ornament of ornaments. - Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 21.105

Lakshmi

Lakshmi, being the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual is worshipped during the festival of Diwali-the festival of lights. According to tradition people would put small candles outside their homes on Diwali and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them. On a specific full moon day Lakshmi puja or worship is performed.

Lakshmi is generally depicted with four hands representing the goals of human life: dharma or righteousness, kama or desires, artha or wealth and moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Her images often show cascades of gold coins flowing from her hands suggesting that those who worship her gain wealth.

Ganesha

Pose - Lalitsana

While bathing Parvati set her son Ganesh, the task of guarding the entrance to her bath.

When Shiva, her husband returned from seven years of meditation, he was enraged to find a stranger denying him access and struck off the boy's head. Parvati broke down in grief and to soothe her Shiva sent his soldiers to fetch the head of any new born. The company found a new elephant calf and brought back its severed head, which Shiva attached to the boy's body.

Once he had restored his son's life, Shiva bestowed on Ganesha a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

Other Deities

Born of a magical spark created by Shiva and nursed by six mothers of the constellation Pleiades, Kartikeya is the leader of Shiva's army. He is born to kill demons and is an intelligent and courageous leader.

In this figure he rides a peacock trampling a naga.

Decorative Pieces

Dancing girl

The beautiful dancing girls were carved on the temple brackets. These celestial dancers were graceful and charming. According to the sculptor’s imagination, their breasts were to resemble the moon, the waist to be like a swan and the hips like those of an elephant.

The postures of these Shilabalakis were sculpted to conform to the art of dancing mentioned in the ancient texts of Natya Shastras.