Lakshmi

Height- 34 inches Width- 18 inches Depth- 10.5 inches Weight- 28.5 kg Materials- Chola Lost Wax Process Process

Vinadhara Siva

This particular form Siva is known as Vinadhara or “Veena Player”, the Lord of Music.  A title he borrows from Saraswati.  The pose is called is called “Veena Player” because Shiva’s two front hands are in the position they would be if he was playing a veena.  The veena is missing as it is in all Vinadhara sculptures.  In Shiva’s other two hands he holds an axe as well as a deer.  The deer shows how all animals see Shiva as their lord and revere him. The god is standing in elegant Tribhanga pose on a round lotus base in a frontal pose with all his well-built limbs correctly proportioned.  The sculptures elegance is displayed in the play of curves and angles that harmonize into a serene stature one can gaze at with reverence.  The simple loin cloth is suggestive of a piece of elephant hide.  With the minimalist loin cloth, ornamented belts and elaborate crown the sculpture manages to appear lavishly dressed.  The feet have each a course of 3 loose padasaras.  The toes have rings on the big and little toes, there is a footrest under the right foot not to be mistaken for a sandal.  The left leg in in Kunchita(slightly bent) and is held in position by a squatting singing ghana.  The ghanas left hand receives the toe of assurance of the god while his right hand is in singing gesticulation in gratitude of such assurance. Siva is considered to be the creator and Master of Yoga, Music and Dancing. He is very popular in the south by the name Dakshinamurti.  This statue is sometimes referred to as the Lord of Music form of Siva as Dakshinamurti. Not to be confused with the seated Dakshinamurti who is shown under a banyan tree enlightening attending rishis with one foot on mythical Apasmara crushing the ego of man.  

Height :19 inches Width :9 inches Depth :6 inches weight :7 kg

Vishnu the Preserver

This Lord Vishnu Chola Lost Wax Bronze is 2 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 20kg.  As with all of our one of a kind Chola Lost Wax Process bronzes the face of this statue is as individually unique.    Because Vishnu maintains the cosmic order of the universe or dharma, he is characteristically portrayed standing upright and balanced.  While Vishnu has many forms, this four-armed form is most common in the historic record of Antique Chola Lost Wax Bronze Icons as seen in museums and temples throughout India. In his four arms, he holds a Shankha a conch shell (upper left hand), used as a war horn to signal troops and Chakra (disc-upper right hand) are emblems of Vishnu.  The Chakra named Sudarshana is a powerful weapon that is time personified and symbolizes dharma. Vishnu is wearing jewels around his neck and a beautiful ornate crown.  The fine detail on the crown blends flawlessly all the way around. The crocodile shaped earrings he wears are called Makara Kundala.  Notice the small triangular mark near his right shoulder. This mark is called Srivatsa and was inflicted by Shiva’s trident during a duel between Shiva and sage Narayana who was an incarnation of Vishnu. However, Vishnu bears this mark with reverence as Lord Shiva who is extremely dear to Vishnu.  His right hand is raised in Abhaya Mudra (assurance or granting fearlessness) and left extends and rests near his waist in Katyavalambita Mudra.  His perfect and unique waist is adorned with a powerful Demon like center and 4 ornate belts blend into the classic leg pattern seen on this form historically.  The sculpture stands on a solid round pedestal. In order to accommodate a neat round base, this statue does not have the sometimes seen the two upward pointing bars on the pedestal are usually meant to slide over and fit onto a vertical Prabhavali the ornate arch around South Indian statues.