Handmade in India

Production Clusters
Thanjavur district:
Swamimalai
Madurai district:
Madurai
Erode district:
Products
Vigraham-idols
Tools
BRONZE CASTING
SWAMIMALAI near Kumbakonam is a major centre in Tamil
Nadu,where bronze cast idols are made.It is located on the banks of
the Tamoraoarani which is the main source for clayey soil used in
the process of making the statue.The idols are cast by the lost wax
process in the solid casting method.For 350 years,a clan of sthapatis
have nurtured this art and helped it to survive.They have helped
establish and run a school in Swamimalai that teaches this craft.In
the lost wax process,a wax model forms the core of the image
which is drained out by heating,which is then replaced by metal in
the actual casting.
Hammer
Chisels:
Porai
Vettirimbu-cutting
and chipping
Keeruthanam -
engraving grooves
Matla vettirimbuengraving
Miridanam-to
smoothen
Mattasutthi or aram -
files
1. Bronze statues of Rama`s entourage,with a patina finish ,Erode.
2. A reproduction of a bronze from the Chola perios depicting two figures of
Lord Shiva and his consort,made in Swamimalai.
3. Final mould of a massive bronze image lying under a lifting frame being
readied for pouring molten metal through the open channels;Swamimalai.
4. An image,26x15 cm in size,of Nandi,Shiva`s mount,adorned with bells and
ornaments.Nandi the bull symbolizes vigour,strength and power.The image is
carried during processions with other images of deities.A seated or upright
image of Nandi is placed at the entrance of a Shiva Temple facing the main
idol that is kept inside the innder sanctum.
5. An image of Krishna subduing Kalia,the snake demon.
6. Sculpture depicting Shiva in a pose where he applies tilakam,vermilion
mark,on his forehead with his right foot;Swamimalai.
7 Bronze sculpture of Saraswati,the goddess of knowledge.Her hands are in
posture of playing a veena,Erode.
This replacement can take place by two processes-solid casting,ghana in Sanskrit,and hollow casting,Sushira in Sanskrit-both of which are referred to in the
Rig Veda.The torso and head of the figure are modelled separately and joined later.The main vigraham,idols ,such as those used for processions are solid
cast and the decorations are hollow cast.Earlier images were of copper and were later replaced by the pancha loha,and alloy of copper,tin,lead,silver,and
gold,believed to symbolize the five elements.The images are made in adherence to the iconographic canons in the Shilpa Shastra.The sthapati,master
sculptor,has to master and manage atleast four dimensions of the craft:the aesthetic,the technical,the spiritual and the skill of craftsmanship that he alone
can bring to the work.In Swamimalai-the only surviving centre today in this region-copies of earlier Chola masterpieces,Ganesha idols,folk deities are
produced.