This is Harihara, syncretic form of Vishnu (Hari) and Siva (Hara). In some literature the reference is to Sankaranarayana (Shankar: Siva and Narayana: Vishnu). The concept of syncretic deities is a…
Source: Harihara
Tag Archives: Indian bronzes
Crawling Krishna
This bronze is infant Krishna, holding a ball of butter, crawling to escape his foster mother Yasodha. This theme is very popular throughout India and most of the bronzes of this type are small as…
Source: Crawling Krishna
Dancing Krishna
One more dancing Krishna and at 15 cms it is much larger than the one blogged earlier. Very chubby and very heavy. But less detailed than the smaller one and there is significant ritual wear. Kris…
Source: Dancing Krishna
Rama Lakshman and Sita
This set of folk bronzes is from Bengal. The painting of eyes is typical of folk art in that part of India. One of well known painters, Jamini Roy, was inspired by this folk style. These three bron…
Source: Rama Lakshman and Sita
Rama Sita (Andhra)
This bronze is Rama with his consort Sita. His right hand is abhaya mudra (protection). Rama’s forehead shows vertical religious mark, specific to Vaishnavites. As Rama is an incarnation of V…
Source: Rama Sita (Andhra)
Hakku Patra
Hakku Patra is a title deed document, giving rights to an individual or a group of individuals. The rights may be to land or use of land or rights to provide service or perform activities. Hakku Pa…
Source: Hakku Patra
Sambandar (?)
This was sold as Sambandar, a Saivite saint. The story: Sambandar as a child of three years was left unattended by his father as he went to take bath in a temple tank. Feeling hungry Sambandar star…
Source: Sambandar (?)
Valampuri Ganesha
One more Ganesha. A valampuri (with the trunk turned to the right). Ganesha is a remover of obstacles and the valampuri is considered a highly auspicious form of Ganesha. Ganesha is holding battle …
Source: Valampuri Ganesha
Mahishasuramardhini (Deccan)
This is Mahishasuramardini (Killer of the demon Mahisha) shown with eighteen arms. She is known as Durga in Bengal and elsewhere in India she is considered as a form of Durga. She is standing with …
Source: Mahishasuramardhini (Deccan)
Udupi Krishna
This is a bronze representation of deity in worship in Krishna Mutt, Udipi. It is one of the very few places where Balakrishna is in worship. The identifying attributes are pinched bun like hair do…
Source: Udupi Krishna
Vaishnavi
This four armed goddess is holding stalk (of a lotus?), chakra (discuss), shankha (conch) and mace (gada) in her hands, starting from lower right hand clockwise. She is seated in Lalitasana on a cy…
Source: Vaishnavi
Vishnu and consorts (Pala)
This is Vishnu with his consorts Lakshmi and Saraswati. All three are seated in padmasana. Images such as these, Vishnu seated flanked by seated consorts are less common compared to the Sthana (sta…
Source: Vishnu and consorts (Pala)
Dattatreya – Ek Mukhi
This is Dattatreya, a syncretic deity combining Brahma, Siva and Vishnu. Dattatreya with three heads, representing the three deities, is more commonly seen. In this example he has one face and he…
Source: Dattatreya – Ek Mukhi
Muthappan ( A bronze with attitude!)
This is Muthappan, Siva as toddy tapper. A folk deity from Northern Kerala. The Saivite attributes (identifying this bronze as a form of Siva) in this bronze include third eye, cobra hood in the be…
Navneetha Krishna
Here Krishna is standing on a Padmapeetha and his knees are slightly bent, showing agility. Krishna is holding butter balls in each of his hands. This form is called Navneetha Krishna. The ornament…
Source: Navneetha Krishna
Bronzes of India - A personal collection 