26 March 2023 Umamaheshwara or Aingana Murthy from Bengal. This may be dated to the Pala period.

19 March 2023 The famous trio Rama, Sita and Lakshman. This one is from North Karnataka.

13 Nov 2022: Added a Vigraha of Vamana. Identification is tentative. see the blog for analysis.

6 Nov 2022: Sometimes you get a Vigarha that is rare and well-made. This seated Venugopala is one such example.

30 Oct 2022: Despite the widely held belief that Ganapati is Bramchairn, there are eight different forms of Ganapati where he is accompanied by consort(s). Here is one, Sati Ganapati.

 23 Oct 2022: This form of dancing Krishna continues to enchant devotees from different parts of India. This example is from Odisha.

16 Oct 2022: This theme, crawling Krishna, is always popular. The symbolism associated with him varies by region. But the form is timeless.

9 Oct 2022: Narasimha is one of the few deities with a strong representation in the folk tradition as well. Here is one with a folk influence.

2 Oct 2022: Despite the wide veneration of Saraswathi as the Goddess of learning, bronze images of her, antique ones,  are rarer. This Saraswathi is from Western India.

25 Sep 2022: Ganga Jamuna bronzes are fast becoming one of the strong points of this blog site. Fortunate enough to add a Ganga Jamuna bronze of Veerabhadra.

19 Sep 2022: This is Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha with a  difference as he is holding a bow instead of Shankha.

12 Sep 2022:  Added Manjushri, the Buddhist God of wisdom. It is an exotic form.

5 Sep 2022: Lakshmi Ganapati is the form where Ganapati is accompanied by two of his consorts. Here Lakshmi denotes Sakti rather than Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort.

29 Aug 2022: One more Ganga Jamuna Vigraha. This time it is a kneeling Garuda.

22 Aug 2022: Adding to the variety, a Ganga Jamuna Lakshmana. Interesting to see how iconographic traditions develop.

15 Aug 2022: A four-armed Navneeth Krishna. A popular form of Krishna, but the four-armed ones are rarer.

7 Aug 2022: Added another Lakshmi Narayana. Vishnu’s crown merits attention and so does the little garuda on the peetha.

31 Jul 2022: Thirthankara Vigrahas are serene despite the details. Here is one more of that Genre. To boot it is smaller than the usual size.

24 Jul 2022:  Ganga Jamuna Vigrahas are sought after by me. For a reason. The art of making them is now lost. There are artisans attempting to revive it.

17 Jul 2022:  A Vitobha with a difference.  His sporting Linga on his crown has an interesting story behind it. Amazing.

10 Jul 2022:  Another Panchayatna. But a robust one.  Some would call this a  Ganga-Jamuna Vigraha. I am happy no matter what the category is.

Jul 2022:  A simple Ganesha lamp from Nepal.  One of the many forms of lamps that Nepal has produced.

26 Jun 2022: This is a topic, Panchayatna,  that always evokes discussion.  I think the answer depends on where you are coming from whether from Tamil Nadu or Maharashtra.  But still worth debating.

19 Jun 2022: Added a very, very rare form of Lakshmi Narayana. A real delight. Incredibly charming.

12 Jun 2022: A Dvarapala, guardian of the entrance to the inner chambers of the temple now graces these pages. Some opine that the Dvarapala is a copy of the sentry posted at the entrance to A King’s palace. Maybe it is the other way around.

5 Jun 2022: Added Trimurthi, a syncretic form of Bramha, Shiva and Vishnu. Some see it as Dattatreya, Vishnu’s incarnation. All the same a deity for worship.

29 May 2022: Venugopala is always a real delight. This Vigraha is possibly from late Chola period. Given the quality, age does not matter.

22 May 2022:  A second Ram Darbar, a blessing. From different period and more developed and as usual evokes a sense of piety.

15 May 2022:  A Vishnu surrounded by coiled Sesha, from Nepal, is part of this site. Unique iconography.

19 April 2022:A Uma Maheshwara of considerable age. Possibly from Central India.

10 April 2022: Back-to-back Ambikas. This week it is from the Jain faith.  And a totally different story. The vigraha is about 12 cm in height.

4 April 2022: Added a Devi, possibly Ambika. Vital Nadkarni interprets this Vigraha as an example of Panchayatna.

2 March 2022: There is a possibility the Goddess identified as Sri Devi (28 Feb 22 post) may actually be Sita, as pointed out by Srinivasa Kumar.

28 Feb 2022: Added a delightful Ganga Jamuna seated Goddess, identified as Sri Devi, based on her wearing a breast-band.  It is only 7 cm tall.

21 Feb 2022: An unusual Lakshminarayana from Nepal now graces this website. A repurposed Vigraha and that adds to the charm and mystique.

14 Feb 2022: Narasimha worship/cult is very strong in the Deccan plateau. That shows up in the variety of Narasimha Vigrahas we come across. Here is an interesting variation.

31 Jan 2022: Bronzes from Kerala is always special. Rarity apart, the flair in them is absent in the bronzes from other regions. Here is Bhagawathi and an excellent example of the flair.

24 Jan 2021: Vigrahas of Krishna appeal at different levels. ‘Krishna will be whoever the devotee wants him to be’.  Seated Krishna’s are rarer. Certainly, it is a pleasure to share a great example.

17 Jan 2022: A rare form of Siva’s vahana Nandi as Adhikara Nandi is a part of this blog site.

 17 Jan 2022: It has to happen sometime or other. I started collecting about four decades ago and since I started this website (about six years ago) the collecting rate has gone up. Thanks to the friendly dealers. Maybe now it is time for me to rethink the strategy. Well, I do not think there was a strategy to start with.

It does not take long to realize that a generic collection can only have so many Panjurlis, or Narasimhas or Mardhinis. After thinking about it for some time, close to two years, I have decided to sell some of the duplicates. Hopefully, this will release some resources, money and space. Yes, they do take up space.

Whatever I plan to sell will be, mostly, through online auctions. Technically the IPR for the pictures stay with me and I hope to retain the picture of sold Vigrahas on my website but under a different category. You are always welcome to contact me.

Jan 2022: This is a fragment of a Vishnu Vigraha. It is Uttarpradesh and possibly dates to the eleventh -twelfth century. It is about 14 cm in height. For more information https://bronzesofindia.com/vishnu-himachal/

31 Dec 2021:What better way than to see the remover of obstacles (Ganesha) as one gets ready to meet the New Year? This Nritya Ganesha brings joy, smiles and Bhakti at the same time. The Vigraha is about 6 cm in height. https://bronzesofindia.com/nritya-ganesha-2/

26 Dec 2021:Very few systems of beliefs (as in religion) have an elaborate pantheon of deities of learning as Jainism does. Jainism has sixteen MahaVIdyas, Goddess of learning. Here is one example, Accupta from the Svtembra sect. The Vigraha is about 11.5 cm in height and it is from Gujarat. For more information https://bronzesofindia.com/acchupta-jain-goddess/

19 Dec 2021: A well-cast Vigraha appeals at different levels. This 14 cm tall Umamaheshwara is one such Vigraha. It is from Tamil Nadu and may be dated prior to the 19th century. For more information https://bronzesofindia.com/umamaheshwara/

12 Dec 2021: A Lakshminarayana from Western India, possibly from Gujarat. The Vigraha’s height is 14.5 cm. Note the round earrings and it seems to be a strong feature of Vigrahas from Gujarat. For more information https://bronzesofindia.com/lakshminarayana-gujarat/

5 Dec 2021: This four-armed deity holding a sword and a shield is identified as Virabhdra, an Ugra aspect of Siva. The Vigraha is about 10.5 cm in height. For more information https://bronzesofindia.com/virabhadhra-3/

28 Nov 2021: A true pan-Indian and timeless deity, Durga as Mahishasuramardhini. The Vigraha, about 14 cm in height,  is from Bengal.

21 Nov 2021:  Added Visvakesana, Vishnu’s treaurer and army chief. A standing Visvakesana is a rarer iconogrphy. The fact it is made using a form of Ganga Jamuna technique makes it a special one.

14 Nov 2021: It is unusual for a Prabhavali to warrant on its own. Here is one. Circular prabhavali featuring two wonen pouring water (for ritual cleanising). Unfortunately the central figure is missing.

7 Nov 2021: This is a case ‘it is the same but different‘. A mother Goddess of Saivite origin but with three severed heards on the Peetha. Interesting aspect is the number of different Goddess forms with the severed heads.

31 Oct 2021: One more of the endless forms of Krishna. Always the same and never the same. The Vigraha is from Odisha.

24 Oct 2021: Added a miniature Subramanya, just about 5 cm tall.

17 Oct 2021: Graceful that he is, I am glad for him adorn the pages of this blog site. A Ganga Jamuna Rama is now here. At 12.5 cm he forever towers above others.

15 Oct 2021: When it comes to the representation of Indian Art this image of Durga stands out. Though it lacks classical tradition, the current popularity of this form is immense.

10 Oct 2021: A delightful Krishna now graces the pages of this website. Enjoy his presence.

3 Oct 2021: A Kerala Vishnu vigraha is now a part of this blog site. Kerala bronzes tend have have their ‘quirks’ and this one is not an exception.

26 Sept 2021: A graceful Radha, with her delightful braid is now a part of this blog site. Unfortunate her beloved companion is missing. Maybe one day.

25 Sept 2021: Swanand identified this Mahalakshmi as belonging to Kolhapur school. A typical feature being the back of unfinished, unlike the case with most of the Vigrahas from South India.

12 Sept 2021: Added one more Mahishasuramardhini. A Pan Indian deity in the true sense of the phrase, covers wide geographic area, time and cultural practices. This Vigraha is tribal in style.

5 Sep 2021: One of the most revered forms of Vishnu is Anantasai, Vishnu reclining on the Cobra Ananta. Added one more Anantasai. The Vigraha is about 9.5 cm in height.

29 Aug 2021: Added one more Vaishnavite Saint, unidentified as yet. The Tri Dandam being on his left makes the difference. The Vigraha is about 6.5 cm in height.

22 Aug 2021: One of most loved deities, Krishna’s forms are endless. Here is one more, Navneetha Krishna, with him hold two butter balls. Always a delight to see, hold, own and worship.

15 Aug 2021: A Yoga Lakshminarasimha with a twist. A rarer version with six attributes and four arms. This is from Karnataka.

8 Aug 2021: Added a Kevala (by himself) Veerabhadra. Most of the Veerabhadra bronzes tend to be folk origin and this is no exception. It is about 18 cm in height.

1 Aug 2021: The snake  goddess Manchamma or Manasa is under research. Publishing it to see whether the research can be crowd-sourced.

25 July 2021: One more Garudasana. The expression on Garuda’s face, Vishnu sitting on Garuda’s wings and Garuda in Ardhapadmasana makes this a special Vigraha.

18 July 2021: A move away from Vigraha, this week’s blog is a chess board. A delightful example of living art.

11 July 2021: Added a Vigraha of Sashtha, a much revered South Indian Hindu deity. It is a rare Vigraha.

4 July 2021: Added a miniature Vigraha of Rama with a bow, Kodanda Rama.

3 July 2021: Added one more Hayagriva, one of the deities of learning.

2 July 2021: Added one more Annapurna. A single cast Vigraha from Kerala. A delightful example.

27 June 2021: This panel showing a Kalasa flanked by tress and elephants is under research. This may be a depiction of Durga used during Durga puja.

20 June 2021: Added one more Sambandar, a Tamil Saivite saint.

20 June 2021: Rare to find Vigrahas of  Vaishnavite Acharyas other than Sri Ramanuja and Vedanta Desika. Added a Vigraha of Kooraththalwan, a disciple of Sri Ramanuja.

3 June 2021: A Nammalvar wearing the sacred thread? The Vigraha is about 8 cm in height and it is packed with several interesting features.

13 June 2021: Added one more Panjurli, unusual iconography and came as a one-piece Vigraha. Just about 11 cm in height.

6 June 2021: Anjaneya being one of the most worshipped deity, we get to see quite a few of his Vigrahas. But this Anjaneya, from Orissa, is a rarer example.

6 June 2021: A  simple utilitarian puja item, a spoon, is made into an exquisite sacred art piece. A great example of good aesthetics and technical excellence.

30 May 2021: A miniature Ardhanari graces the blogsite now. The four-arms and the Rishab standing behind makes this Vigraha a special one.

24 May 2021: Marking Narasimha Jayanthi (25th May). A standing Narasimha of about 10 cm. Rare to find Narasimha in Samabhanga pose.

23 May 2021: Krishna with his endless forms is continuing to grace this website. The latest addition is a seated Krishna . A toddler but with a difference.

16 May 2021: Durga’s form and iconography varies considerably. Here is one such variation, twelve-armed Durga from Kerala. This is dated to 15th-16th century of CE.

15 May 2021: Indian iconography is full of surprises. Deity with similar attributes to that of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi is worshipped as Lakshmi-Gauri in Gujarat.  Added a note to the blog on Kolhapur Mahalakshmi.

9 May 2021: added one more Lakshmi Narasimha, third classical one to be published. Our leftmost one on the photo below. This is a Ganga Jamuna variety and it is from Karnataka.

2 May 2021: Added two Lotus petals that would have been parts of Lotus Mandalas. They depict Vishnu on Garuda and Mahalakshmi on Lion.

26 Apr 21: One of the earlier posts on Hayagriva was a subject of discussions on a social media site. There is merit in evaluating the suggestion that the Vigraha may actually depict Jambuvan, King of bears from Ramayana and Mahabharata.

25 Apr 21: Added another Mahalakshmi to the blog site. This is a standing one, like the Mahalakshmi in Kolhapur.

25 Apr 2021: Replaced a Vaishnavite saint vigraha with a  similar but larger and older one. The current one has a big presence and a nice facial expression.

18 Apr 2021: A rare to find Bhuta figure riding an elephant. Dr Naveen Kumar Marike identifies this as kodamanittaya/ kodamandaya – Kodaman (place name) + althaaya ( belong to that place).

11 Apr 2021: A simple vigraha of Lakshman. One of the cases where the identification is based on association. The iconography is a later development, Vijayanagar period. 

 4 Apr 2021: The collection of Vishnu triad is continuing to grow. The variety in style for what one may consider ‘a routine vigraha’ is quite amazing.  Definitely a popular topic. The latest addition is from Gujarat.

28 Mar 2021: Added a very rare version of Siva with two arms, accompanied by Parvati and their son Ganesha. The Vigraha is from Central India. The figures on the base seem to be influenced by Panchayatana.

26 Mar 2021: Possible economic gain is a power motivator for innovation. Here is one. Rising prices of Ganga-Jamuna bronzes resulted in the use electroplating to produce look-alike Ganga-Jamuna bronzes.

21 Mar 2021: One more Padmavathi graces these pages. A larger and probably later image. Provision for nose ring and her ear-rings deserve attention.

20 Mar 2021: It has to happen sometime. Replaced the earlier vigraha of Madhvacharya. The earlier Ganga-Jamuna one is now in my friend’s home altar and on his request I am removing all the Ganga Jamuna Madhvacharya images from this blog site.

14 Mar 2021: A Vasudeva Kamalaja from Odisha now graces this blog site. A rare vigraha. The Deity’s sleeping ritual  in Puri Jaganath temple involves this Vigraha, Ardhalakshminarayana as it is call in Odisha.

 7 Mar 2021: Ugra Narasimha is a rare subject. The medium, in this case glass or rock crystal, makes it very special.

28 Feb 2021: Now yet another spectacular Lakshminarasimha graces this blog site. This Lakshminarasimha being from Tamil Nadu, gave me an opportunity to compare the styles of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Vigrahas.

21 Feb 2021: Added one more Gajalakshmi, classical depiction with folk influence. The Vigraha is from Eastern India.

14 Feb 2021: Another deviation from bronzes. This is Umlakh, a wedding ornament, from Punjab/Himachal Pradesh is made of silver. It is the presence of deities that got my attention and its place in my collection.

7 Feb 2021: Added one more Vigraha of Kali from North Karnataka. Despite holding Rakshashamunda and wearing a mundamala, she is the Mother Goddess to all.

31 Jan 2021: Added one more form of Parvati, Mahashakti, a standalone vigraha with four arms and riding her vahana a lion. The seller had called her Mahashakti and for the lack of better identification retained the name. She is.

29 Jan 20201: One of the comments I got about Tripura is that it may be Bhuvaneshwari. Updated the Tripura blog to reflect the comment with my response.

Included a picture (more of a Tweet) to the blog on Anjaneya bringing Sanjeevini plant. Do not miss it.

28 Jan 2021: Added a vigraha of Tamil vaishnavite saint, probably an Alvar. In some cases it is a challenge to identify Alvars. This is one of them.

24 Jan 2021: Added a familiar iconography with unfamiliar name, Tripura. One of the six forms of Gauri (as in Parvati). The vigraha is more common than one would expect given the name.

17 Jan 2021: Added an unusual vigraha of Rama in preaching mode. The vigraha is about 10 cm in height and it is from Tamil Nadu.

10 Jan 2020 Added one more Hayagriva. A rarer version, one with two arms.

7 Jan 2021:  A topic that captures people’s attention, Anjaneya. Here he is portrayed  in his warrior form as Veera Anjaneya. This form dates back to the Vijayanagar period, fourteenth to sixteenth century of the common era.

  3 Jan 2020: A never ending topic with inexhaustible variations. Added another Venugopala, different from others of course. This one is from Karnataka. 

31 Dec 2020: It has been my practice to mark the New Year with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. An appropriate theme for the time to come.  This Ganesha is from Himachal Pradesh.

29 Dec 2020: Added a chromolithograph showing Anjaneya delivering Dronagiri mountain to Sri Lanka. Kind of sequel to catching Anjaneya in flight, a terracotta figure on this blog site.

27 Dec 2020: One more deviation from bronzes. Added a stone relief sculpture of Manasa, Goddess of snakes from the Bengal region.

25 Dec 2020: For the first time, I could upgrade a Vigraha. Replaced Ramanuja Acharya vigraha with a larger one (8.5 cm Vs 4.5 cm). The larger Vigrahas are rarer.

22 Dec 2020: Added a chromolithograph of Kiratmurthy, Siva blessing arjuna by presenting him Pasupatha. The lithograph is 24 by 17 cm and it is a rarer one.

20 Dec 2020:  Added a Ganga-Jamuna vigraha of Udupi Sri Krishna. It may be dated to the nineteenth century.

16 Dec 2020: Added one more chromolithograph, Kaliya Mardana. It is from Raja Ravi Varma press. The similarity between the main figures in the lithograph and the bronze in my collection can not be a coincidence.

13 Dec 2020: Added one more Garudasana, a vigraha of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi being carried by Vishnu’s vahana Garuda.

8 Dec 2020:  Included a chromolithograph of Markandeya story, same subject as a wooden relief carving in my collection. Markandeya depiction in metal is not something I have come across.

6 Dec 2020:  Trimurti, a syncretic form of Brahma, Siva and Vishnu is now a part of this blog. This arm band is from Nepal.

4 Dec 2020: Continuing with the idea of collecting and publishing representation of the subject matter of bronzes in other mediums, included an embellished  chromolithograph of Ananta Sai.

29 Nov 2020: Siva as Tripura Vijaya is now part of this blog site. A miniature Tripura Vijaya is a rare icon. It is about 8.5 cm in  height.

25 Nov 2020: Anjaneya returning with Dronagiri  mountain depicted in terracotta. The colour makes him come alive.

22 Nov 2020: One more Venugopala. A pose one will never get tired of. At about 12 cm in height and fully ornamented.

18 Nov 2020: Durga as Mahishasuramardhini in chromolithograph. The publisher is UK based, printed in Germany (a bit of history there), meant for worship in India and it is in a US-based collection. Short history covering about 100 years.

15 Nov 2020: Kerala Vigrahas are rarer. Glad to  showcase a great example of  Rama espousing knowledge.  This is typical of Kerala Vigrhas in several ways.

8 Nov 2020: Deviations are norm.  Added a wooden seeder, a farm implement. A lovely example of everyday art of India.

6 Nov 2020: Seeing the same subject expressed through different mediums is as exciting seeing them transformed in time and space. Here is my first addition. Ganesha as portrayed in Raja Ravi Varma lithograph.

1 Nov 2020: Added a Ganga-Jamuna vigraha of crawling Krishna. A beautiful example of Ganga-Jamuna technique. This is one of the most popular form of Krishna.

18 Oct 2020: Added a rare image of Siddharth Gautama practicing extreme asceticism in his quest for enlightenment. He is said to fasted again, for 49 days, after enlightenment.

17 Oct 2020:  Marking the first day of Navaratri with a Mahishasuramardhini from North Karnataka. A hybrid of styles classical and folk. But it is the clean lines that makes this Vigraha standout.

11 Oct 2020:  The fifth anniversary of this blog site is fast approaching, December 2020. I enjoyed these five years and it forces me to learn more and compels me to reach higher targets.

May be it is time to pause and ask the readers of this blogsite as to what more can be done or what should be avoided.

Stuart from Australia got the ball rolling suggesting inclusion of a map in the blog to show which region the Vigraha is from  and also consider inclusion of 360 degree video of the Vigrahas.  Now they are on my to-do list.

Please include your suggestions as comments to this page. Alternatively you can send an email padmanabhan.sridhar@gmail.com. On my  part I will respond to every comment/suggestions.

11 Oct 2020:  Added an unusual Ugra Narasimha.  Hiranyakasipu with a buffalo face and Narasimha without his attributes Shankha and Chakra.

4 Oct 2020:  Added another Sitarama and here Rama is shown with cinmudra. A beautiful example of post-Vijayanagara art.

27 Sept 2020:  One of the best examples of folk bronzes in my collection, Ayyanar and his procession. A protective village deity from Tamil Nadu.

24 Sept 2020: It is not unusual to see Hindu God’s images used outside the temples and home altars. But generally the function of the deity is not challenged. But not in this example, where the God’s are portrayed as chess pieces.

20 Sept 2020:  One more exception. Added two loom pulleys from Burma. They feature Kinnara and  Kinnari, providing a link to India.

18 Sept 2020: Though worship of cows is an integral part of Hindu religion, rarely do you see a Gomata Vigraha.  Added a miniature vigraha of Gomata.

12 Sept 2020: Added one more Radhakrishna. Some subjects reaches out more than others. This is one of the subjects that connects with me readily. The third Radhakrishna published so far.

6 Sept 2020: Part of a sacred water pot, featuring Manasa is a part of this blog. Attributed to Bengal. It may possibly be from the Deccan. Needs research. It is about 7 cm in height.

4 Sept 2020: Added a blog on my experiences in buying antique fakes. Maybe not the last one.

30 Aug 2020: Added a 30 cm tall Deepalakshmi on an elephant. Possible from Andhra Pradesh. An example of our living tradition.

23 Aug 2020:  Added a vigraha of Yoga Sitarama. An unusual combination of Dhara mudra, Yogapatta while accompanied his consort, Sita.

20 Aug 2020: To mark Ganesh Chaturthi, added an energetic Ganesha. Just about 6 cm in height and a delightful example.

16 Aug 2020: Added one more Mardini (!). This one is different. The drama is set on a stage and getting played out for our benefit. This may date to the colonial days.

9 Aug 2020: Marking Krishna Janmasthami this week, with a very rare bronze vigraha,  Vatapatrasai. 

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2 Aug 2020:  Marking 5th August. Anjaneya is totally engrossed in worshiping his master Rama. Just about 6 cm in height but says volumes.

26 July 2020: Added a Annapurna with four arms. A rarer version. Annapurna is the Hindu goddess for food.

19 July 2020: Added Amoghapasha, the tutelary deity of Kathmandu. He is the tantric form of Avalokitshwara and said to remove impediments to one’s enlightenment.

12 Jul 2020: Varahi is worshiped in the “main-stream” Hinduism, as a tantric deity and in Buddhism.  This example is from Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is about 19 cm in height.

5 Jul 2020:  Added a standing Vishnu from Nepal. The styling is different . The quality of casting is better than average.

1 Jul 2020: Added a standing lamp from Nepal. With Ganesha adorning it, the lamp itself becomes an object of worship in addition to it being used in worship.

28 June 2020: Added one more crawling Krishna. Though meant for home worship it is a large Vigraha. This is from the Bengal region.

24 June 2020: This Garuda would have been used as a standard in the Vaishnavite temple processions. The Gauda and the platform is about 15 cm in height and it is from Tamil Nadu. 

21 June 2020: It is not unusual to see a bronze representation of Deities in the temple. This is one such example. Added a bronze image of Seated Vishnu from Poornathrayeesa temple in Thirupunithura, Kerala.

14 June 2020: Added a delightful Vigraha of Shiva and his family. A unique family in the Hindu Pantheon, as all the members are worshipped individually and together.

7 June 2020: Added one more travel blog, Would you call it an act of vandalism?. Piety Vs Preserving antiquities. This is a debatable subject, but close to my heart.

7 June2 2020: Nataraja (King of Dance) is probably the most widely recognized deity of Hindu Pantheon. Delighted to add another Nataraja Vigraha to this blog site.

3 June 2020: Added Lakshmi Vigraha from Nepal. Lakshmi’s attributes and her vahana is different from what we see in India. The Buddhist influence shows.

2 June 2020: Thanks to all those who responded with suggestions on identifying the deity, labelled as Siva-Balarama.  The deity could be Viswarupa (Visnu), Vishnu Lokeshwar and Samkarshana (who later came to be known as Balarama). Lots of reading to do. Once again thanks for the response.

1 June 2020: Added a syncretic deity tentatively identified as Siva-Balarama, based on published example. Any help in identifying/confirming attributes and identifying the deity is welcome.

27 May 2020: Added an unusual folk Bhairavi vigraha with a devotee seated on her lap. It is from North Karnataka.

24 May 2020: Added another Jambhala, Buddhist god of wealth and prosperity. A charmer as well.

17 May 2020: Hope the blog “Why would they do that?” brings a smile to your face.

17 May 2020: Added a Vigraha of Sambandar with a comparison of its iconography with that of Dancing Krishna. Delightful examples.

10 May 2020: Western collectors frown on any cleaning of antique bronzes. Whereas most Indian collectors do some cleaning. This blog looks at the background.

10 May 2020:  Maitreya, the future Buddha is now featured on this site. A vigraha of 6 cm height and probably dates tot he Pala-Sena period.

3 May 2020: Under the section added an outpouring coming from my seeing one of the Vigrhas with me getting faked. Clever fakes, maybe.

3 May 2020: Added Amitayus, Buddha of limitless life. An appropriate meditational deity for the days of  pandemic. It is about 25 cm in height and comes from Nepal.

26 Apr 2020: Added one more Hayagriva, God of Learning. With prabhavali, the Vigraha is about 16.5 cm in height. This may be from North Karnataka.

19 Apr 2020: Continuing the theme of the conquest of death is the story of Markandeya. A wooden sculpture from Tamil Nadu and may date to the nineteenth century. Added a Tanjore painting depicting the same scene. Thanks, Mukund.

12 Apr 2020: A Vigraha for the current times, Mrityunjaya, the conqueror of death. A form of Siva. Just about 9 cm in height and it is from Orissa.

5 Apr 2020: Another travel blog. This time about Chennakesava temple, Somnathpur. Difficult to notice and hard to forget.

5 Apr 2020: Continuing the Krishna story for the third week in a row, added Nrityakrishna. A delightful example.

5 Apr 2020:  Updated Radhakrishna and Govinda Bhairava to include the comments from B N Aryan and Tom Perardi.

29 Mar 2020: Look at the eyes. Not an antique. But catches attention. This Radhakrishna pair is from the Bengal region.

22 Mar 2020: Added Krishna, as Kaliyamardaka, vigraha. This vigraha is from South India, possibly from Karnataka.

15 March: One more travel blog. Hope you hear him and his pain.

15 Mar 2020: Simple but with a strong presence, this Surya is about 8 cm in height. Most probably this is from Nepal.

8 Mar 2020: At 4.5 cm height, this is the smallest Kashmir vigraha I have come across. Such fine work. Most probably this is Lakshminarayana.

1 Mar 2020: A Umamaheshwara from Gujarat is now a part of this blog. The vigraha is about 12 cm in height and is made of copper-zinc alloy.

23 Feb 2020: A 6 cm tall Vaishnavi is now part of this blogsite. It is from Kerala.

16 Feb 2020: Added Ekmukh Linga, the aniconic form of Shiva. The gilding and the cobra providing protective cover makes this special.

10 Feb 2020: Updated four blogs to reflect the comments received. 

Rishabeshwar Vs Rishabaruda Moorthy, Maheshwari Vs Bhuvaneshwari, Seated Garuda and reference to an example from Madras (Chennai) Museum, Mardini from Deccan (Maybe not a reproduction)

Feb 2020: Mardini’s Vigrahas cover a range of geographic region, style, period and patrons. One more example to make the point. From Gujarat.

2 Feb 2020: Added another blog in the What I saw and heard, Could not but smile.

2 Feb 2020: This stand is for Saligrama. Aniconic representation of Vishnu. It is ammonite fossil from Gandaki River in Nepal.

26 Jan 2020: This smoking pipe is possibly from Burma. The Indian influence can be seen in the Anjali mudra.

26 Jan 2020: Added a delightful miniature Somaskanda. Unusual to come across a Somaskanda meant for home worship.

A22 Jan 2020: Started a new section on What I saw and heard, to share my experiences from my travel. The first blog is on worshipping missing Ganesha. The posting in this section will be less frequent, maybe once a month.

20 Jan 2020: The blog site now includes Rishabhamurthy, Siva and Parvathi on Shiva’s vahana Rishabha, is a composite piece. A sacred representation.

13 Jan 2020: This Lakshminarayana is from Gujarat and is about 12 cm in height. Note the similarity between this and the Vishnu triad from Gujarat.

6 Jan 2020: Continuing to add to my collection of Vishu triads. This vigraha is from Karnataka and is about 18 cm in height.

1 Jan 2020: Marking the New Year of Common Era with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. A complete Vigraha and is of good size.

29 Dec 2019: Added one more Gajalakshmi.  Well worshipped Vigraha and has a strong presence.

26 Dec 2019: Added Maheshwari, the Sakthi part of Shiva. A well-worshipped vigraha retaining its charm.

and 19 Dec 2019:  Added a vigraha of Lakshmi. Despite the prevalence of Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) worship, the vigraha tend to be rarer. Here is one of considerable age.

8 Dec 2019: Added a vigraha of Ganesha and Saraswati sharing the same peetha. Unusual iconography considering the age.

1 Dec 2019: A seated Garuda, unusual iconography, is now part of the blog site. The vigraha is about 7.5 cm in height.

24 Nov 2019: Added a vigraha of Venugopala with the full entourage, consorts, cows, vahana and , possibly, the shepherd.  The vigraha is about 9 cm in height.

17 Nov 2019: Added a Vaishnavi vigraha from the Bengal region. This may be dated to the Pala period. The vigraha is just about 6 cm in height.

10 Nov 2019: Included a wooden idol of Dakshinamurthy. To me, it is interesting to see the conformance to the iconography across mediums, especially the idol is not meant for worship. This wooden idol was probably a part of a temple chariot.

3 Nov 2019: A seated flute-playing Krishna is now a part of this blog. The Krishna is from the Patan region of Gujarat.

 27 Oct 2019: Siva is sitting on his vahana, Rishabha, holding his attributes Trishul and Ankush. What distinguishes this vigraha is the attribute mace on his lower left hand. The Vigraha is about 10 cm in height.

20 Oct 2019: The folk idols simplicity in expressing faith is always a delight. Another example. Ganesha, Parvati and Linga.  This is from North Maharashtra.

13 Oct 2019: A well-cast Mahalakshmi vigraha enriches this website. It is possibly from a region other than North Deccan as the iconography is different from that of Kholaphur Mahalakshmi.

29 Sept 2019: Added one more Veera Anjaneya. A well made Vigraha. Anjaneya wearing Paduka and Rama above his head makes this a favourite

22 Sept 2019: Added a Jain shrine with the full pantheon of twenty-four Tirthankaras. The central figure is most likely Mahavir. The shrine is about 28 cm in height.

15 Sept 2019: A tribal shrine with Rama, Lakshman and Shatrughan is now part of this site. The simplicity of tribal bronzes is always a delight.

8 Sept 2019: A shrine from the Digambara sect of the Jain faith, Nandiswara Dvipa is now part of this blog. This shrine always catches the attention of visitors.

1 Sept 2019: Publishing a blog of Vigraha of  Gauri with Ganesha on the day before Ganesha Habbha, is just a coincidence. Good to see the Vigraha, a composition of four pieces, has remained together.

29 Aug 2019: Thanks Sabya Ghosh, it is now almost certain the Durga under research is from Himachal Pradesh. See the side for the photo provided by Sabya Ghosh.

25 Aug 2019: The Umamaheshwara murti is made even more special by the combined Kavachaand face mask. It is probably from a temple. It is not unusual for temples to replace worn Utsava Murtis.

18 Aug 2019: One of the enthusiasts, Swanand Telang, has set up a Facebook group Bronzes Of India. A non-commercial group. If you are keen to learn more about Indian bronze artefacts and do not mind social media please join the group.

18 Aug 2019: The Surya, four-armed one, is rare. The idol is possibly the oldest in my collection. May be dated to the 8th century CE based on a similar example.

11 Aug 2019: This eight-armed Durga as Simhavahini is, possibly, from Himachal Pradesh. Durga is truly a Pan-Indian deity.

10 Aug 2019: Added a bronze idol of Purandara Dasa a saint, a Haridasa, a reformer, a composer and singer of Carnatic Music. Rare to see a much-loved icon of Purandara Dasa.

4 Aug 2019: Added an unusual ritual object, a hanging mirror. It is Saivite in nature. It is possibly meant to be used in a temple, for the deity to see the Alankar.

3 Aug 2019: Added an awe-inspiring bronze of a warrior. It is possibly Kartavirya.  It is about 11.5 cm in height. May be from Orissa or the bordering regions.

 28 July 2019: Rare to find a standing Manjushri, a Buddhist deity of wisdom. One such bronze is now a part of this blog site. The inlaid work makes it even more special.

22 July 2019: Added a portable shrine, housing Ganesha and Hanuman. A delightful folk work. Rare to see a metal travelling shrine.

20 July 2019: Added two photos, Mardhini and Vaishnavi, of idols in worship. Both are from Orissa. Thanks to Siddarth for sharing.

14 July 2019: The collection Mardini is continuing to grow. It just shows the widespread worship of this deity. This Mardini is from Orissa. It is about 17 cm in height.

7 July 2019: Added a rare murti of Sakambhari, Goddess of Vegetation. Another example that shows Hinduism worships Divine in Nature. This bronze is from Bengal and probably dates to the 10th century. It is about 10 cm in height.

6 July 2019: Updated the blog on Yamnu or Lakshmi with a better example. The identity of this bronze is still uncertain. It probably is a holder for cosmetics. Some have identified as Deepalakshmi.

30 June 2019: Added an idol with half-Lakshmi-half-bird features. Closest is Kinnari. This is probably the finial of a standing lamp, Kuttu Vilakku. It is a delight.

25 June 2019: Updated the blog on Vishnu with Avatars to include more information on the female and males figures flanking Vishnu. It appears they may be Sri Devi and garuda respectively.

23 June 2019: An interesting bronze, on several counts. Vishnu with his Avatars. At about 18 cm in height and with its rich iconographic details, it is a bronze worth further research. Poring over the picture of this idol is worth the effort.

16 June 2019: Added bronzes of a pair feet. They are were used to decorate the Utsava Vigraha when it is taken out in procession. Unusual to find them and that too a pair.

12 June 2019: Updated Ganesha (Hoysala ?) bronze to include comments from Prof. Dr. B. U. Abels, attributing the bronze to late Kalyani-Chalukya period.

Widely recognized as one of the most influential philosopher of Madhva sect. It is a recent bronze.

2 June 2019: A rare form of Siva, Kiratarjunamurti, is now part of this blog. Typical Kerala bronze. It is about 14 cm in height and may date prior to the nineteenth century.

26 May 2019: Added a standing Anjaneya/Hanuman. The devotion on the face is a joy to see. It is about 18 cm high. The patina is wonderful and the surface is smooth.

19 May 2019: Added a plaque of Ugra Narasimha. With this the three-part story is complete, Ugra Narasimha, Sarabeshwara and Gandaberunda. The plaque is about 13 cm in height.

12 May 2019: Rama is holding court on my blog site. Added a bronze of Ram Darbar. One of my favourites. Unusual as it is a single piece. It is about 11.5 cm in height and may date to Vijayanagara period.

5 May 2019: One more Dakshinamurthy  graces this blog site. The supreme teacher sitting in Virasana under a Banyan tree is espousing wisdom to his disciples.

28 April 2019: Added a bronze depicting Teyyam.  Strangely enough the dance and the dancer are referred as Teyyam. It is a sacred ritual art from Kerala. The bronze is about 18 cm in height.

21 April 2019: An interesting bronze, most likely Vishnu, is now part of this blog. As one of my friends (a dealer as well) put it the idol as a real presence. Not sure about the age and whereabouts (guess it is from North India). Comments and suggestions are welcome.

15 April 2019: One of the tweeples, https://twitter.com/MadhvaHistory, sent an explanation for the iconographic peculiarities of the Venugopala below. Added as a footnote.

14 April 2019: A Venugopala, with flute point to the “wrong direction”, to the left, is now part of this blog. This idol is most likely from Orissa and it is about 12 cm in height.

14 April 2019: Added a Deepalakshmi. This one is folkish and it is from Kerala. It is about 17 cm in height.

7 April 2019:   One more Khandobha, a standing one, is now part of this blog pages. A much-revered folk bronze. The age shows, note the patina, wear and the shades of Kumkum powder used.

31 Mar 2019:  A four-armed Anjaneya or Hanuman is part of this blog. This idol will remain one of the specials for multiple reasons including its rarity. It is about 13 cm in height.

24 Mar 2019: A Panjurli, a Bhuta figure with boar-face, is now a part of this blog-site. Bhuta worship is common in coastal Karnataka. This blog sites collection of Bhuta figures is continuing to improve.

17 Mar 2019: Another Krishna and another delight. This is rarer iconography, Navneetha Krishna with butter balls both the hands. The five-hooded cobra giving protection adds to the charm.

10 Mar 2019: A seated Durga, probably about 800+ years old is on this blog. The Vahana helps us to date the bronze.

3 Mar 2019: One more rare icon, Mahaganapati, is now part of the blog. The trunk is turned to the right and he is protected by a five-hooded cobra.

1 Mar 2019: Krishna bronzes are always a delight. This idol, a crawling Krishna, is no exception. All that detail in a 5cm high idol?

25 Feb 2019:  Added a miniature bronze of Hayagriva. As far as I know, he is the only deity after whom a dish is named, Hayagriva Maddi.

18 Feb 2019: This is a strange blog. Do not know the identity, age or the place of origin of this deity.  Referring to it as Naga Deva. As one of the readers suggested this may be Patanjali.

10 Feb 2019: Matsya, an avatar of Vishnu is now a part of this blog. A miniature molded piece meant for home worship.

3 Feb 2019: Added one more Venugopala. This one is a special as the original flute is intact. It is about 9 cm in height and a good example of Tamil Nadu casting.

1 Feb 2019: Sidharth, one of active reader/contributor, sent me the photo of Vasudeva Kamalaja, in Odisha style. Updated the blog to include additional details.

1 Feb 2019: Added one more Gajalakshmi. Another miniature, just about 6.5 cm in height. Note the abstract portrayal of the elephants.

29 Jan 2019: Added an idol of Bhu Varaha. It does not have much age. Its iconography is complete.It is about 16.5 cm in height.

27 Jan 2019: Added a blog on Shatrugana, one of the brothers of Rama. Though worshiped on his own, the bronzes of Shatrugana are normally a part of  Rama Darbar set.

23 Jan 2019: What I had referred to as Gajalakshmi, blog posted on 17th Jan 2019, may well be Kamalatmika, one of the Mahavidyas. Thanks to Krishna for providing the references.

22 Jan 2013: Trishul, in the form of a  processional standard, is featured in the latest blog. It is about 14 cm in height. It is likely to be from Tamil Nadu.

17 Jan 2019: Another miniature bronze of Gajalakshmi is part of this blog. This example is from South India. Gajalakshmi motif dates back at least 2,000 years and is shared by the major religions of Indian-origin.

13 Jan 2019: A miniature bronze of Bhairava and Bhairavi is a part of this blog. This 7.5 cm high bronze is from North Karnataka.

13 Jan 2019: Added a lamp or Saligrama stand featuring Garuda. The sharp features of Garuda are worth noting. The stand is about 17 cm in height.

6 Jan 2019: One more Padmavathi, a Yakshi from the Jain faith. This time one with six arms. The detailing of the incisions is worth noting.

5 Jan 2019: There is a strong suggestion, from Krishna, that what I had identified as Rama may be Kirathamurthy. Updated the blog to include the reasoning behind the suggestion and the references provided by Krishna.

1 Jan 2019: Starting the New year of Common Era with Ganesha.  This whimsical Ganesha is from Orissa/Bengal area. It is dated to the eighteenth century.

23 Dec 2018: An unusual idol of Gauri worshipping Linga is now part of this blog. Note the Dwarapalakas, two Kiritimukha and the detailing.

16 Dec 2018: A standing Bhairavi, about 23 cm in height, is now part of this blog. She is most probably from North Karnataka.

9 Dec 2018:  Added one more Vishnu triad. It is from Central India. Probably about one thousand years old.

2 Dec 2018:  Added a processional standard of Gandabehrunda. It is a rare bronze and is of good size.

25 Nov 2018: Add a folk Rama bronze. The classification as folk is more to do with styling rather than the quality of casting. Do not miss the dagger on his right hip.

18 Nov 2018: Added a semi-folk idol of eight-armed Kali. She is from North Karnataka. Her having two vahanas a lion and a camel makes this bronze special.

11 Nov 2018: Added an idol of Brahma. As he is not worshipped widely, it is rare to see Brahma idol of this size. It may have been part of a group.

4 Nov 2018: A Ganga Jamuna set of Vitobha with his consorts Rukmini and Satyabhama is featured on this blog site. Ganga Jamnu bronzes are rarer and a matched set is a treat and a responsibility.

4 Nov 2018: Added a lamp base from Nepal. Included it here on this blog site to show the consistency the design of the base. Compare it with another lamp on this blog site, Surya Lamp.

as the 28 Oct 2018: Added a large Vigraha of Lakshmi. A transitional folk bronze from North Karnataka. An unusual topic for a folk bronze.

21 Oct 2018: Added a large Venugopala. This is a recent example from the Mathura region.  Unusually large and quite simple, in terms of iconographical features.

14 Oct 2018:  Added a tall lamp featuring Saraswati. This is from Nepal. This week marks observation of Saraswati Puja in Tamil Nadu. Here she is.  As Goddess of knowledge chasing away ignorance like lamp chases away the darkness.

 7 Oct 2018: Missing attributes invariably pose a challenge in identifying the subject. This one was not an exception. The toss-up was between Surya and Vishnu. It is the Makarakundala that cast the deciding vote. It is Vishnu. Though Makarakundala is an attribute of Vishnu, it remains a rarer attribute.

3 Oct 2018: One of the avid watcher and my go-to person for Kerala bronze, Krishna, suggested the bronze I had identified as Karrupuswamy may actually be Bhagavati Amman. Updated the blog to include his comments and an example he provided.

30 Sept 2018:  One more Khandobha. A full set for four pieces, Khandobha and Mahalsa riding a horse and accompanied by a dog. Good size at 27 cm height.

30 Sept 2018: Added a wooden sculpture of Agni. Identification is tentative. According to some literature Agni is said to have two heads. But not in the example. Despite the damage, it remains a good example.

23 Sep 2108: Worship of Spirits is common throughout India. The worship of Spirits, Bhuta worship, in Coastal Karnataka/Kerala is probably the most researched Spirit worship topic. Including another Bhuta figure from that region.

16 Sept 2018: Added one more Yoga Lakshmi-Narasimha. Slightly different iconography to another example on this site.  A folk piece.

14 Sept 2018:  Added a photo showing the Linga on Sadasiva’s head. Yes.  Also included a footnote on other vigrahas on this blog, carrying Linga on their head.

9 Sept 2018:  One more Ganesha. He is always special and this one with age and character. Read the blog about Thumbikai Alwar.

2 Sept 2018: A Ganga Jamuna matched-pair of Bhairava and Bhairavi is featured on this blog. Quality of casting and rarity of the subject matter makes this special.

26 Aug 2018: Added one more Mahishasuramardhini. Mardhini for short. Why one more Mardhini? Apart from collecting, my interest is with connecting the bronzes, connecting them through time and places, connecting them with people and social practices. If time permits, plan to share my thoughts starting 2019.

18 Aug 2018: Added a folk bronze depicting an elephant with three riders. The seller identified the deities as Khnadobha and his consort.  Have not seen other such examples. But they are deities for sure.

18 Aug 2018:  Found an example of Kalki with similar iconography to what is on this blog in Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai.  Added notes as to where to find it in the temple. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited in that temple.

18 Aug 2018: Added a reference to South Indian sculpture of Vishnu with Sri Devi and Saraswati. That example is in Art Museum Trivandrum. Saraswati as one of the consorts of Vishnu is the norm in Pala Sculptures. South Indian sculptures show Bhu Devi and Sri Devi.

12 Aug 2018: Added a form of Durga, Simhavahini – Rider of a lion. A delightful miniature. Interesting to see the number of forms of Mother Goddess.

5 Aug 2018: Added one more Vishnu triad. This is from central India and possibly from Gujarat. A much-worshipped Vigraha. Compare it with the other Vishnu triad from Gujarat.

29 July 2018: One more Jain bronze and this time Thirthankara Suparsvanatha from Svtembra sect. The detailing, in terms of incisions, make this a special bronze.

28 July 2018: An unusual sculpture Shiva from the Peshwa period. Many distinct features. But the piercing eye is something. Incredibly powerful. Have not yet seen any like this and information/suggestion is welcome.

22 July 2018: One more Vishnu triad. Maybe Triad is not the correct term, as one of the two accompanying figures is a worshipper rather than a consort.  Most of the sculptures with Vishnu accompanied by his two consorts are from South India or from the Pala period.

15 July 2018:  Seated Yashodha Krishna is now a part of this blog site. Whereas Yashodha Krishna is often depicted, a seated version is unusual.

8 July 2018: One more Jain bronze. This time it is Munisuvrata. The prabhavali reminds me that of Tri Thirtika on this site. Any help in translation of Kannada inscription is welcome and will be acknowledged.

1 July 2018: Added Vira Anjaneya, a form of Hanuman showing him striding within a circular frame. A much-revered form. It seems to have become popular during Vijayanagar empire.

24 June 2018: Added a jungli bronze to the blog site. It is Saptamatrika. A very simple depiction of a complex concept. Such is the power of faith.

24 June 2018: Added another vighraha of Vaishnavi, the Sakthi counterpart of Vishnu.  A standing one and whereas the two published earlier are seated ones.

17 June 2018: To the blog on Sadasiva, added a profile picture. The sculptor has organized the arms in three levels to accommodate the ten hands and five heads. A solution that accommodates iconography and aesthetics.

10 June 2018: Added one more Jain bronze. A Tri Thirthika featuring Ara, Malli and Munisuvrata. The bronze stands out despite the simplicity or maybe because of the simplicity.

4 June 2018: Replaced the bronze and the corresponding image of Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha.  A better example and a better photo.  Surprising to see how little I had to change the description.

4 June 2018: Added Veerabhadhra sculpture cast in the form of a plaque. Almost has the appearance of embossed work.

29 May 2018: Added one more Khandobha. Why one more Khandobha? well, it is really a work of art. Do not miss it.

21 May 2018: Included comments received from Pritesh on Rama, Laxman and Sita. Pritesh pointed out these bronzes may not represent their status in exile. The bronzes are made this way for the devotees to decorate the Murtis depending on the occasion.

 20 May 2018:  Added Kali standing on a corpse. This form of Kali is very popular in Bengal. One of the rarer bronzes in my collection.

13 May 2018: A repousse from Nepal. This one featuring Mahishasuramardhini, the slayer of the demon Mahisha.  This theme is a pan-Indian one and is probably the most popular.

6 May 2018: One more exception. Neither from Indian nor an antique. A 20th-century bronze figure of Hariti from Indonesia.

4 May 2018: One more to the growing collection of Mahishasuramardhini (Slayer of the demon Mahisha). This one is from Central India and tribal. More to come.

29 April 2018: Added Vishnu triad from Himachal Pradesh. It shows age. 

22 Apr 2018: Added a bronze of Veerabhadra, a form of Siva. This may have been used as a Utsavamurti.

15 Apr 2018: A miniature bronze of Appar is now part of this blog. Appar, a Tamil Saiva saint, was one of the key Nayyanmars who initiated and nourished Bhakti movement.

14 Apr 2018: Added a miniature bronze of a lady with a musical instrument. This may be a depiction of Meera Bai. So far I have not come across another bronze like this.

8 Apr 2018: Added a mandala leaf portraying Vishnu on Garuda, Garudasana. Most likely it is from eastern India, Bihar/Bengal.

5 Apr 2018: Updated Sadasiva blog to include references to a slokha by Madhvacharya. Slokha and its translation were provided by Mr K Subodh Bhat.

1 Apr 2018: Added one more Sadasiva, eternal Siva, a five-headed form. A delightful Vigraha.

26 Mar 2018: Added a folk Shiva bronze. The second one of the two armed version. This is from North Deccan area.

25 Mar 2018: A seated EkMukh (Single faced) Dattatreya is part of this blog. Dattatreya is worship is widespread in the Western part of India.

19 Mar 2018: Added one more Ganga Jamuna icon. This time it is a robust Venugopala.

12 Mar 2018: Added a bronze of Gauri, a form of Parvati. Worshipping of this form of Parvati appears to be restricted to North Deccan part fo India.

5 Mar 2018: Added a Nepali bronze depicting Vishnu on his Vahana, Garuda. This is a Pan-India theme.

26 Feb 2018: Added a rarer form of Rama, a four-armed depiction.

18 Feb 2018: Added a tribal ‘bronze’, Bison Horn Maria. Though produced for trade it is a great example of Dhokra technique.

11 Feb 2018: Added a miniature bronze of Ramanuja Acharya, a Vaishnavite philosopher.

5 Feb 2018: One more Surya from the Pala period. A delightful miniature. It is a wonder these bronzes have survived for close one thousand years.

4 Feb 2018: Replaced main photos of about 100 blogs. A quick view of them is thru bird’s eye view. That page now has only improved photos.

28 Jan 2018: One more Venugopala. This is from Kerala. Damaged but a good example. 

21 Jan 2018: One more UmaMaheshwara. This time from the Pala Period 10th-12th century. Probably a buried piece.

14 Jan 2018: A bronze depicting Kalki, a Vishnu’s avatar, is part of this blog site. A bronze depiction of Kalki is rare and this iconography is a first for me.

8 Jan 2018: Added one more Krishna. This time Krishna as Venugopala with his consorts Rukmini and Sathyabama.

7 Jan 2018: Added Gauri, the golden one, head.

1 Jan 2018:   Starting the New year 2018 with a Ganesha bronze. It is customary to worship Ganesha first before embarking any new venture.

29 Dec 2017: Sub-menus are in place for all the categories. They provide better navigation than what was there earlier. Please share your experiences/views.

27 Dec 2017: Continuing my experiments with menu structure, added a new sub-menu for Ganeshas. Your comments are welcome. May adopt this for other bronzes as well.

23 Dec 2017: Added one more Umamaheshwara. Iconographically different to other examples.

17 Dec 2017: Added a Jain Lotus mandala.  Maybe a vintage piece rather than an antique.

15 Dec 2017: Added a folk Goddess bronze. Not yet identified. 

10 Dec 2017: To mark the second anniversary of this blog site, added one of the best bronzes in my collection, Sarabeshwara. One more not to be missed bronze.

5 Dec 2017: Changed the name to Vasudeva Kamalaja from

Vaikunta Kamlaja. Thanks to Dr Pratapaditya Pal for the correction.

3 Dec 2017: Added one more mother goddess figure. Hariti or Sasthi.

27 Nov 2017: Added a reference to Daksha stone sculpture in Patna museum to the Veerabhadra Shrine blog.

26 Nov 2017: One more Jain bronze.  Nava Devata. This one is from Digambara sect and depicts the supreme dignitaries of that sect.

24 Nov 2017: An unusual bronze. A Jina and a nun sharing the same platform.

19 Nov 2017: Added a tribal bronze, Spirit Rider. In India, the tribal bronzes are referred to as Jungli (Uncultured) bronze. An unkind reference.  The inclusion on this blog is an acknowledgement of its cultural significance.

18 Nov 2017:  Jambhala, God of wealth, from Vajrayana Buddhism is now a part of this site.

11 Nov 2017: Added one more Khandobha. A tribal bronze with sophisticated thinking behind it.

5 Nov 2017: Not to be missed bronze. Vaikunta Kamalaja a composite form of Vishnu and Lakshmi. This one is from Nepal.

30 Oct 2017: Added a blog on an in-situ relief sculpture Siva on Nara vahana (?) in the Under Research section. The idea is to share what I ran into and solicit information on the subject matter.

29 Oct 2017:  A semi-classical Uma Maheshwara bronze is now on the blog.

28 Oct 2017: Added another Khandobha and this time a single cast bronze.

22 Oct 2017: Added one more Venugopala and this one for its casting quality.

22 Oct 2017: An unusual Rishabeshwara from Northwest Deccan. Almost reminds one of the Mukhalingas.

17 Oct 2017: In one of my recent trips found a stone relief of Uma Maheshwara, dated to the thirteenth century,  and added a photo to the blog. Maybe Uma Maheshwara is not that uncommon in Tamil Nadu.

15 Oct 2017: Added another Anjaneya, largish one from North Deccan.

9 Oct 2017: Added Bhairava, a Siva’s form. Delightfully serene face.

1 Oct 2017: Added a large bronze of Murugan. The images are compressed and hope it helps in faster load. It gives the option to add more photos.

25 Sept 2017. Added another icon in home worship. Thanks again to Sidharth. This time it is Dancing Krishna. Please scroll to the bottom of the blog.

24 Sept 2017: Marking Navaratri/Dussera/Durga Puja with the publishing of Mahishasuramardhini. It is Ganga-Jamuna type.

17 Sept 2017: One more Vishnu triad. This one is from Kerala, South India.

17 Sept 2017: Updated Mardhini from Orissa blog to include a home-shrine of Durga.  The photo was provided by Sidharth associated with Puri Jagannath Temple. Please scroll tot he bottom of the blog.

10 Sept 2017: Seated form of Vishnu is rarer. Glad to have one more seated Vishnu. This is from Orissa.

3 Sept 2017: One more Ganga Jamuna bronze. This time it is Sitarama.

1 Sept 2017 : A folk bronze depicting ‘tree of life’ is now a part of this blog.

27 Aug 2017: Added one more dancing Krishna. Made using Ganga Jamuna technique.

21 Aug 2017: Added Ganesha with attendants. A delightful bronze. Could not think of a better way to mark the week of Ganesha Chaturthi.

14 Aug 2017: Revised Bhairavi blog to include a photo of in-situ sculptures from Hampi.

13 Aug 2017: A complete set of Dancing Krishna (Deity, back plate and pedestal) is now on this website. A delightful piece.

6 Aug 2017: Added one more Mahishasuramardhini from Orissa. It is intriguing to see its comparison to another Mardhini also from Orissa. 

30 July 2017: Added Sivakami, a form of Uma/Parvati. A bronze with lots of grace.

23 July 2017: Added Mukhalinga a cover for Linga aniconic form of Siva.

16 July 2017: Added Vishnu with attendants, from Gujarat.

9 July 2017: Replaced Ambika (Jain) and Surya on a Chariot photos.

9 July 2017: Venugopala, a flute playing Krishna, enhances this website.

8 July 2017: Replaced main photos of  Sudarshana, Pala Vishnu Triad, Bhairava and Vitobha.

3 July 2017: Added one more item in Under Research category. It is a Goddess from Nepal or Burma.

30 June 2017: Replaced main photos of  Yoga Dakshinamurthi, Bhairava, Sambandar, Vedanta Desika, and Nammalvar and Ramanuja. 

29 Jun 2017: Added a bronze of a Goddess, Yamuna or Lakshmi, whose identity is unknown to me. I have come across other examples of this Goddess.

25 Jun 2017: One of the strong comments I get is about the photos and the need to improve their quality. First lot. The following blogs have improved photos: Dhanvantri, Ganesha (Hoysala?), Chakra and Shankha, Pudokottai Bronzes (Additional photo), Mahishasuramardhini – Himachal Pradesh, Visvakesana and Kamakshi (additional photo).

25 Jun 2017: One more Mahaganapati enriches this blog site.

18 Jun 2017: Added one more Mahishasuramardhini. This one from Himachal Pradesh.

11 Jun 2017: Added a bronze of seated Mahalakshmi.

7 Jun 2017: Added Chakra and Shankha standalone bronzes. Attributes of Vishnu.

3 Jun 2017: It took a while to identify this goddess Kamakshi. 

29 May 2017: As a part of the series, added Khandobha folk version. 

28 May 2017: An example of folk/tribal art from Tamil Nadu, Pudukottai, is added.

21 May 2017: Added Rama in preaching mode. Larger than the usual figures.

14 May 2017: Added another Govinda Bhairava. This time a tribal version.

8 May 2017: Added an unusual Khandobha. Thanks to SF for one of the photos.

2 May 2017: Do not miss this miniature delight Ayyanar with consorts.

30 Apr 2017: Updated references section to include three more books.

25 Apr 2017: Added an altar container from Nepal. A great Newari piece.

23 Apr 2017: Replaced Ganesha’s photo. Added Hoysala Ganesha for comparison.

22 Apr 2017: A ritual mirror from Nepal is added to the site.

20 Apr 2017: Added one more Mahishasuramardhini. A special one in some way.

15 Apr 2017: One more ritual lamp, this time from Kerala.  Kerala boat Lamp.

9 Apr 2017: Added Karuppuswamy, a Tamil Nadu folk bronze.

9 Apr 2017: Replaced Vishvakesana photos. Response to a reader’s comment. I may replace other photos over a period.

8 Apr 2017: Updated Dhanvantri to include reference to the Chennai museum piece.

7 Apr 2017: Added Vishvakesana, a Vaishnavite figure.

1 Apr 2017: Added  Dhanvantri, God on Indian medicine.

24 Mar 2017: Added one more Vithoba, the reigning deity of Maharashtra.

23 Mar 2017:  One more Surya, the Sun God. This one is from South India.

17 Mar 2017: Another Yoga Dakshinamurti. A delightful icon.

16 Mar 2017: Added a Jaina bronze of Ambika.

10 Mar 2017:  Added a footnote to Yoga Dakshinamurti to reflect the comments/feedback from one of the senior collectors/well-wisher of this site.

10 Mar 2017: Now a standalone Radha from home shrine enhances this blog site.

3 Mar 2017: This is one of the rare bronzes in my collection. Yoga Dakshinamurti. When I was looking for Dakshinamurti, one senior collector mentioned that it took him twelve years to find one.

25 Feb 2017: One more Sambandar. This is a miniature. A real delight.

24 Feb 2017: Added Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha. An unusual iconography.

20 Feb 2017: Added Tsakli card showing altar mirror to Melong.

19 Feb 2017: Added Gajalakshmi lamp. A home altar lamp.

11 Feb 2017: Added one more Ganesha. Possibly the oldest Ganesha in my collection. Even otherwise it stands out.

4 Feb 2017: Added standing Krishna Bronze. A recent piece.

29 Jan 2017: Added another Bhairava. In this one there is a dog accompanying him.

25 Jan 2017: Updated Hanuman in Anjali Mudra to include comments from a long time collector, DB.

22 Jan 2017: Added Hanuman in Anjali mudra. Possibly was a bell finial.

15 Jan 2017: Form of Siva as an ascetic. Probably from Northern Deccan.

8 Jan 2017: Another Vaishnavi, a larger piece, this time from the Kerala region.

1 Jan 2017: Starting the year with Ganesha, riding his vahana.

21 Dec 2016: The last posting for the year. A bronze depicting Kandy King.

16 Dec 2016: To mark the anniversary of this site, published Nataraja. One of the special bronzes in my collection.

13 Dec 2016:  This week’s addition is Krishna, Yasodha and Nanda bronze.

7 Dec 2016: A stand supported by Nandi, possibly from Himachal Pradesh, is added.

30 Nov 2016: Added another Yasodha Krishna, a more classical bronze.

27 Nov 216: Added  Vedanta Desika’s bronze. A mirthful poet and preacher.

23 Nov 2016: Added Parsvanatha. My first Jain bronze in this site.

22 Nov 2016: Added Veerabhadra shrine. One of the better pieces of Veerbhadra.

20 Nov 2106: Added folk version of Yasodha Krishna.  

17 Nov 2016: What I had described Dhatr Surya  may not be that deity. It is now under research.

16 Nov 2016: Added another research item, possibly Durga.

15 Nov 2016: Started a new section to share bronzes that are still under research. Added the first item, Folk Siva, a modern piece.

14 Nov 2016: Added a Ganga-Jamuna bronze of Madvacharya, a Vaishnavite saint.

11 Nov 2016: Added references section. This is likely to be a growing list.

10 Nov 2016: Added bronze depicting Rama, Sita and Hanuman

10 Nov 2016: Added another Ganesha, a standing Valampuri Ganesha.

4 Nov 2016: Added Nammalvar and Ramanuja bronze.

30 Oct 2016: Added Ganga Jamuna figure of Vithoba.

28 Oct 2016: Added one more seated Annapurna. Iconographically different to the earlier example.

23 Oct 2013: Added a Deepalakshmi, to mark Deepavali (Festival of Lights) week. This is one of the largest bronzes in my collection.

22 Oct 2016: Updated About the Collection page with new photo. Added links to blogs.

22 Oct 2016: Replaced Umamaheshwara photo and added a photo of its back.

21 Oct 2016: Added Khandobha and his consort. More on Khandobha to follow.

14 Oct 2016: Added standing Annapurna with prabhavali.  Probably a single-cast bronze.

9 Oct 2016: Another miniature Durga. Action packed one.

7 Oct 2016: An unusual Mahishasuramardini. A special for Durga Puja. Hopefully will publish one more Durga, early next week.

2 Oct 2016: Added Panduranga and Rukmini, a minor incarnation of Krishna.

24 Sep 2016: Added Karthikeya, Subramanya or Murugan with six faces riding his vahana.

18 Sep 2016: Added Melong, Tibetan altar mirror.

 12 Sep 2016: Added Rama Sita with Rama displaying Dahara mudra.

5 Sep 2016: Added a form of Uma Maheshwara. It has been with me for some time and the iconography is still a mystery.

30 Aug 2016: Added Lakshminarayana, a folk figure, from Himachal Pradesh.

26 Aug 2016: Added Panjurli, a Bhuta figure from Coastal Karnataka/Kerala region.

25 Aug 2016: Added Pala Vishnu with consorts. One of the iconic forms of Vishnu from Bengal/Bihar.

21 Aug 2016: Set up a Pinterest board some time ago. I keep it updated and it provides better navigation than what is available (still work-in-progress) in this site.

21 Aug 2016: Added a miniature Bhairava. A fine work.

21 Aug 2016: Updated Mahishasuramardhini – Deccan description. It is a reproduction or a piece made for trade. The footnote now reflects that. Thanks to one of the fellow collectors (DB).

14 Aug 2016: Added Ganga-Jamuna set of Vishnu and his consorts Sri devi and Bhu devi. Publishing of this special piece marks 10,000 page views of the site.

13 Aug 2016: Added and replaced photos of Pilichandi. Not to be missed.

9 Aug 2016: Added my contact details and narration of site improvements underway.

9 Aug 2016: Added Harihara, a syncretic deity, combined form of Siva and Vishnu.

5 Aug 2016: Added Crawling Krishna, one of the most popular forms of Krishna.

5 Aug 2016: Added one more Dancing Krishna. This one is larger.

 27 Jul 2016: Added Rama, Lakshman and Sita. A set of folk bronzes from Bengal.

22 Jul 2016: Added Rama and Sita bronze.

22 Jul 2016: Added Hakku Patra, plaque giving title. Departure from bronzes of deities.

16 Jul 2016: Added a bronze of Sambandar, a Saivite Tamil saint.

11 Jul 2016: Added a large lamp from Nepal featuring Surya. A fine example of Newari work.

5 July 2016: Added one more Ganesha, a Valampuri Ganesha

3 Jul 2016: Added one more bronze of Mahishasuramardini. This is from Deccan.

3 July 2016: Added references. Narration  now includes  Udupi Krishna’s local name.

28 Jun 2016: Added Udupi Krishna. A must for Krishna followers.

26 Jun 2016: Replaced Buddha and Virabhadhra photos. Included additional photos.

22 Jun 2016: Added a Nepali lamp with donors. Similar piece is in Denver Museum.

21 Jun 2016: Added Vaishnavi, a miniature Vigraha.

19 Jun 2016: Replaced Kutti Chattan’s photos. Replaced Lakshminarayana’s photos. Added a photo of Garuda in the base and included narration about Garuda’s iconography.

14 Jun 2016: Added Seated Vishnu with consorts.

12 Jun 2016: Replaced standing Hanuman photos, replaced Somaskanda photo and added a photo of its back, replaced standing Gajalakshmi’s photos and added a closeup view to show the four upturned kalasas (pots)

9 Jun 2016: Added Dattatreya – Ek Muki.

8 Jun 2016: Updated Ganga’s narration to include reader’s observation/comments.

7 Jun 2016: Added Muthappan. A must see folk bronze

5 Jun 2016: Replaced Radha Krishna’s photo and added a photo of the back view.

5 Jun 2016: Updated Govinda Bhairava for narration of one of the items, heap of five spherical objects, in the pedestal. Replaced pedestal photo and included page reference to H K Sastri’s book.

1 Jun 2016: Added Navneetha Krishna.

29 May 2016: Replaced front view and added back view of Vishnu. Also enhanced narrative for features seen from the back.

29 May 2016: Replaced Subramanya’s photos.

25 May 2016: Published seated Vishnu from Pala period. A rare bronze.

23 May 2016: Yoga Rama’s narration is corrected for mudra’s name. It is  Dahara Vidya.

22 May 2016: Replaced Anantasayana photos.

22 May 2016: Shadakshari Lokeshwara may be from Tibet. Now the narration reflects this. Added a photo of lower front portion of Surya (Pala).

21 May 2016: Replaced photos of seated Gajalakshmi and Bhairavai.

19 May 2016: Added Uma Sahita, seated Siva and Parvati.

17 May 2016: Replaced  Palani Andavar‘s photo and added a photo of the back. Replaced Seated Venugopala’s photos.

15 May 2016: Replaced photo, added a photo of the back and enhanced narration of Yoga Narasimha.

14 May 2016: Replaced Ved Vyas photos.

14 May 2016: Replaced Sudharshana photo and added backview of Sudharshana

12 May 2016: Added one more Durga. This time it is from Orissa.

12 May 2016: Now links in this page will not open new window.

8 May 2016: Added Krishna standing on Naga.

6 May 2016: Added seated Surya from Eastern India.

4 May 2016: Added Shadakshari Lokeshwara bronze from Tibet.

1 May 2016: Added one of unusual bronzes I have come across Dhatr Surya.

30 Apr 2016: Added Subramanya with consorts bronze from Tamil Nadu.

27 Apr 2016: Added bronze of seated Varaha with consorts.

27 Apr 2016: Added another Gajalakshmi, from Bengal/Bihar. This one with prabhavali.

25 Apr 2016: Replaced Annapurna’s pictures.

24 Apr 2016: Replaced photos of Durga.

23 Apr 2016: Replaced photos of Govinda Bhairava and added link to a Govinda Bhairava in Edward Moor collection

22 Apr 2016: Added Durga, a vigraha from Deccan region

20 Apr 2016: Added Padmavati, a Jain goddess.

20 Apr 2016: Added standing Venugopala.

16 Apr 2016: Added one more Hanuman. A large standing one. Now all images in Bird’s eye view are blogged.

15 Apr 2016: Added one more Umamaheshwara. With this all images, except Hanuman, in Bird’s eye view are now blogged.

14 Apr 2016: Updated Seated Venugopala to mention his consort’s name.

14 Apr 2016: Updated Virabhadhra on the consort’s name.