Gods Collection

The artist has chiseled Patañjali, the compiler of the Yoga Sutra, a major work containing aphorisms on the practical and philosophical wisdom regarding practice of Raja Yoga, out of metal brass with masterly elegance. Patañjali is the reputed author of the Yoga Sutra, as well as commentary on Panini's Sanskrit grammar (Astyadhyayi). There are also many ayurvedic texts attributed to him. Desirous of teaching yoga to the world, he is said to have fallen (pat) from heaven into the open palms (anjali) of a woman, hence the name Patanjali. The Yoga Sutra is a treatise on Raja Yoga, built on the Samkhya School and the Hindu scripture of the Bhagavad Gita. Yoga is also found in the Puranas, Vedas and Upanishads. Still, this work is certainly a major work among the great Hindu scriptures and certainly is the basis of Raja Yoga. Patañjali's Yoga is one of the six schools of Hindu Philosophy. They give us the earliest reference to the popular term Ashtanga Yoga that translates literally as the eight limbs of yoga. They are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.

The beautiful brass bust of the Lord Balaji, one of the most popular gods in South India is given a detail and refine treatment. Lord Venkateswara is popularly known as Balaji and is the presiding deity of the Tirumala Hills, in Andhra Pradesh. He is one of the manifestations of Lord Vishnu, who incarnated in a previous Kali-yuga at the request of sage Narada. The sage requested Lord Vishnu to settle in Tirumala, to shower his eternal grace on mankind, who were very much depressed and unable to follow the rigorous yoga practices of self realization. Tirumala, the seat of Lord Venkateswara is surrounded by seven hills, thus He is known as Lord of the seven hills. His figure is richly ornate and He is wearing a long headgear.

Here the goddess mounted on a lion is shown carrying weapons in her eight hands. Goddess Durga is one of the most widely revered female deities in India and she is worshipped in the form of her idols overpowering the demon Mahishasur. Once when Mahishasur wrought havoc on Earth and Heaven, all gods prayed to Brahma to find a way out to eliminate the demon. Goddess Durga was born out of the collective powers of all leading gods and goddesses, who eventually killed the demon.

The beautiful Kalamkari painting depicts the Lord Shiva in His Nataraj form. One of the Trinity Gods in Hinduism, the other two being Lord Brahma and Vishnu, Lord Shiva is the master of dance. Nataraj Shiva represents the rhythmic motion of life. Here the Lord is shown dancing over the dwarf that represents ignorance. Kalamkari is one of the most popular folk paintings and the painter needs to have deep knowledge of lines and pattern.

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, light, wisdom and fortune, as well as luck, beauty and fertility, has been minutely carved out of brass by the sculptor. Seated on the Padmasana, she is engrossed over in meditation. Two elephants are also prominently carved out around her. A graceful and calm lady, the figure is a paradigm of refinement of the art. She is called Padmapriya or one who loves padma or lotus, which refers to purity and spiritual power. Rooted in the mud but blossoming above the water, completely uncontaminated by the mud, the lotus represents spiritual perfection and authority. Furthermore, the lotus seat is a common motif in Hindu iconography. Normally, Hindu gods and goddesses sit or stand upon a lotus that suggests their spiritual authority. Association with the lotus suggests that the being in question: god, human being-has transcended the limitations of the finite world and floats freely in a sphere of purity and spirituality. Shri-Lakshmi thus suggests more than the fertilizing powers of moist soil and the mysterious powers of growth. She suggests a perfection or state of refinement that transcends the material world. She is associated not only with the royal authority but with also spiritual authority, and she combines royal and priestly powers in her presence. The lotus, and the goddess Lakshmi by association, represents the fully developed blossoming of organic life. The birth of goddess Lakshmi is related to an ancient story. Durvasa, the short-tempered sage, once presented Indra, the king of the gods, with a garland of flowers which would never wilt. Indra, in return, gave it to his elephant, Airavata which enraged Durvasa. The sage cursed Indra that he and all the gods would lose their power because it had made them so proud and vain. Due to the curse, the demons vanquished the gods out of the heavens. The defeated gods then went to seek refuge to the Creator Lord Brahma who asked them to churn the ocean of milk, to obtain the nectar of immortality. The gods then went to Lord Vishnu, to seek his assistance. Lord Vishnu took the Avatar Kurma (Tortoise) and supported the Manthara Parvata (mountain ) as a churning rod, while the king of the serpents, Vasuki, became the churning rope. The gods and the demons (under the leadership of the pious and wise King Bali Chakravarti) both helped each other in churning the ocean of milk. Amongst the host of divine gifts which appeared from the ocean, goddess Lakshmi appeared and then chose Shri Vishnu as her consort, as only He had the power to control Maya (illusion). Because of this, Lakshmi is also called the daughter of the sea; since the moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the moon is called her brother. Physically, goddess Lakshmi is described as a fair lady, with four arms, seated on a lotus, dressed in fine garments and precious jewels. She has a benign countenance, is in her full youth and yet has a motherly appearance. In the form of Bhudevi or Mother Earth, she supports life and nature. In the form of Sridevi, she is the with the Supreme Lord and is the Goddess of beauty. Bhudevi and Sridevi are mistaken of being seperate Goddesses, but they are only one, Laxmi. As being the wife of Vishnu or Narayan, she is also known as Narayani. As the the Divine Mother of the Universe, she is worshiped for her motherly feelings and power.

The eye-catching wooden figurine of prabha Ganesha is nicely carved out revealing a deep sense of devotion and respect, known only to a few skilled practitioners. The Lord is depicted wearing sparkling garlands and jewelries. Known as the Remover of Obstacles, Lord Ganesha is worshipped before undertaking any ritual or journey. Shown here the Lord is seated on a lotus throne, the statue is painted using shades of green, yellow and orange.

The spectacular resin sculpture of the Lord Vinayak is given a refine and detail touch with a sublime finesse. The nice and well-designed panel makes the figure even more beautiful. Invoked first among all gods, Lord Ganesha is the chief Gana and he is worshiped across the country by the Hindus for fortune and wealth. A learned God, Ganesha is said to have written the Mahabharata that was being dictated by Vyasa. Lord Ganesha is also the Lord of Wisdom and the Remover of Obstacles.