In a remarkable achievement, the Nataraja statue, made from Ashtadhatu (octo-alloy of eight metals – gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tin, iron, and mercury) has found its place of honour at the Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan, the venue of the G20 Summit.
This statue is not only a symbol of tradition and heritage but also a testament to the craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations of sculptors since the Chozha era. It was meticulously sculpted by the renowned artist Radhakrishnan Sthapathy of Swami Malai, Tamil Nadu, and his dedicated team, who completed this monumental task in a record-breaking time of 6 months.
The magnificent Nataraja statue at Bharat Mandapam brings to life aspects of our rich history and culture. As the world gathers for the G20 summit, it will stand as a testament to India's age-old artistry and traditions. https://t.co/uFEcx22jgi
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 6, 2023
Speaking to India Today, Shri Radhakrishnan Sthapathy said, “This makes the sculptors of Swamimalai very proud that something that we made has made it to the G20 for the world to see. I also feel proud that the world’s tallest Nataraja statue was made by me, I am at a loss for words and cannot describe what I am feeling now.”
Wowed by the massive Nataraja statue at Bharat Mandapam? Here’s Mr Radhakrishna, the humble sculptor from Swamimalai district in TN speaking in Tamil about how proud he feels seeing his work of art at Bharat Mandapam!
pic.twitter.com/7vz2cRVKZ0— Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) September 6, 2023
A few facts about the Bharat Mandapam Nataraja Statue:
1. It is the world’s largest Nataraja statue standing tall at 28 feet
2. It weighs around 18 tonnes
3. The statue was made with a single-casting using the ancient lost-wax method introduced by the Chozhas
4. The statue was created by combining the attributes of the Nataraja murtis in Chidambaram Nataraja temple, Thanjavur Big Temple, and Vellore Jalakanteshwarar temple.
5. 32 people worked on making the statue. They include: Brothers of Radhakrishnan Sthapathy – Srikantan, Swaminathan, and Raghavan, his 3 sons, and his friends from college as well as the people of Swamimalai.
World’s Tallest Nataraja Statue And Its Connection To The Thanjavur Big Temple
Radhakrishna Sthapathy (Sthapathy, a title denoting a temple sculptor, is akin to the title ‘doctor’ in their respective professions, signifying their expertise and specialisation) comes from an ancient lineage that has left an indelible mark on sacred artistry for centuries. The illustrious story begins around the 13th century when the ancestors of Radhakrishnan, now in their 9th generation, embarked on a journey from Senji (Gingee near Thiruvannamalai) to Thanjavur to help build the iconic Thanjavur Big Temple aka the Brihadeeshwara Temple.
The journey of this remarkable lineage is a testament to their unwavering commitment to the art of temple sculpture. After the completion of the Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple, they set out to build the awe-inspiring Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in present day Ariyalur district. Once that architectural marvel was complete, the focus shifted to the equally magnificent Darasuram Temple in Kumbakonam followed by the construction of the Swamimalai Temple.
After the completion of the temple construction, some families chose to make Swamimalai their home owing to the quality of sand and silt available in this Cauvery region, furthering their expertise in sculpting. Radhakrishnan, a member of the 9th generation, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of this family of sculptors.
Radhakrishnan in an interview educates us that his ancestors were not merely metal sculptors; they were versatile artisans capable of working on wood, metal, and, of course, magnificent stone sculpting. They were also adept at making exquisite jewelry for the deities and crafting vessels meant for sacred rituals.
One of the most distinguishing features of their work is their specialization in Panchaloha sculpting, which involves the meticulous combination of five metals. While this tradition has been passed down through generations, one branch of the family, led by Devasenapathy Sthapathy, decided to specialise exclusively in Panchaloha sculpting.
The Present Generation
The lineage’s commitment to preserving their artistry through formal education is commendable. Radhakrishna Sthapathy, a torchbearer of this heritage, studied at the Government College of Architecture and Sculpture in Mahabalipuram, completing a rigorous five-year course. His guru, Vaidyanatha Ganapati Sthapati, is renowned for crafting the iconic Thiruvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari.
Srikanda Sthapathy, Radhakrishna’s second son, also immersed himself in the family tradition and learned the intricate art of Chola-era sculpture. Swaminatha Sthapathy, the third son of Devasenapathy Sthapathy also continued this legacy by studying under his father’s tutelage.
This lineage of master sculptors has an awe-inspiring legacy that extends across the globe, shaping the spiritual landscape of various countries and earning a prestigious GI tag for their craft. After a legal struggle, they successfully obtained a patent for their craftsmanship to protect their reputation from being tarnished by counterfeit imitations in the market.
The impact of this lineage on the global stage is truly impressive. They have contributed their expertise to renowned temples worldwide, creating awe-inspiring sculptures and idols that continue to captivate devotees. They predominantly work on crafting the “utsava murti” or the idol that is a representation of the main deity. In some temples, the bronze idol is also the main deity.
Notable Work Done By The Sculptors
1. London Murugan Temple: Crafting the vigrahas for this iconic temple.
2. London Lakshminarayan Temple: Creating all the vigrahas.
3. Birmingham Balaji Temple: Sculpting the Ayyappa idol
4. London Saiva Munnetra Sangam: Crafting idols of the 63 Nayanmars and the Nataraja Sivagami idols at this temple
5. Muthumariamman temple in Croydon – crafted the deity
6. Hawaii Sivan Temple: Crafting 108 Tandavam idols
7. Canada: Crafted the deities at Nallur Kandasamy Temple, Kanakadurga Temple, and Vinayakar Temple in Toronto.
8. Paris Tamil Temple: Sculpted idols for the Murugan and Ashtalakshmi temples.
9. South Africa Tamil Sangam Temple
10. Mauritius Meenakshi Sokkanathar Temple: Creating the main idol.
11. Kuantan Mariamman Temple
12. Singapore Veeramakaliamman Temple, Vadabhadrakali Amman Temple, Perumal Temple at Serangoon road, Ramar Temple
13. Sri Lanka Kadirgamar Temple: Creating the Panchamukha Vinayaka idol.
14. Yazhpanam Vannai Kamakshi Amman Temple: Creating the Vishvakarma idol at this temple
15. Vellore Jalakanteshwarar Temple: In the 1980s, Devasenapati Sthapathy made the Vellore Jalakanteshwarar idol along with those of the 63 nayanmars
16. Samayapuram Mariamman Temple: The Utsava Murti that is taken out in the Golden Chariot was made by the team
17. Ratnagiri Swami Murugan Temple: Crafted the Utsava Murti.
18. Thuraiyur Vekkali Amman Temple: Crafted the Utsava Murti
19. ISKCON Temples in India: Crafted all the idols in Bangalore and Kolkata.
20. Sivananda Ashram, Kerala: 12ft tall Nataraja idol was made under the supervision of Shri Ganapati Sthapathy.
21. Jatayumangalam, Kerala: Created the 11ft tall Krishna idol and kavacham for the tourist centre
22. Vallimalai Thangal Village: An ashram on the way from Chittoor to Tiruttani has a Vishnu idol taller than the deity at Tirupati
23. Guruji Sundarama Swamigal Temple: The idols at this temple
24. Tiruchirapalli BHEL Conference Hall: 6ft tall dancing Ganesha idol
25. Batu Caves Temple in Malaysia – 3ft tall Gnanavelu Lamp
Work Done For Famous Personalities
An Ardhanaareeshwarar idol masterpiece was crafted in just 15 days as requested by the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. It was presented to MGR’s doctor who operated on him (kidney transplant)
Devasenapathy Sthapathy presented a statue of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s mother to him during a felicitation ceremony
A statue of King Manuneedhi Chozhan was also presented in 1974 to the former CM by Devasenapathy Sthapathy at the request of then Papanasam MLA N. Ganapathy
At the request of former Minister Murasoli Maran, the Kalyana Sundarar statue was made by the team and it is now housed in Sun TV corporate office in Chennai.
This extraordinary lineage of sculptors continues to shape the spiritual landscape of the world, keeping alive the ancient traditions and techniques of temple artistry. Their commitment to excellence, formal education, and versatility make them the custodians of a timeless legacy that transcends borders and generations.
(With inputs from Mount Next YouTube channel)
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