The G20 Summit Summit, which concluded earlier this month in Delhi, remains to be in the news for various reasons. While there were many aspects which drew everyone’s attention to the Summit and its venue, the Nataraja statue resting in the midst of it all brought a whole other charm to the event.
The 27-foot statue weighs around 18 tonnes and was crafted by the traditional Sthapatis of Swamimalai using the traditional ‘lost-wax’ casting method from the Chola era. The clay used to make the statue was sourced from a stretch of the Cauvery River that runs through Swamimalai. A PIB release on Tuesday said that the work on the statue was finished in six months instead of 30 months.
Tallest Nataraja statue in the world
The statue is an ashtadhatu, eight-metal alloy, and has been crafted by 61-year-old Srikanda Sthapathy. It was hauled across India on a 36-wheel trailer, The Indian Express reported. In order to craft the statue, Sthapathy studied the minute details of Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance. It is the tallest Nataraja statue in the world.
Its design is inspired from three Nataraja idols across India – the Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, the Uma Maheswarar Temple in Konerirajapuram, and the Brihadeeswara (Big) Temple in Thanjavur.
The making of this statue cost around Rs 10 crore.
The lost wax method
Sthapathy told The Indian Express that the lost wax casting method is indigenous to the Chola era. The lineage of the sculptors behind the statue can be traced 34 generations back to the Cholas.
The method itself is at least 6,000 years old. A copper amulet found in Mehrgarh, Balochistan was made using this method and is dated to circa 4,000 BC. The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo Daro was also crafted using this technique.
In the lost wax method, first a detailed wax model is produced which is later covered with a paste of the alluvial soil from the Cauvery river bank. After this coating, which is applied multiple times, has dried, the model is put through high heat, causing the wax to burn away, leaving a hollow, intricately carved mould. At last, it is filled with molten metal to produce the sculpture.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X, formerly Twitter, to say that the Nataraja statue at Bharat Madapam 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,” he added.