This
antique Indian bronze statue is a magnificent depiction of Chakkarathalvar a deity
who is a rare fusion of both Vishnu and Shiva in their most powerful manifestations:
Shiva as Bhairava and Vishnu as Narasima the Lion Headed Avatar. Bhairava (depicted
here on the front of the statue) is Shiva at his most terrifying, at his most
fearful. It is said that those who meet Bhairava must confront the source of their
own fears. Bhairava is a gateway deity that leads ultimately to moksha--release
and enlightenment. Visnue Narasima (depicted here on the back of the statue) is
a half lion half human, a powerful being that embodies in wholeness that which
is not one thing or the other.
Chakkarathalavar,
to our knowledge is found publicly in only one temple in India at Tiruchirapalli
at the Thiruvarangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Tamil Nadu. Both the symbols
for Vishnu (the Six Pointed Star) and Shiva (The Ring of Fire) are behind this
magnificent sixteen armed statue..The two frontal arms carry the mace (gada) and
the trident (trisula) for Shiva. The two upper arms carry the wheel (chakra) and
the conch (shanka) for Vishnu. The rest of the arms carrying an axe (pa) arrow
(bana) bow (dhanusa) ankush (goda) book (pustaka) shield (khetaka) drum (damaru)
and the noose and the dart (phurpa). This statue is a rare find that exquisitely
evokes the powerful presence of these deities. The bronze is in excellent condition.
(SD)
