Chola Bronze Sculptures

Notes

Made by the lost-wax (cire perdue/madhuchchhishta vidhana) process from panchaloha (an alloy of five metals).
Period: 9th-13th c. CE, with the peak under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I. Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi patronised many temples.
Centres: the Kaveri delta (Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Swamimalai). Swamimalai's sthapathis still follow the tradition, and Swamimalai bronzes have a GI tag.
Famous images:
- Nataraja (Shiva as Lord of Dance).
- Somaskanda, Ardhanarishvara, Kalyanasundara, Tripurantaka.
- Vishnu with Sri and Bhu Devi.
- Parvati/Sivakami.
- Saint figures (Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar, Manikkavachakar).
Nataraja symbolism:
- Damaru: creation.
- Agni: destruction.
- Abhaya mudra: protection.
- Raised foot: release.
- Apasmara underfoot: defeat of ignorance.
- Prabhamandala: the cosmic cycle.
Bronzes were processional images (utsava murti) carried in temple festivals.

Key Points

Chola bronzes are admired for their grace, tribhanga postures, fluid modelling and fine details.
Each image follows the canonical proportions (tala system) in the Shilpa Shastras.
Pala bronzes (Nalanda, Kurkihar) are the main Buddhist bronze tradition of the east.

MCQs

1. Chola bronzes were made using:

(a) Sand casting
(b) Lost-wax process
(c) Carving
(d) Hammering.

Answers: 1-b

2. In the Nataraja image, the demon under Shiva's foot is:

(a) Ravana
(b) Apasmara
(c) Mahishasura
(d) Andhaka

Answers: 2-b

3. The traditional centre of Chola bronze-making today is:

(a) Swamimalai
(b) Mahabalipuram
(c) Madurai
(d) Hampi

Answers: 3-a