27-Ft Nataraja Statue At G20 Summit Venue Bharat Mandapam Came From TN. Know Its Story

It took nearly 3.25 lakh man hours over 7-odd months to make the hollow bronze Nataraj statue using the traditional sculpting technique of the Chola period. The statue weighs around 18-20 tonnes.

The Nataraja statue in front of the Bharat Mandapam, the G20 Summit venue in New Delhi.

Source : X/@Delhi_IGNCA

In an extraordinary journey that spanned around four days, a 27-foot tall Nataraja statue, cast as a single piece, made its way to the national capital of New Delhi from Swamimalai in Tamil Nadu, to be installed as a welcoming beacon at the Bharat Mandapam for foreign delegates attending the prestigious G20 Summit to be held on September 9 and 10. This journey was made possible through the concerted efforts of a green corridor, the support of administrative personnel from several states en route, jubilant crowds, and the enduring dedication of more than 100 artists, according to a PTI report.

This masterpiece, crafted from 'ashtadhatu', a unique alloy blending eight metals such as copper, zinc, lead, tin, silver, gold, mercury, and iron, is not just an inspiring work of art, but also embodies the traditional sculpting technique of the Chola period, known as the lost-wax casting method (madhuchisht vidhan), according to chief sculptor Radhakrishna Sthapati, who was quoted in the PTI report.

It took the artists nearly 3.25 lakh man hours over seven-odd months to complete the statue that went through different processes involved in the traditional method. The hollow bronze statue weighs around 18-20 tonnes.

The lost-wax casting method is renowned for its capacity to produce exquisitely detailed single-piece sculptures devoid of any welded components. The Nataraja statue, which took around seven months to be completed, also does not have any welded parts.

"It would have taken only three months if we made each part separately and joined them through welding and other processes. But we wanted to follow the ancient Chola technique used by our forefathers," Radhakrishna, an accomplished engineer specialising in temple architecture, was quoted as saying. He said his family of temple architects (sthapati) have been making such statues for the last 34 generations.

He poetically likened the casting process to "childbirth", emphasising the need for unwavering concentration, like it is needed while caring for a pregnant woman. When the metal is poured, he said, people would offer prayers to Lord Shiva, underscoring the spiritual significance of the task.

Radhakrishna's father, the renowned master sculptor Devasenapathy Sthapati, is celebrated for his creations of Chola bronze sculptures, including those installed at the Rajarajeshwari temple in Delhi's Janakpuri.

Statue Made At A Cost Of Rs 10-12 Crore

It was quite a herculean task to transport the statue from Swamimalai to Delhi.

Speaking to PTI, Achal Pandya, the head of the Conservation Unit at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), recounted the collaborative efforts of artists, civilians, and the administrative machinery of the eight states that the statue traversed.

"A green corridor was created with two cars in the front and two in the back. Wherever we went, people met us with great respect, they helped us all along," he said.

From Tamil Nadu, the statues travelled through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, MP, UP, and Delhi over three-and-a-half days. Pandya said the journey got full support from the NHAI, district magistrates and police commissioners along the way.

'Nataraja', means 'Lord of the Dance' in Sanskrit, is a Hindu deity who represents Lord Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer. The image of Nataraja is typically depicted as a four-armed figure dancing within a ring of flames. Overall, the statue represents the cosmic cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.

According to IGNCA, this is the "tallest statue made of Ashtadhatu".

The #Nataraja statue made of Ashtadhatu is installed at the Bharat Mandapam. The 27 feet tall, 18-ton-weight statue is the tallest statue made of Ashtadhatu and is sculpted by the renowned sculptor Radhakrishnan Sthapaty of Swami Malai in Tamil Nadu and his team in a record 7… pic.twitter.com/Gf0ZCpF7Fy

— Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (@ignca_delhi) September 5, 2023

Quoting Sachchidanand Joshi, the member secretary of IGNCA, the PTI report said: "We relate Nataraja, a symbol of Lord Shiva, with cosmic energy and how it creates a balance in cosmic energy." He said the statue carries symbolism, adding that it depicts the "traditional Indian thought process" that everything that is born must ultimately die and underdo rebirth.

According to Joshi, the statue was made at a cost of approximately Rs 10-12 crore.