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What a Find! A Shiva murti to take home

ShivaFan

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
Namaste

Today I attended an event that had nothing to do with Hinduism, but coming around a dirt pathway on foot I came upon what caught my attention immediately. There was a women selling some trinkets such as scarfs and jewelry, but there on her table next to her little swipe machine for credit cards was a stunning two-armed murti of Shiva, almost a Nataraj in form but with two arms, and standing on a tiger skin as if about to dance.

Having been to Nepal several times I recognized this Shiva as that of the style of Nepali origin, but with a South Indian motif. I immediately approached since, besides Shiva being beautiful, it was a particular casting which I had not specifically encountered before, very different from what I have found for sale at temples in the last 30 years world wide.

One thing for sure, I immediately wanted to take this Shiva home. It was special indeed and grabbed my complete attention and attraction.

I asked how much. $90 dollars she said. This murti was just over 1 foot high, very heavy with blackish brown metal. The detail was very good. The emotion strong. This was the real thing, for a temple or shrine, not a tourist item. Also, very different, I do not think I have ever seen this cast before.

I took Shiva home, and have taken these pictures. I have not yet enshrined Him, He has just come to my place. I call Him Lord of Tigers because He has a tiger skin around His waist, He stands on a tiger rug. His name I now call Him is Sherraj Ji. He is dancing on the very tiger rug He meditates upon, rising up from His meditation and tok tok is the drum, He extends His hand out with the back to the viewer, one foot rises.

See below. Has anyone seen this before particular murti cast before? Any information would be appreciated.

Om Namah Sivaya

yab2.jpg

92hu.jpg

mlab.jpg

uyf8.jpg
 
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Fireside_Hindu

Fireside_Hindu

Jai Lakshmi Maa
Very beautiful. I have never seen anything like him either. This could just be the style of casting/region, but he almost makes me think of Bala Krishna only a Bala Shiva. Like a young or infant version of Shiva. He has stout, soft features, like a child. Again, this just strike me in that way - I am most likely wrong, since I have never seen or heard of Shiva being depicted as an infant.

:camp:
 
ShivaFan

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
Namaste Sb1995

Actually I am from the U.S. (perhaps you too! not sure), this 90 dollars is a bargin (though I hate to use such a word in relation to murti)! Yes, in Nepal I can find a murti of this size for about 9 dollars equivalent in Nepali rupees, but even in Nepal I haven't seen this murti for some reason. It is somewhat large also uver 1 foot, and heavy, someone had to get it from Nepal to US and there is an expense for that.

In Conways of Asia in Carmel, like murtis of same blackish brown metals, weight and size sell for much more, into several hundred dollars. The older ones are in the 600 dollar to thousand dollars range. This is not an older one, but not new either, if I were guessing probably from the 1970s but I could be wrong. It certainly catches my imagination!

Namaste FH

I see what you are saying. What is interesting is, from the angle you look the effect changes. From looking up, His face is very oriental like, almost the face of Buddha. From straight on, He indeed has a young face. From above, His eyes become more Lotus like. The hair from the back has an enormous detail in fine woven hair. His tiger garmet around his waist has a tiger head hanging to the thigh, but the tiger rug He stands on has almost a bear-like face.

I am very happy with this find! Even if it came from a Nepali murti factory shop, wow, it is very nice find indeed! Never seen this style in India overall, though oddly you can clearly see the artist borrowed aspects from South Indian murtis of Nataraj.

You mentioned Balaram (actually editing this after, I see you didn't but I will leave my comments in anyway! also, lot's of cell phone typos on my part!), one of the biggest mistakes I made in life was once in India I had the chance to purchase and take home a Balaram murti, also sort of unique, Balaram was standing with one arm raised holding the plow as like a weapon or axe. His eyes were sort of looking like a little bit wild or intoxicated angry Deva but also with a child face! It was also metals, about 1 foot high. Like a fool, even though I was grabbed by it's attraction, I did not take Him home. One other huge mistake was once turning down taking a South Indian Rama, Sita, Lakhan set (no Hanuman) each it's own South Indian classic cast, big and about 1 foot each, with many arrows, fine, fine bow, beautiful detail in faces, it was being sold in Kolkata (not a tourist shop, nor one of those folk shop vendors or cottage industry, this was a fine shop for Indians). It was 600 dollars US after translation from rupees. I was mostly using cash and rupees, I was not wanting to deplete my rupees at that time even though they wpuld ship to US. What a stupid, stupid mistake.

When the moment comes, do not be a scrooge. You will regret keeping those coins later, for a long time later. Sometimes you only get so many chances.

And in India, don't be an "ugly American". Yes, others will wantnto advantage your money, but don't be a scrooge. It is not that much money, they are giving you their very way to cross a river, down a crowded alley, over a scary hill, a nice cloth or murti, give them the money when it is possible (within reason), this is your time, you will forget the money part but have the other part forever.

But you know that! Jai Lakshmi Devi! May all Hindus be Wealthy, Healthy and Wise!

Om Namah Sivaya
 
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ShivaFan

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
Namaste

LOOK WHAT I FOUND on a "Buddha Museum" website!
An exact Murti of the one I found back in September of 2013!

qz0p.jpg


It is labeled on the webpage "Rare Antique Hindu Bronze Statue! Dancing Shiva on White Tiger - Origin: India Circa: 19th Century - Condition: Lost wax cast, excellent!"

It also says "Private Collection"...

You can see mine is exactly the same (see mine in the FOREGROUND in front of the webpage), but missing the Trishul (Trident). I don't think it is from India, but actually Nepal. This example is valued at over $2,000 dollars.

So now I MUST find a small Trishul for my Murti, which I believe is actually a rare version of Natraj.

Om Namah Sivaya
 
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ratikala

ratikala

Istha gosthi
namaskaram shiva fan ji

jai jai , this murti is very beautifull you are blessed that shiv ji called you to take him home with you :namaste

thank you for the darshan .

I have never seen this form either , but yes it is very possibly nepali they have many skilled bronze casters amongst the newari , of whom many are Buddhist and many Shivite ....

allthough I canot see well from the picture the eyes are very much like the Buddhist half cast down eye , and has a very soft and beautifull face .:namaste
 
ratikala

ratikala

Istha gosthi
namaskaram shiva fan ji :namaste

here is a very beautifull nepali Shiva
I think you might see many similarities :namaste



  • buddhe-sculpture.jpg
 
ShivaFan

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
ratikala said:
namaskaram shiva fan ji :namaste

here is a very beautifull nepali Shiva
I think you might see many similarities :namaste



  • buddhe-sculpture.jpg
Click to expand...

Namaste Ratikala, yes the same Buddha like face! Very much Nepali style!

What I would give to also have that Shiva you shared in the picture above! Fantastic!

Namaste All

I aould gladly pay hundreds for such quality and beauty! I think the artisans in India and Nepal should demand much higher prices from Westerners. In India, twice I made a HUGE mistake by hesitating to buy.

One was for a very rare and majestic Balaram Murti with plowshare lifted un sky.

Another was a complete Sita Ram Lakhan Hanumanji set South India style each about foot and half tall for only about $300 or so dollars. I was worried about the shippung.

NEVER let such opportunity pass by. You will regret it all your life eslecially if you are in India first hand for the real casting, Nepal too.

Om Namah Sivaya
 
Aupmanyav

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
ShivaFan said:
.. I was not wanting to deplete my rupees at that time even though they would ship to US.
Click to expand...
Many tourists have been scammed with this line. It is good to be careful.

That is a beautiful statue and I am glad to see that it has made you so happy. Though I do not see this idol in my search on Google, but sure Bala Shiva, Bala Ganesha, Bala Murugan, Bala Rama, and Bal Krishna are all there. As for the Goddess, we have 'navdurgas' during 'navaratri'. I too, was surprised to see an image of Bala Shiva at first.

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=b...anandagurukul.com%2Fcreativity-1%2F;1296;2304
Sb1995 said:
It's a shame because in India they only cost 5-20$ for the high quality stuff too.
Click to expand...
SB, Even in India they are not that cheap.
 
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