Bronze
Although evidence of bronze is known from the Mohanjo Daro excavation, they
are perhaps better known for their treatment as an art in South India. Evolved
primarily for the production of deified images of the Hindu pantheon, of saints
and sages, of devas and other angelic beings, all of them were relegated for
purposes of ritual worship – a concretisation of esoteric abstraction, that
could aid the budding aspirant on the path of spiritual evolution.
Around the mid ninth century CE, the Cholas rose to prominence in south India, extending from the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers up to Cape Comorin. They occupied the present Tanjore and Trichnopoly districts after their king Vijayalaya defeated the Pallavas. Their rule extended till the thirteenth century CE and the golden age of Chola bronzes saw its zennith under the rule of Rajaraja I and II, Rajendra Chola and others who enthusiastically bulit temples and endowed them with a variety of idols. Nataraja was the family deity of the Cholas and they covered the sabhaa in Chidambaram with gold and made it the kanaka sabhaa (golden hall); the deity is called Kanakasabhaapati.
But what is it that makes these Natarajas so special? That would be a subject on its own, but briefly the Tamil text called Unmai-viLakkam explains the symbolism underlyng this cosmic dance of the great god in this manner: "Creation arises from the drum; Protection proceeds from the hand of hope (the abhaya pose); from fire proceeds Destruction; the foot held aloft gives Mukti" Thus, all the five-fold activities of the Lord (pancakrtyas) are embraced, the tiruvaasi round him symbolisng the act of Obscuration (tirobhaava). Of all symbolic iconographic productions, Nataraja the King of Dance, is perhaps without parallel in its depth and profundity, assuming such breathtaking perfection that the image has mesmerised devotees and connoisseurs alike.
The casting technique for the bronzes was cire perdue or the lost wax method for the creation of the mold that subsequently is filled with molten bronze. This technique allows for single copy production, making each icon an original.