11'' Lord Hanuman in Namaskar Mudra | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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Kneeling in one of the most iconic images from the epic Ramayana and public imagination, the god of wisdom, strength, courage, devotion, and self-discipline is shown as the ever respectable and humble servant of the lord Rama – as is witnessed with Hanuman clasping his hands in a ‘namaskaram’ in the ‘anjali mudra.’ The ‘kama-rupin’ brahmachari – or the shapeshifting celibate deity is nestling under his right arm his most famous and fearsome ‘gada,’ or mace (interestingly, in this iconic portrayal, the god of strength is also seen as the patron saint of wrestlers in India, who practice their skills with a mace themselves).

Hanuman is depicted wearing ornate jewellery, along with a ‘dhoti’ held together by a girdle, and a high ‘mukuta’ – typical iconic attributes of the ‘vanara’ God. His anthropomorphic form is further recognisable with a distinct tail that rests over his kneeling left leg. The manner in which the ‘sthapati’ has situated the god on a plain inornate rectangular base allows