Marble Image of Hanuman Carrying Mount Dron

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Mythically, the son of Anjana by Maruta or Pawana, the wind god, Hanuman is believed to have incarnated Lord Shiva, and sometimes, the sun-god. His childhood abounds in many wonder-tales. Once he was in the sky with his parents flying in his father’s ‘vimana’ – aircraft. While playing he slipped from it and fell on the earth. When the worried parents landed their plane, to their utter dismay they found that the rock on which Hanuman fell had been completely smashed and the child Hanuman with the thumb of his foot in his mouth was lying on the rock as in a cradle. When yet a child the hungry Hanuman cried for food but his cries went unheard. Right then he saw the early morning sun emerging from behind a hill. Hanuman, taking it for a ripe orange, leapt on it, caught it and put it in his mouth resulting in darkness enshrouding the earth, and heaven shook with fear. All gods rushed to Lord Vishnu for the release of the sun. After great persuasion Hanuman agreed to it and the sun was released. His vermillion red body is believed to be the result of his association with the sun.

The mount Dron related myth, out of which this iconographic form of Hanuman evolved, is linked to Rama-katha where not merely as Rama’s emissary, on a number occasions Hanuman emerges even as his redeemer. When the war between Rama and Ravana was in its decisive phase, hit by the ‘shakti’ – a divine weapon of Meghanatha, the Ravana’s eldest son, Lakshmana, Rama’s younger brother, swooned. Consoling a lamenting Rama Vibhishana, Ravana’s younger brother who betraying his brother had joined Rama’s camp, revealed that Ravana’s personal physician Susena alone could cure Lakshmana of the effect of ‘shakti’ but living in the most secured zone of Lanka he could not be brought. Hanuman undertook the job and within minutes brought Susena with the cot he was lying on to the Rama’s camp. Susena examined Lakshmana and said that he could be cured of swoon if his wound is applied ‘Sanjivini’, an herb growing on mount Dron, before the sunrise. He said that after sunrise the herb would not work. Taking the permission of his Master Rama Hanuman set out to fetch ‘Sanjivini’. After he reached mount Dron Hanuman looked for the herb that radiated like a star, as the physician Susena had specified. Hanuman was, however, bewildered to see that the whole mountain was glistening like the moon. Finding it impossible to identify the herb that Susena had specified Hanuman uprooted the entire mountain and carried it back to Rama’s camp in Lanka and the life of Lakshmana was saved.

This gives Hanuman the strange power to redeem from both, worldly difficulties as also the cycle of birth and death, and is the quickest in his benevolence. In the entire Hindu pantheon Hanuman is not only the most widely worshipped divinity but also has dedicated to him a far greater number of shrines than has even Rama, his master. He protects his devotees always and everywhere from all calamities, evil influences and maladies and is believed to drive away ghosts and evil spirits. The legendary courier of the herb Sanjivini that cured Lakshmana of his swoon, Hanuman’s name is ever since the unfailing curer of all ailments. Commemorating his name, which is in itself one of the most powerful ‘mantras’, brings success in all walks of life. Except whatever is symbolically interpreted, he does not have associated with him any philosophy, dogmatism or any kind of mysticism. Even his nominal presence dispels every evil and adversity. He accompanies his devotees wherever they go and like an impenetrable wall stands in between them and imminent misfortune.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.

How to clean and maintain marble statues?

Marble has been a preferred material for sculptors and artists for more than a thousand years. It is a rock that undergoes metamorphism which causes recrystallization of the original carbonate mineral grains. Marble comes in various colors, designs, and dimensions. Pure white marble is the most preferred type of marble for making sculptures and statues since time immemorial. White marble is especially used for sculpting stone monumental sculptures since ancient times. The natural shine and luster of the carbonate crystals of white marble give a lavish and beautiful appearance to the statue.

Marble stone statues are highly durable and can even withstand harsh weather conditions without getting corroded, therefore, they can be kept indoors or outdoors without getting damaged or weathered. Although these statues can last for many decades, their regular care and cleaning are essential to increase their longevity and beautiful appearance.

• The simplest and basic way of cleaning a marble stone statue is to clear away dirt accumulated on the surface. Outdoor statues are especially prone to biological growth and dirt build-up that may take away their natural beauty. You may rinse the statue with warm water and mild soap to clean the dirt as much as possible. You can use a sponge or cotton cloth to scrape off dirt accumulated in crevices and cracks.

• You must never allow water to stand on the surface of the statue for a long time. Standing water gets absorbed by the marble’s porous surface which results in its discoloration. Therefore, it is always recommended to dry-clean the statue with a towel or damp cloth.

• Applying beeswax, a non-toxic product, on the surface of the marble statue offers protection against staining, dirt, and pollutants. It also polishes the surface and gives a natural shine to the statue.

Marble statues need periodical cleaning to maintain their flawless look. However, harsh and deep cleaning can result in making the statue look dull. If your marble statue is withering away, it is recommended to take the help of a professional cleaner. Marble is a delicate material and therefore needs proper care.

2. Roughing out

The second step of carving or sculpting is to remove large portions of unwanted marble stone. This task is done by using a special tool known as a point chisel. The pointed end of this tool is useful for splitting the large stone and removing big chunks that are not wanted. Usually, a mallet (a tool similar to a hammer) is used to transfer energy through the chisel to shatter the stone evenly and accurately.

3. Refining the figure

Once the sculptors have determined the general shape of the sculpture, a toothed chisel or claw chisel is used to refine the stone. These tools create parallel lines in the stone to add texture to the figure. During this stage, the rough block of stone has now changed into the general shape of the sculpture.

5. Polishing

This is the last step in marble sculpting in which the sculptor uses materials such as sandpaper to bring out a natural sheen to the sculpture. The sandpaper is rubbed against the surface to make it smoother and flawless. Sometimes, tin oxide is also used to make the sculpture appear glossy and more translucent.