Elephant Tusk Statues

Elephant tusks have been considered lucky in many cultures. In India, during the British rule, hunting elephants for their tusks was a fairly common phenomenon. The hunters were mostly royalty or British officials who would then keep the tusks as decorative items in their palaces, homes or offices. Although, in today’s times hunting of elephants is strictly forbidden by law and consequences for such actions can be quite severe, the love for Ivory or elephant tusk statues has not yet died down. Having said this, the many variety of faux-ivory or imitation elephant tusk statues available in the market today have made things easy for the many lovers of beauty, who no longer have to be disappointed at not owning this item.

To get your hands on a beautiful set of elephant tusk statues, you can try and find a reliable and reputed dealer on the Internet. You may come across quite a few websites that make sculptures of various Indian deities like Lord Ganesha, Lord Krishna, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Laxmi and others, in addition to making elephant tusk statues. The reason for this is that while some people like to buy these tusk sets as gifts or to decorate their homes with a stunning focus piece, some buyers use these as pieces kept on the side of statues of deities that they pray to. No matter what the utility, it cannot be denied that these particular sets add a special touch of elegance and exclusivity to each setting.

It is a fact that resources like online shopping have made procurement of items like elephant statues or tusk statues an extremely easy task you can undertake from the comforts of your home. However, buying something in a hurry and realizing the size is not right or that there are betters deals or pieces out in the market and you settled for a bad deal can upset anyone. That's why the one thing you must know is the size of the tusks you want to buy. An ideal size for such an item to be kept in a home or office space is about 35 to 40 inches with a widest point of approximately 3 to 4 inches. Browsing through the many websites is the answer to finding the best deal, but it is crucial that you find a balance between what the price is and what you are getting for that price-tag. Many companies may offer great prices, but are unreliable when it comes to quality of the product.

Rather than procuring something cheap, it is best to first shortlist your favorite elephant tusk statues and then compare prices and quality, materials used to make them, reputation of the company, security in money transaction, etc. You could also take a look at some beautiful elephant statues while browsing.

Significance of a Durga Statue

Hinduism is a complex religion and so are the deities in their numerous forms. It can be hard to understand the wholeness of a particular god or goddess by simply seeing their statue; as the statues are sculptured depicting a particular legend or expression or avatar of the deity. Even a Durga statue that you come across on one website may differ in form, expression, and details from another statue you see on a different website store. If you are looking to buy a detailed statue of this goddess believed to be the one who can redeem in situations of greatest distress, a good place to find one that is beautiful and fits your budget would be online.

If you browse the Internet for statues of Durga, you may hit upon a number of websites that make them in a variety of materials and sizes. There are statues carved out of stones, made from metals, FRP, glass, ceramic, etc, which come in a variety of sizes. As mentioned earlier, all goddesses in Hinduism come in many forms and expressions, and before you buy a statue of this ‘invincible’ goddess it might be wise to know a few aspects of her being.

A manifestation of Devi, who is believed to be the female cosmic force and energy that sustains and supports the world that we live in, Durga is endowed with a number of characteristics that are distinctive. She is the self-sufficient, fierce, compassionate and destructive form of Shakti. In India, there is a festival known as Navratri that is celebrated each year to praise this goddess. Navratri literally means nine nights and is celebrated by traditional dancing in the nights, citing of religious texts to invoke the goddess, sowing of seeds and watching them sprout and grow.

There are said to be nine characteristic forms of Durga, which are worshipped one form per day in the nine days of Navratri. They are Shailaputri, where she is two-armed, carries a trident and lotus flower, and sits on nandi, the bull; Brahmacharini, where she is two-armed carrying a rosary and pot; Chandrakhanda is the form in which Durga is atop a tiger and has ten arms out of which eight arms carries a bow, arrow, sword, mace, trident, pot, rosary, lotus and remaining two arms shows Varada & Abhaya mudra; Kushmanda, where she is eight-armed with a tiger by her side. In this form she carries a pot, holy water, bow, arrow, lotus, discus, rosary and a mace. In this form Ma Durga creates solar system; Skanda Mata is the form where Ma Durga rides a lion and has four arms carrying infant Lord Kartikeya or Skanda, lotus in two of her arms and one arm raised in blessing posture; Katyayani is the form which showcases her atop a lion with four arms. Two arms carry a sword & lotus and other two shows Varada & Abhaya mudra; Kalaratri is the form also known as Kali. Here the goddess has four arms and rides a donkey. While dark and unattractive in appearance, she has one hand blessing devotees and depicts that everything has a dark side as well; Mahagauri wears white, rides a bull or a white elephant and is four-armed carrying a trident and hand-drum, she is presented as purity itself; and Siddhidayini is the ninth form of Durga in which she is four-armed and sitting on a lotus.

You can choose a Durga Statue that presents her in any of these nine primary forms. All you have to do is look for a piece that is beautiful and illustrated in details like weapons and facial features of the goddess.

Religious Statues and Sculptures

To look for exclusive and beautiful religious statues and sculptures for decorative or spiritual purposes can be challenging. You may find such statues made in precious metals like gold and silver at Indian jewelry stores, but coming across some in materials other than metals, such as fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), resin, wood or stone is slightly more difficult. In situations such as these, resources like the Internet come handy. You can hit upon a number of websites that are dedicated to showcasing different types of statues and sculptures made by the owner company, by simply searching for your requirement on any web search engine. Different companies sell different products, therefore it is best to know exactly what you are looking for and if not, have plenty of time to browse around and shortlist items you like.

Indian mythology showcases the various deities in a wide range of moods, names and expressions, hence statues made to capture their essence can be found in a variety of styles and designs. There are many options when it comes to religious statues and sculpture, but some of the most popular are intricately designed statues of Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Laxmi, Goddess Saraswati, Saibaba, Jalaram, Ram – Sita, Shakuntala, Parshvanath, and Shreenathji. The statues come in various sizes, not to mention the differences in postures and expressions in different statues.

For instance, Lord Ganesha may be in a standing posture, sitting on his royal throne, or lying down. On the other hand goddess Saraswati is always sitting, but the statue may be elaborately carved or simply made to show her elegantly sitting on a lotus with a sitar in her hand. Another example could be of Lord Krishna, who is an expression or Avatar of one of the greater gods, Vishnu. In India you may notice that Krishna is also known as Kishan Bhagwan, Murlidhar, Shreenathji, Vasudeva, Gopala, Jagannatha, and Vithoba. You may find many different statues of Krishna in the market, which capture poses from his countless legendary stories. Gopala or Bal Krishna are statues of Krishna as a child, while Shreenathji is a Rajasthani interpretation of the God with him wearing a traditional Rajasthani outfit. On the other hand, other statues of Krishna may have him playing the flute leaning on a cow, standing alone playing the flute or with Radha next to him.

The variety of religious statues and sculptures you may chance upon in the market is amazing. You can always count on finding the perfect statue of your deity or saint, if you take a little time and browse through a few websites. All you have to do is have a material in mind, and know a range in size that you prefer.

Indian Gods Statues

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, one of the principal teachers of Swami Vivekananda once said, “Many are the names of God and infinite the forms through which He may be approached.” In Hinduism one of the most dominant forms of praise and worship is idolism. Indian gods’ statues can be found in most homes, offices, even cars. Indians living in a number of different countries have embraced this approach to in a way preserve their belief and faith in the higher power. With oriental religions like Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism gaining popularity throughout the world, various statues of gods and goddesses are not only being procured for worship, but also as a means to add a special touch to the décor.

There are a wide variety of sculptures available in the market today. If you are not a resident of India, you may want to search for dealers and statue makers listed on the Internet for your procurement needs. With a large number of online dealers that are committed to supplying products that are made using top grade materials and are high in quality, buying such religious statues online is a great idea. Not only does this save you time and effort of looking for a shop or company in close proximity to your city, but it also gives you the flexibility to take your time in making the right choices in terms of what you want, and provides ample convenience as most items are delivered to your doorstep if need be.

All you have to do is choose the figure you most desire. You can choose from a variety of different statues of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Krishna, Goddess Parvati, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi, etc. You can also find statues of Shreenathji, Jain saint Parshvanath, Shakuntala, Saibaba, Ram Sita, Ram Darbar, Jalaram, and the like. Most of these statues come in small or medium sizes and in a wide range of materials like brass, fiberglass, silver, wood, ceramic, glass, etc. These statues are durable in addition to being finely carved and amazingly beautiful. Since Indian artisans are known for their delicate and intricate carvings, for the most part this beauty is what you will be paying for. The minute details on the many statues are what bring the mere piece to life.

So, the next time you are out shopping for Indian gods’ statues keep a few things in mind. Remember that you are paying the premium for its beauty not material used, so look for a detailed piece that exudes exquisiteness. Also, buy a statue with its purpose in mind. If you are going to use it as a decorative piece, the size and style should go with your home’s décor. Lastly, acquire the statue from a reputed source as this ensures a good quality product.

Statues of Ganesh

The God of wisdom, attainment and prosperity, Ganpati or Ganesha is in all probability one of the most loved and worshipped deities in Hinduism. In fact, there is a ten-day festival celebrated in India, Nepal, and by Hindus living in the United States, Canada, Fiji, Singapore, etc., starting on Ganesh Chaturthi and ending on Anant Chaturdashi. This festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesh as one of the superior gods. The beloved elephant-headed God is believed to bestow his presence on all who worship him during these ten days of celebrations. The festival begins with setting up of statues of Ganesha at homes and podiums especially built and exquisitely decorated for the festival.

On the last day of the festival, Anant Chaturdashi these statues are immersed in water. Traditionally the statues were made out of mud, but through the years they transitioned into materials like Plaster of Paris, which is not environmentally friendly. People have now become aware of the environmental danger and damage this enormous amount of Plaster of Paris does to the rivers, lakes and hence the eco-system, and started considering alternatives like using a permanent idol made out of stone, fiberglass, fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), or metals.

There are a number of options available in the market nowadays. You can find the simplest idols if that is how you interpret the power of Lord Ganesh or the most intricately carved figure that holds every minute detail about the idol right from having his Modak (sweet offerings) and mouse by his feet, to his Parashu (axe), Pasha (lasso) and Ankusha (hook) in his hands. These idols come in a variety of sizes, styles and details that you can choose from, according to your preferences and purpose of acquiring the statue. While many might see the statues as an idol for worship, there are a large number of people who like buying statues of this deity for decorative purposes, as a gift for special occasions, and some even collect different Ganesh statues as almost each is distinct and unique in its own way.

Statues of Ganesha may be portrayed dancing or standing, but most popularly sitting on a throne with a protruding belly, his weapons in hand, mouse and sweets called modaka or laddus by his side. The sheer skill of the artisans and their craftsmanship can be witnessed through some of the more intricately worked on elaborate idols of this deity. Owning such piece of art, a statue of Ganesha, regardless of its size or purpose is something you can take pride in for years to come.

Statues of Parshvanath Bhagavan

An ancient religion from the Indian sub-continent, Jainism shows the way to supreme bliss and liberation through ways of harmlessness and renunciation. There was a time when it was believed that most of the Jain population dwelled in India, but today followers of this beautiful religion are situated all over the world. As two of the prominent figures in Jainism are Bhagavan Mahavira and Bhagavan Parshvanath, small and big statues of these Gods are a part of a majority of Jain households.

While the profound religion has not been founded by a single great soul, prophets called tirthankaras or ford-makers have revealed the different facets of Jainism and shown the way for achieving supreme spirituality and liberation to the followers. In what jains call the present age, there have been twenty-four tirthankaras namely Adinatha (Rushabhnath), Ajitnatha, Sambhavanatha, Abhinandana Swami, Sumatinatha, Padmaprabhu, Suparshvanath, Chandraprabhu, Suvidhinath (Pushpadanta), Shitalnatha, Shreyansanatha, Vasupujya Swami, Vimalanatha, Anantanatha, Dharmanatha, Shantinatha, Kunthunatha, Aranatha, Mallinatha, Muni Suvrata Swami, Naminatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha, and Mahavira (Vardhamana).

Bhagavan Mahavira and Bhagavan Parshvanatha are the two most loved tirthankaras. While stories and teachings of Mahavira are popular and carry all five principles of Jainism, namely no lying (satya), no stealing (asteya), no possessions (aparigraha), no violence (ahimsa), and chastity (brahmacharya), the 23rd tirthankara, Parshvanatha is closely associated with amnesty and compassion and preached the first four principles excluding chastity. Statues of Mahavira and Parshvanatha represent the three jewels of Jainism; Right Faith – Samyak Darshana, Right Knowledge – Samyak Jnana, and Right conduct – Samyak Charitra.
The two main festivals for Jains are Paryushana and Diwali. While Diwali is a festival celebrated by Hindus as well, Paryushana or Dasa Laksana, also known as Parvadhiraj is typical of Jainism and is believed of having the power of showing the path of salvation. During the eight days of Paryushana, followers pray, worship, meditate, and fast. With a purpose to purify the soul by looking inward, this festival is widely practiced by followers of Jainism, teachings of Parshvanatha and Mahavira.

Principles like not eating after sunset, not consuming food items like garlic, onions, potatoes, etc. are still followed throughout the year by some staunch jain families.

Idols of the 24 tirthankaras of the Jain religion are identical as they represent the same qualities and virtues. However, there is one unique symbol placed at the bottom or top of each idol to help differentiate between them. Statues of Parshvanatha are distinct, always represented with a hood of a three, seven or eleven headed snake (naga), while lord Mahavir’s idols can be easily recognized by the presence of the symbol of a lion at the bottom. The statues of the 23rd and 24th tirthankaras are not only popular among the Jains, but also among Hindus and art-lovers for what they represent.

Deity statues and idols

One need not be a devout Hindu or overtly religious to place deity statues and idols in their homes. Many consider Hindu God statutes as auspicious and pious and pray to them everyday. But if you just like the way these statues look in your home even though you are from a different religion or faith group, you can go ahead and adorn your home with them; they are said to bring luck and happiness.

Some of the popular Hindu Gods are Lord Ganesh, Lord Krishna, Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Saraswati. Every Hindu will have a statue of at least one of these above-mentioned Gods in their homes to bring them good fortune and prosperity. Hinduism is a very old religion, dating back to a time before Christ. Hinduism is a term used by many to categorize religious beliefs based on the Vedas and Vedic traditions.

Hinduism teaches you to be tolerant to every different belief and idea. Many people would even state that Hinduism is a way of life rather than a religion; it can be aptly defined as a Religious Tradition. It is one of the oldest religions in the world and is also the most diverse as it preaches tolerance and respect. Hinduism is characterized by its belief in reincarnation and Karma (Karma is not considered as being a punishment but instead it is an expression, or rather a consequence of acts).

Every different God and Goddess symbolizes something unique and special. Lord Ganesh is the easiest God to recognize as he has an elephant head, a big, round belly and a jovial personality. People pray to him as he is the remover of hindrances and he is the Lord of beginnings. Lord Krishna is an indispensable figure in Hinduism. He is the personification of Lord Vishnu and is unanimously considered by most Hindus as being the Supreme Being. It is a common and well known fact that Lord Krishna originally spoke the whole Bhagavad-Gita.

Krishna’s birthday, also known as Janmashtami is celebrated every year in the month of August or September. This is a very colorful event also known as Dahi Handi. A clay pot, filled with Krishna’s favorite food – buttermilk, is positioned at a significant height. It is then broken by making a huge human pyramid. Handis are set-up in every nook and cranny of some Indian cities, especially in and around Maharashtra. Indians abroad too celebrate this festival by gathering in groups, praying together and eating special food, prepared using specific ingredients.

Deity statues and religious idols are an integral part of Hinduism. Hindus love their Gods and Goddess with unquestionable faith and celebrate their birthdays and special occasions with happiness and enthusiasm.