*Panchaloka idol sent to ashram * Special Correspondent * "It took one and a half years for preparing this idol" *
THANJAVUR: A twelve-feet panchaloka idol of Lord Nadaraja, sculptured at Swami Malai, was sent to Sivananda Yogavedantha Dhanvantri Ashram at Neyyaru dam in Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala on Sunday.
It will be installed at the dhyana mandapam there. According to sthapathis Radhadkrishnan, Sri Kantan, Swaminathan, sons of master craftsman the late Devasenapathi sthapathi who prepared the idol, it was one of the most beautiful idols of Nadaraja prepared in Chola style and mixing the images of Lord Nadaraja at Big temple at Thanjavur and Konerirajapuram (eight ft tall). Nadaraja is in dancing posture lifting his left leg and having head has Ganges and serpent. It is in Ananda Thandavam posture. Twenty seven flames represent the 27 stars in the Thiruvatchi (arch around the Lord).
The wax mould of the idol was prepared by master craftsman V. Ganapathy sthapathi of Mahabalipuram who sculptured the Thiruvallurvar statue at Kanyakumari.
"It took one and a half years for preparing this idol worth Rs.17 lakh and which weighs 2000 kg," the sthapathis said.