The Gods

Rishi statues are hand crafted by hereditary artisans in the temples of Tamil Nadu in southern India. In addition to the bronze temple range Rishi artisans also produce a range in brass. These statues illustrate the rich history of craftsmanship of India. Rishi Statuary has a wide range of traditional Indian devotional artefacts for you to choose from, in sizes varying from a 0.5 cm to temple size.

The Gods

"There can really be as many Hindu Gods as there are devotees to suit the moods, feelings, emotions & social background of the devotees." Sri RamaKrishna

Lord Visnu – the Preserver.  One of the principal Hindu deities, worshipped as the protector and preserver of the world and restorer of dharma.

Lord Shiva – The Destroyer & The Restorer. One of the principal Hindu deities and one of the most complex gods of India, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities - the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality,

Lord Nataraja – Shiva as the King of the dance. He is art and spirituality in perfect oneness, depicting that that, which is created, is inseparable from its creator. Symbolising, the universe and the soul cannot be separated from God.

Lord Ganesh - He brings joy and happiness to the family and is the God of knowledge and the Remover of Obstacles. Son of Lord Shiva & Mother Parvati

Lord Krishna - playing His flute and dancing by moonlight. : regarded in Hinduism as an image of the soul’s relationship with God.

Lord Murugan – usually depicted astride a peacock suppressing it to remind us not to let pride and egotism get the better of us.  In his hand he holds the Vel or sharp spear, symbolizing the developed sharp intellect.  He uses the Vel  to guard the spiritual progress of the world.  Son of Lord Shiva & Mother Parvati.

Lord Buddha – the Enlightened One. 

Hanuman – (“the monkey faced one”) is the God of pure strength.  He represents faith, valour, and righteousness coupled with an unstinting dedication to the performance of his entrusted duties to his master, Lord Rama.

Nandi - (the white bull) The Guardian of Lord Shiva, whose can often be seen watching over the main shrine in temples throughout India.  The bull is said to embody sexual energy, fertility.  Lord Shiva is often depicted riding on Nandi’s back demonstrating that Lord Shiva is in control of these impulses. 
 
Annapurna - the Mother who is filled with food. She is the one that nourishes all beings. She is wild and beautiful nature - the vastness of the skies that shower rain, the earth that contains all elements to feed all living creatures, she is the energy in life-giving water.  The fountainhead of all life, the energy of fertility and regeneration.

Durga  - she gives courage and fearlessness and holds weapons to fight the tireless ego, the enemy of the spiritual aspirant. When we worship Durga, she will destroy our problems and protect us from negative influences.

Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, luxury, beauty, fertility, and auspiciousness.  She holds the promise of material fulfillment and contentment.

Parvati - the daughter of the Himalayas – a representation of Shakti – can be considered as the supreme Divine Mother and all other goddesses are referred to as her incarnations or manifestations.  Consort of Lord Shiva and mother of Lord Ganesh.

Sarasvati – she is the goddess of learning and knowledge.  She bestowed the forms of speech, dancing, musical arts and poetry to all mankind, and gives her blessings especially to all students.

Kali - ("the black one") is the goddess of dissolution and destruction.  She destroys the illusion of the ego and removes all obstacles of her devotees on the path to self-realisation.

The Lingam – a representation of Lord Shiva.  The ovoid shape represents the absolute perfection of Lord Shiva - if that which is beyond form had to be given form, the lingam would be the closest form to the mystical experience of the absolute perfection of Shiva.