G20 Summit 2023 / See why the statue of Shiva Nataraja was chosen to be installed in the Bharat Mandap of G20?

G20 Summit 2023: The national capital Delhi is ready for the G-20 summit, guests are being welcomed. This summit is the biggest event ever to be held in Delhi, in which heads of state of many countries are going to participate. The summit will be held on September 9-10 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, Delhi. Bharat Mandapam has also been decorated in a very grand manner for the event, the biggest attraction here is the Ashtadhatu statue of Shiva Nataraja installed here.

The height of this statue in Bharat Mandapam is about 28 feet, in which the height of the statue is 22 feet and the remaining six feet is the height of the platform on which the statue is installed, which weighs about 18 tons. As special as this idol is, equally special is the process of making it, which is being adopted from the Chola dynasty i.e. 9th century.

Why was the idol of Ashtadhatu installed in Bharat Mandapam?

Astrology believes that every metal has energy, since Ashtadhatu is a combination of eight metals, that is why it is considered a source of divine energy. Experts tell that because of this importance of Ashtadhatu, all the idols used in the ancient temples of the country were made of Ashtadhatu. According to astrology, due to the combination of Ashtadhatu, it transmits positive energy around its center, besides this, Ashtadhatu influences the brain, which increases the decision-making ability and also gives peace to the mind. Ashtadhatu and its benefits have also been mentioned in Sushruta Samhita and Bhavishyapurana.

Why only the idol of Shiva Nataraja?

Ashtadhatu's Shiva Nataraja statue has been installed in India Mandapam of G20, its religious and historical significance is behind its selection. This is the pleasure form of Lord Shiva. Actually there are two forms of Lord Shiva's Tandav, the first one shows his anger and the second one shows his joy. There is Anand Tandav in the statue of Shiva Nataraj. There is such a belief in religious scriptures that the creation is created from Shiva's Anand Tandav and it merges in Raudra Tandav. The idol of Shiva Nataraja has four arms of Lord Shiva, surrounded by fire, he suppresses a dwarf demon with one leg and the other leg is in dance posture, this demon is the symbol of evil. This statue, symbolizing Shiva's Anand Tandav, also communicates positive energy.

How are Ashtadhatu idols made?

Ashtadhatu statues are made using the traditional lost wax technique, a process dating back thousands of years according to the Britannica website, in which equal parts of each of the eight metals are melted and then cast into a mold. goes. Before pouring the mixture of Ashtadhatu into the mould, wax is melted in it, so that the space in the molds becomes level with the wax and the idol comes in its shape. When the statue is too big, it is made in different parts and then joined together.

What is included in Ashtadhatu

The importance of Ashtadhatu has also been told in the scriptures, in fact it contains gold-silver, ranga, copper, brass, zinc, iron and bronze. Made together. In an interview, Radhakrishnan had claimed that his family has been involved in making Ashtadhatu idols since the Chola dynasty.

Took six months to build, brought from 2500 km away

The statue of Shiva Nataraja installed in Bharat Mandapam of G20 was completed in six months. The Ministry of Culture had given the order to make this statue in February. This idol installed in Delhi has been brought here by truck from Tamil Nadu, 2500 km away, for which a green corridor was specially made. Four officials of the Ministry of Culture also came with this convoy.