Ashtadhatu (lit.'eight metals'), also called octo-alloy, is an alloy often used for casting metallic idols for Jain and Hindu temples in India.[2][3][4]
The composition is laid down in the Shilpa shastras, a collection of ancient texts that describe arts, crafts, and their design rules, principles and standards. Ashtadhatu is used because it is considered extremely pure, sattvic of Sattva, in Hinduism, and does not decay, and it is also restricted to the gods Kubera, Vishnu, Krishna, Rama, Kartikeya, and goddesses, Durga and Lakshmi.[5]
Sometimes an alloy idol is termed Ashtadhatu, even when its exact composition is not known. Because the metals were mixed in equal proportions, the casting was very rough and needed to be thoroughly polished. Due to their sacredness and rarity, these pure idols are often stolen.[9]
Ashtadhatu Shivling made by Dhumra Gems company. It consists all 8 metals in equal proportion; Gold, Silver, Copper, Mercury, Iron, Lead, Zinc, Tin.
See also
Panchaloha – A term for traditional five-metal alloys used for Hindu artifacts
ashtadhatu, eight, metals, also, called, octo, alloy, alloy, often, used, casting, metallic, idols, jain, hindu, temples, india, shakti, century, shri, shakti, devi, temple, built, raja, meru, verman, bharmour, chhatrari, chamba, himachal, pradesh, composition. Ashtadhatu lit eight metals also called octo alloy is an alloy often used for casting metallic idols for Jain and Hindu temples in India 2 3 4 Ashtadhatu Shakti of 8th century in Shri Shakti Devi temple built by Raja Meru Verman of Bharmour in Chhatrari Chamba Himachal Pradesh 1 The composition is laid down in the Shilpa shastras a collection of ancient texts that describe arts crafts and their design rules principles and standards Ashtadhatu is used because it is considered extremely pure sattvic of Sattva in Hinduism and does not decay and it is also restricted to the gods Kubera Vishnu Krishna Rama Kartikeya and goddesses Durga and Lakshmi 5 Its traditional composition is gold silver copper lead zinc tin iron and antimony or mercury 6 7 8 In genuine Ashtadhatu all eight metals are in equal proportion 12 5 each Sometimes an alloy idol is termed Ashtadhatu even when its exact composition is not known Because the metals were mixed in equal proportions the casting was very rough and needed to be thoroughly polished Due to their sacredness and rarity these pure idols are often stolen 9 Ashtadhatu Shivling made by Dhumra Gems company It consists all 8 metals in equal proportion Gold Silver Copper Mercury Iron Lead Zinc Tin See also EditPanchaloha A term for traditional five metal alloys used for Hindu artifacts High entropy alloys How to Identify AshtadhatuReferences Edit Shiv Shakti Devi Temple Chhatrari 1 2 3 permanent dead link 4 9 stolen ashtadhatu idols recovered in Siwan Muzaffarpur Debashish Karmakar The Times of India Jul 10 2016 Three held for stealing idols from Jain temples Leena Dhankhar Gurgaon Hindustan Times Jan 20 2016 भगव न क दर पर च र क ध व ज न म द र स च र ई 7 अष टध त क म र त य in Hindi Patrika news network 2016 10 25 Idols by Material 5 6 hinduofuniverse com The Eight Metals Social Cultural and Economic History of Himachal Pradesh Manjit Singh Ahluwalia Indus Publishing 1998 p 163 स वर ण र प य त म र च र ग यशदम व च श स ल ह रसश च त ध तव ऽष ट प रक र त त Here rasa can be taken as either mercury or brass Ashtadhatu Idols Theft 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ashtadhatu amp oldid 1088363251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
