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Clay to Divinity: The Sacred Art of Dasara Idol Making
13 Oct
Summary
- Artist Kubera Shivamogga meticulously crafts idols for major temples.
- Spiritual discipline and rituals precede the idol-making process.
- Idol crafting, especially facial features, occurs at night, demanding focus.
Kubera Shivamogga is the artisan behind the revered Goddess Sharada idols adorning temples along coastal Karnataka during the Dasara festivities. His skilled hands shape clay into divine forms for prominent locations in Mangaluru, Uchila, and Udupi, significantly enhancing the spiritual atmosphere of the celebrations.
The creation of these idols demands utmost dedication, beginning with a consecration ritual before any sculpting commences. Kubera emphasizes that while physical labor can be assisted, the artistic vision requires profound spiritual discipline. Work progresses alongside daily prayers, with specific deities' forms taking shape through devotional essence and appropriate postures.
For the Sharada idol, the foundational ritual occurs on Ganesha festival day, marking the start of its creation. Kubera dedicates calm, quiet hours to meticulous details like painting eyes and sculpting facial features. He often finds the ideal concentration between midnight and 5 am to apply these final, crucial touches.
Kubera and his team arrive 40 days before Dasara with all necessary materials. They begin by preparing armatures, followed by building basic shapes with hay. Clay mixed with paddy husk is then applied and sculpted, with finishing clay used for refined details and smooth surfaces before painting commences.
Managing simultaneous work across Mangaluru, Uchila, and Udupi involves a stage-by-stage approach. Structural work is completed at one location before the team moves to the next. Specialized artisans handle preliminary tasks at each site, while Kubera oversees finishing work personally at all three locations.
This marks Kubera's ninth year creating for Mangaluru Dasara, his fifth for Uchila, and second for Udupi. He draws inspiration from his past work with master BJ Rajashekhar and seeks blessings from Sri Siddalinga Mahaswami before beginning each year's artistic endeavor.
