A vintage teakwood log from Myanmar forest sculpted into stunning Vishnu Sculpture by Hyderabad artist at Anuradha Timbers International

As a befitting tribute to amazing craftsmanship and unwavering faith, a 700-year-old log of teakwood from the Jungles of Burma has been sculpted into a dazzling sculpture of Lord Vishnu, reclining on a coiled snake by artist Giridhar Gowd at the bidding of the Anuradha Timbers International in Hyderabad.

It took six years of religious dedication and menial work to carve the divine sculpture of Ananta Seshasayana Sri Maha Vishnu by Gowd at Anuradha Timbers International which has now become an embodiment of Hindu mythology. The former Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu, will unveil the sculpture which will remain in the premises for one year.

The sculpture manifests a vision that Sarath Babu, the partner of the firm, had six years ago, he laid eyes on the log of wood,  one of the rare pieces and future generations might not be able to see something as magnificent. 

He wanted to immortalize this rich piece of wood rather than turning into trivial doors and windows. The sculpture  is 21 feet wide and towers over 8.5 feet high.

Besides, Indian craftsmanship the genesis of sculpture is also shared by the Myamnar artists as one of the works was done in Myanmar, but it was completed in India after Babu won an international bid for this log to bring it to India. He got in touch with artist Giridhar Gowd who hails from Vadlamudi village in Guntur district and is known for his pencil sketches of mythological figures, to execute his vision.

According to Gowd, the sculpture matches the vision of the drawing he executed on 60 inches by 19.5 inches paper. “This was a long piece of wood. I had imagined Dasavataram or Viswaroopam but I chose Ananta Seshasayana Sri Maha Vishnu. I initially thought of 116 figures but reduced it to 84 figures,” says Mr. Gowd about the sculpture that has small details, down to the curved little fingers and nails.

The textured clothing of the lower garments on the idol may appear flimsy but real. The Hindu mythology surrounding creation, the celestial beings, the navagrahlu (nine planets), the beings in the sky and the netherworld all have a tactile feel about them without the grain or a node of wood being visible.

It was the unanimous decision of Tirupathi Rao, the third generation owner of Anuradha Timbers International and artist Gawd to chose the reclining figurine of Vishu out of other incarnations as the tree must have seen hundreds of monsoons in the valleys of Myanmar forest and it had a bump in the middle just like the hip so they  thought the reclining Vishnu would be perfect choice.

Talking about the commercial side of the art piece, “This sculpture is a work of love and a tribute to nature. There is no commercial angle to it and it is not for sale,” says Sarath Babu.

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