The Chola Empire's Bronze Casters: The Artists Behind the Nataraja

The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean — Fexingo History · May 7, 2026 · 6m · transcript

While the Chola Empire is famous for its bronze Nataraja statues, the artists who created them remain largely anonymous. This episode explores the world of Chola bronze casters — the sthapatis and kammalar — who worked in lost-wax casting under royal and temple patronage. We discuss the process, from wax modeling to metal pouring, the guilds that organized workshops, and how inscriptions at temples like Brihadeeswarar record payments to these craftsmen. The episode also touches on the religious significance of bronze icons in Chola society, the role of the devadasi system in temple rituals…