Hanuman Is Transformed to Jade? CHAPTER SEVEN

On July 13 artisans, supporters and devotees assembled in Loveland for the Big Day, when Hanuman would be transformed from golden bronze to deep green jade. This is some, not all, of the group posing at the end of the day, after celebrating an amazing accomplishment.

As today's slideshow reveals, we all came to witness the magic of Patrick Kipper, America's foremost patineur, that community of experts who put the final finish, color and texture on bronze statues. Patrick, who basically wrote the journeyman's Bible for this craft, had agreed to personally apply the patina to Hanuman, and we were delighted.

What he does is suspiciously close to alchemy. Alchemy? Yes that medieval forerunner of chemistry which seeks to transform matter, particularly to convert base metals into gold, or in our case into the mineral jade.

As you will see, we had chosen a patina that looks exactly like deep green jade, one that Patrick invented and the monks had seen last year on a Cambodian Buddha he owns. Seeing that Buddha made the decision for Hanuman easy.

The day began early with a simple arati. Yoginathasweami placed a 9-foot-long garland made of Hanuman's favorites: red and yellow. After the arati we called Patrick forward to bless the work he will do today, gave him the traditional shawl and dakshina, and all applauded.

Patrick took Hanuman through a number of stages, working hard hour after hour to clean and polish the surface of the metal, spray on a sulfuric compound to turn the metal black, then rubbed that back to a deep cocoa brown with a Scotch pad, then layers of splattered green followed by 350 degrees of heat with a hand-held torch. This is hard work and hot.

At one point Bobby Page offered a blue ice pack for Patrick's head, which he soon abandoned. Clearly, he is accustomed to these extreme conditions. But we are not, so we retreat to a tent that Rajkumar had set up under the trees outside. Or we climbed a flight of stairs to a room that Kathy and Rajkumar had turned into a little conference space. Here Paramacharya Sadasivanatha shared Gurudeva's vision of Hanuman, spokes of His importance as a model of loyalty, strength and service to God. He also shared that this particular form is from the Chola empire, one of the reasons it is so graceful. That also makes it artistically similar to Iraivan Temple. Paramacharya played a few short videos and slideshows he had prepared to tell the amazing tale that has brought us all to Colorado and to Page Bronze's remote workshop--then mentioned that President Obama always carried a 2-inch bronze Hanuman in his pocket for strength and protection.

Lunchtime comes and we adjourn to the front foyer where Kathy and Rajkumar have laid out a catered feast which all enjoy. Then back to our favorite activity of the day, watching Patrick work his magic. Another layer and another. Each time the artisan has to cover the entire body of Hanuman, all the sides and shapes, all the nooks and crannies.

As we watched, the tones of Hanuman have gone from bright gold to black, then to brown and shades of splattered green. Now it all begins to melt and merge into the metal, so much so that the metal disappears before our eyes. In its place stands Hanuman seemingly carved from the world's largest jade. It is a marvel. But more layers are ahead. Patrick adds them with amazing focus and enthusiasm, then sprays the whole murthi with lacquer, and two layers of wax. The wax will protect from Kauai's tropical sun and rains, and will be refurbished each year or so. As he works, we all watch in wonder.

While we all go off to a dinner together, Patrick informs us that he cannot join, since the heat he has built us in the metal would dissipate and the colors would be less than perfect. We all drive to PF Changs for a veggie Chinese meal and talk of Hanuman and his big day. In the end Hanuman stands: imposing, artful, poised, His might mace ready to protect all devotees, His left hand holding Iraivan Temple, which He has carried all the way from India to the Garden Island. We leave full and overfull with blessings and appreciation to the 29 artisans in the USA and 25 more in India who made this possible. Next stop for Hanuman: Kauai island!

Aum Namasivaya!

At day\

s end, all gather to celebrate a rare work well done.'

Bobby and Kathy Page\

s workshop. Looking carefully you can see Chris just inside and Hanuman in the shadows.'

Bobby takes us in for our first glimpse of the finished Hanuman.

He shines in the morning light.

Rushika and Raji talk story with the Swamis.

Chris shows everyone one of the grinding wheels he used to smooth the metal surfaces to perfection.

Bobby has prepared a gift for everyone. It\

s a detail from the temple handrail which had cast as a memento.'

Bobby and the swamis taker a break.

Paramacharya and Patrick discuss the patina.

First, a thorough cleaning to take off all oils and dust.

a pensive mood.

Patrick is using a drill with an abrasive pad to remove imperfections.

More cleaning.

Here Patrick is using a drill with a fast moving abrasive pad to remove any small imperfections in the surface.

Then comes the messy application that turns it all black.

Yoginathaswami places the garland on Hanuman\

s neck.'

A puja tray hold the items for arati.

Yoginathaswami offers arati.

The flame is passed to Chris and his mentor, Bobby.

Patrick receives full honors, Hindu style.

He is a bit overcome as this is the first time he has worked with an audience and started with formal rites.

Puja tray for the blessing.

Jai Hanumanji! Let\

s go to work.'

More abrading. More softening of the surface.

Notice the dark green abrasive pad Patrick is using. And how the black surface turns brown when he does this.

Every square millimeter is covered. To the untrained, it seems a sometimes sloppy process. But it slowly becomes amazingly consistent.

Our refuge outdoors during breaks.

Patrick can banter amicably even while working furiously.

Turning Hanuman from black to brown.

Rajkumar has been the nerve system keeping all the artisans and participants happy. Later he will make a video of the entire process for our history archives.

Some of the work is by ladder, while the higher part uses a hydraulic lift.

Looking almost silver at this stage.

Then brown.

Torch in his left hand and spray gun in his right, Patrick works his way around the murthi.

Rajkumar tries black and white for creative effect.

Top of the mace.

Good angle you captured, Rajkumar.

The jade is emerging.

We find ourselves softly nitting the metal to be sure it is still metal.

It is, and it isn\

t.'

So graceful.

Like a pianist playing a difficult concerto.

Some see hints of early Greek hair designs here.

This photo shows three stages of progression, left to right.

Silhouette

Hanuman at the end of the day.

At dinner we honor all the artisans present. First our sculptress, Holly Young.

Then Bobby and Kathy Page.

Paramacharya also asks us to honor the 25 artisans in India who made the first black granite Hanuman.

Chris and his partner are next.

Tushar and Alka Doshi have come from Los Angeles. They sponsored the original granite Hanuman on which this brinze was based.

Rushika and Raji, BFF.

Ravi and Sheela joined and helped the swamis with travel details.

After dinner we find a nearby African bronze to take a family portrait, minus Patrick who is still working in the shop.

Hanuman at dawn on the left, at dusk on the right. Jai Gurudeva! Aum Namasivaya!

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