Kuthu Vilakku

Mantra Gold Coatings has an interesting collection of Kuthu vilakkus. The lamps manufactured are used in temples, pooja rooms, meditation halls, prayer rooms, corporate offices and government functions. The lamps are lit to signify, making light in darkness or leading from darkness to light. These are excellent handcrafted brass vilaku.the composition of metal is copper 60 % and 40 % zinc. the simple test of understanding this metal is to polish it. after polishing it, if it shines almost like Gold, it is the right combiantion used. If it is dull gold or towards greenish shade of metal, it means more of zinc proportion is used in making of this metal.

The master artisans have been working for generations to preserve this form of art. Care is taken from the composition of the metal to intricate nagas or hand embossing designs. These have to be pure, as this is the closest to the divine. This holds the Agni and inspires us to dispel darkness from our lives. 

The offering to GOD, always is meant to be bright and thats why, people keep polishing it or buffing it. after polishing the kuthu vilakku looks bright. ofcourse the metal oxidises or becomes dull. more so this happens in humid climates closer to the sea. The best way to handle this is ofcourse, clean with traditional process of tamarid paste, lemon juice, vinegar etc. Care is to be taken that the crevices of the design does not allow any oxidisation to stick in. alternatively it can be maintained the professional way, by polishing and giving electro phoretic lacquer.