Arumbavur is a Town Panchayat in Veppanthattai Taluk of Perambalur district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India renowned for its Wooden Carvings worldwide. The wood carvings are handmade and are looked upon with awe and amazement by the buyer’s world over. The 250 years old Arumbavur Wooden Carving artisans have their origin traced to Madurai and they have the unique speciality of hand carving the Wooden Statues. Natural figures, Main Doors of houses, Pooja Doors, Pooja Mandapas, Wall Panels, Pillars, Wall Brackets, Temple Doors, Temple Cars, Church Wall Panels etc., are manufactured and exported to various parts of the World.
The Arumbavur wooden carvings have been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag for their distinctiveness and excellent quality.
The origin of these artisans can be traced to about 250 years ago, when a small group settled in Arumbavur and established a thriving cottage industry.
The carvings are often inspired by the ornate sculptures and architectural motifs found in old temples. The artisans craft idols of deities such as Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Lord Karthikeya, Hamsa, Kamadhenu, and various forms of Goddess Lakshmi, as well as decorative figures, bas-reliefs, puja mandaps, tables, chairs, and cots.
The artisans prefer to use local woods such as Vengai, Mavilangam, Athi, and Ma Maram. First, they determine the size of the wood block needed for the desired design. The wood is then cut and naturally seasoned. A layout of the design is drawn on the cut piece with chalk, and the wood is chiseled along the lines. The rough carving is smoothed with smaller chisels and finer details are carved out. The sculpture is then polished with sandpaper and painted with natural colors or given an antique finish. Enamel paints are also used, but are preceded by a layer of limestone. The statues are usually between 1 and 12 feet in height.
The artisans strictly follow the guidelines set forth in the Shilpa Shastra, from selecting and preparing the wood to carving and finishing the sculpture. They use traditional tools of various sizes for carving and may employ multiple craftsmen at different stages of the process based on their expertise.
The most impressive pieces produced by these skilled craftsmen are temple chariots. The base of the chariot is divided into three sections: earthly life, celestial life, and divine life. The earthly life section includes carvings of the king, queen, dancing girls, while the celestial life section features carvings of deities, celestial musicians and others. The divine life section includes carvings of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Karthikeya, and the Divine Mother. The base of the chariot also features carvings of demons, with turtles above them and Adi Shesha (the serpent king) resting on top. The weight of this ornate chariot is balanced by wooden logs at the base.
In addition to creating sculptures for temples, the artisans of Arumbavur also make utilitarian products such as wooden utensils and furniture. They use the same traditional techniques and adhere to the principles of Shilpa Shastra in all of their work. The finished products are known for their high quality and attention to detail.