The Nano Tech touch to Yadadri's golden kalashams
Hyderabad 16th march 2022: Purity, surity and cutting-edge nanotechnology has gone into the making of the spellbinding golden kalashams at Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy's abode, says Pankkaj Bhaandari, founder of Smart Creations that has gold plated the temple What's common to America's space entity NASA and mana Yadadri's kalasams? Well, it's the Nano Tech Gold Deposition (NTGD) Technology touch to both! The gold coating technology used in NASA/ISRO defence applications and equipment is also what is used to make the golden kalasams of the magnificent Yadadri temple in Hyderabad. The 1,000-year-old abode of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is all set to open to public after its 360-degree renovation on March 28, 2022.
The magnificent temple town, 52 km away from Hyderabad, has been renovated to look like a divine, mythical temple town that will reinstate the glory of Lord Narasimha. What stands out here are the 52 intricately designed kalasams. The kalasams have been designed by the Chennai-based Smart Creations which has been into temple restoration and beautification. The company has been commissioned to work with all the major temples across India and internationally assisting them with the gold plating of the temple kalash, temple idols, and a lot more. As the temple opens to the public this month, the golden glitter of the temple is bound to have a spell-binding effect on devotees who come seeking Lord Narasimha's blessings.
Says Pankkaj Bhaandari, founder of Smart Creations, "We have more than two decades of experience in gold plating in temples across the country and internationally. In the last 24 years, we have taken up these works in more than 5,500 temples cumulatively with 1,100 man-years of experience of the team and more than 100 artisans and their families."
Elaborating about the NTGD (Nano Tech Gold Deposition) technology, he explains: "It is a patented technology that allows for lesser consumption of gold in gold plating. Our golden temple projects are mainly dependent on the kind hearted donations of devotees. NTGD technology effectively increases the affordability of the projects by decreasing the consumption to about 5 grams per sqft. As opposed to conventional gold coating, the thickness of the gold layer using this method is reduced to microns. This is achieved through electroplating of gold onto a suitable metal substrate, preferably copper, which is well known for its conductivity. The initial copper electroplating ensures a smooth even finish which is evident in our product quality. The same can be replicated with silver electroplating as well. The longevity of the product is also assured as the gold is plated on rather than applied as a coating. The overall finished product is significantly lighter and easier to handle than products coated through conventional methods. The cherry on the cake is the fact that the gold deposited through this method is 100% recoverable at any given point of time."
Pankkaj is an ISB/Stanford Alumni who works with the latest project management systems to bring in professional touch to the divine work he does. "We use the NTGD (nanotechnology) technology for gold plating. This technology is in tune with conventional techniques and the recent Minamata convention. Yes, we use the same technology used by Vendors of NASA and ISRO- aerospace and defence applications customised for spiritual spaces for validation and longevity. Additionally, our gold coating is protected from surface damage by a hard lacquer coating. Our artifacts can, therefore, be passed down to generations looking as good as brand new," Pankkaj states. "We understand temples like nobody else does," says Pankaj about his company known the world over for customisation of Kalasams and Dwathasthambams in temples."
In the last five years, the Dwajasthambam of Narasimha at Sri Parthasarathy temple, vimana of Sringeri Sarada temple and the kalasams and flag mast of Sri Kanchi Kamakshi temple have been memorable experiences. Pankkaj's work is not restricted to temples alone but includes churches and Jain mandirs too.
It was pure passion that made Pankkaj, a financial consultant who was to join his dad's company, stray into gold plating. His father-in-law who runs a chemical plant prompted him to innovate. He then added a professional touch to his passion by getting trained in labs abroad to master the technique. He took baby steps in gold plating with doorknobs and handles. He once participated in a trade exhibition which gave him the opportunity to gold plate bronze Ganesha. "A trustee of the Santhana Srinivasa Perumal temple, Mogappair, Chennai, wanted to gold plate the silver feet of the deity. Work involving ISKCON (Narasimha shrine) and Tirumoghur Divyadesam followed," he adds.
It is the mission of Smart Creations to use as little gold as possible and to promptly return whatever gold is left over after the work. Purity and lack of wastage are two cornerstones of their work, he adds. "Our core values have helped us bag these works," says Pankkaj with gratitude. All eyes are now on the golden kalashams for their purity, glitter and divinity.
The magnificent temple town, 52 km away from Hyderabad, has been renovated to look like a divine, mythical temple town that will reinstate the glory of Lord Narasimha. What stands out here are the 52 intricately designed kalasams. The kalasams have been designed by the Chennai-based Smart Creations which has been into temple restoration and beautification. The company has been commissioned to work with all the major temples across India and internationally assisting them with the gold plating of the temple kalash, temple idols, and a lot more. As the temple opens to the public this month, the golden glitter of the temple is bound to have a spell-binding effect on devotees who come seeking Lord Narasimha's blessings.
Says Pankkaj Bhaandari, founder of Smart Creations, "We have more than two decades of experience in gold plating in temples across the country and internationally. In the last 24 years, we have taken up these works in more than 5,500 temples cumulatively with 1,100 man-years of experience of the team and more than 100 artisans and their families."
Elaborating about the NTGD (Nano Tech Gold Deposition) technology, he explains: "It is a patented technology that allows for lesser consumption of gold in gold plating. Our golden temple projects are mainly dependent on the kind hearted donations of devotees. NTGD technology effectively increases the affordability of the projects by decreasing the consumption to about 5 grams per sqft. As opposed to conventional gold coating, the thickness of the gold layer using this method is reduced to microns. This is achieved through electroplating of gold onto a suitable metal substrate, preferably copper, which is well known for its conductivity. The initial copper electroplating ensures a smooth even finish which is evident in our product quality. The same can be replicated with silver electroplating as well. The longevity of the product is also assured as the gold is plated on rather than applied as a coating. The overall finished product is significantly lighter and easier to handle than products coated through conventional methods. The cherry on the cake is the fact that the gold deposited through this method is 100% recoverable at any given point of time."
Pankkaj is an ISB/Stanford Alumni who works with the latest project management systems to bring in professional touch to the divine work he does. "We use the NTGD (nanotechnology) technology for gold plating. This technology is in tune with conventional techniques and the recent Minamata convention. Yes, we use the same technology used by Vendors of NASA and ISRO- aerospace and defence applications customised for spiritual spaces for validation and longevity. Additionally, our gold coating is protected from surface damage by a hard lacquer coating. Our artifacts can, therefore, be passed down to generations looking as good as brand new," Pankkaj states. "We understand temples like nobody else does," says Pankaj about his company known the world over for customisation of Kalasams and Dwathasthambams in temples."
In the last five years, the Dwajasthambam of Narasimha at Sri Parthasarathy temple, vimana of Sringeri Sarada temple and the kalasams and flag mast of Sri Kanchi Kamakshi temple have been memorable experiences. Pankkaj's work is not restricted to temples alone but includes churches and Jain mandirs too.
It was pure passion that made Pankkaj, a financial consultant who was to join his dad's company, stray into gold plating. His father-in-law who runs a chemical plant prompted him to innovate. He then added a professional touch to his passion by getting trained in labs abroad to master the technique. He took baby steps in gold plating with doorknobs and handles. He once participated in a trade exhibition which gave him the opportunity to gold plate bronze Ganesha. "A trustee of the Santhana Srinivasa Perumal temple, Mogappair, Chennai, wanted to gold plate the silver feet of the deity. Work involving ISKCON (Narasimha shrine) and Tirumoghur Divyadesam followed," he adds.
It is the mission of Smart Creations to use as little gold as possible and to promptly return whatever gold is left over after the work. Purity and lack of wastage are two cornerstones of their work, he adds. "Our core values have helped us bag these works," says Pankkaj with gratitude. All eyes are now on the golden kalashams for their purity, glitter and divinity.