ARANMULA KANNADI OR ARANMULA MIRROR

What is Aranmula Kannadi - Why It is world famous, What is the speciality?

The exquisite Aranmula Mirror or "Aranmula Kannadi" is a very special type of metal mirror produced only in Aranmula, a village in the state of Kerala in India. Aranmula metal mirror is a precious inherited gift. The mystery of its production is a family gift handed over through generations. Indeed, the ancient art of making metal mirrors is still practiced, without modification, by a few family-based artisans in Aranmula (One being Thikkinampallil family). The manufacture of Aranmula Kannadi has been a zealously guarded secret of a handful of these surviving artisans.

Aranmula metal mirror is a rare piece of craft that had existed even during the Vedic period of Indian history. The myth about the origin and secret of its composition makes it a truly fascinating craft. As traditional as the mirror-making technology is, the artisans’ belief that the composition of the metal mirror is divine and some undisclosed metals alloyed with silver, bronze, copper and tin are responsible for the distortion-free images.

Aranmula Mirror is :

1) Extra ordinary traditional hand made metal mirror, is Famous for bringing prosperity, luck and wealth in to life

2) Aranmula Mirror / Aranmula Kannadi is famous for its secretive construction method and uniqueness in the make which get Patent protected with a Geographical Indication tag

3) It is the only metal mirror available, Unlike Ordinary Glass mirror , Image from Aranmula Mirror / Aranmula Kannadi is reflected from upper surface of reflecting material , where in Glass mirror image reflected from bottom layer where mercury is pasted . So real image is only captured in the Aranmula Mirror / Aranmula Kannadi.

4) Aranmula Mirror / Aranmula Kannadi is one among 8 auspicious items included famous astamagalaya set ,which usually used for very auspicious function like marriage

5) Aranmula Mirror / Aranmula Kannadi is impossible to make a duplicated Item, because of its lesser Price, and its make details only known to few people in one family belong to Aranmula and it is kept as a family secret

6) Mysteries in its creation, unequalled in its beauty, the Aranmula Mirror / Aranmula Kannadi is a unique object.

7) Exclusive to Aranmula this mirror is made of metal, not glass! There in lies its uniqueness and its creation a closely guarded secret. Known to only four families, has been handed down from father to son for generations. Therein lies its mystery

8) Aranmula is a little village in the district of Pathanamthitta, which is well known for its ancient temple dedicated to Lord Sree Krishna as Parthasarathy,the colorful snake boat Regatta and the Aranmula Mirror / Aranmula Kannadi.

9)The British Museum in London has a 45 centimeter tall Aranmula metal mirror in its collection

How can i verify my Aranmula Kannadi is genuine?

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT !!!! SO CHECK IT AS SOON AS YOU GET THE MIRROR.

Touch the mirror surface with one of your fingers, and watch the reflected image on the mirror. In an original Aranmula Kannadi, there won't be any gap between your finger and the reflected image on the mirror. please conduct this test as soon as you get the aranmula mirror.Aranmula Mirror or Aranmula Kannadi reflects the image from its surface, so there will not be any gap between your finger and the reflected image.

What are the advantages of buying Aranmula Kannadi from aranmulamirror.com?

We are from the original manufactures of traditional Aranmula Kannadi or Aranmula Mirror. we assure 100% dedication and quality throghout the work, from taking the mud from the paddy fields to the shipment to the proud mirror owner.

Making of Aranmula kannadi is a ritual, we noticed that some of the vendors are practising it as a business by using the readymade frames from moradabad ( known as moradabad frames ), and assembling it in their workshops by making user of other workers. but the traditional aranmula mirror making proces, the artisan is the only person supposed to involve in the making process.

REMEMBER...Traditioanl aranmula mirror doesnt have any silver colored or such fancy frames as it appears in many websites in internet.Original and Traditional Aranmula Kannadi is making only in one place in the entire world, that is in ARANMULA. And It comes in Golden Brass frames only. See the sample models Here.So when you see a Silver colored or any such fansy looking frames. they are not TRADITIONAL AND ORIGINAL ARANMULA MIRRORS. And if you found any duplicated or fake imitations please inform us. Aranmula Kannadi is protected by geographical patent. So Making or selling any imitations is a serious offense and we will sue them to the maximum extent of available laws.

Our mirros are produced by 100% of manual work. we are not using any machines or ready made parts. we are using 100% local resources ( mud from local paddy fields, led, copper and brass from mannar local market).so 100% of resources are from local to ARANMULA.

We doesn't have any brokers or dealers working with us. you can find many third party dealers who is selling Aranmula mirror online. but they are buying the mirror from us and reselling it. in that case you have to pay their margin and causes delay in delivery.

How Aranmula Kannadi is being made? - The Making Secret of Aranmula Mirror Explained...

A kowa or crucible made of wrought iron having an approximate capacity of holding 9 Kg of molten metal is cleaned. The pieces of pure chembu (copper), eeyam (tin) and nagam (zinc) are added in proportion. The mouth of the kowa is sealed with clay. An opening lid made of clay, is also provided. Two vertically opposite holes are provided to pour out the molten metal. One of these holes acts as an air vent.

The Kowa us then placed in an open pit furnace charged with burning charcoal. It is then covered with pieces of thondu, as thondu retains the heat. It is heated to about 400 degree Celsius (approximate melting point of brass). The molten metal is poured onto flat surface (usually the ground itself). Once cooled, the alloy is then broken into pieces using a chuttika(hammer). The broken pieces are then inspected for the quality of the alloy. If found satisfactory, then it is remelted. Else more amount of the alloying elements are added. The molten metal is then poured into the preheated mound. It is then left for cooling. Once cooled, the clay mould is broken and the casting is removed. The casting is checked for any deformities. Usually the master craftsman prepares four to five mirrors and polishes them at a stretch. When one gets heated he does the polishing for the next one while the other cools.

To achieve high quality reflective surface the polishing can go on from one to two days. Once the required polished surface is achieved it is then further polished using a piece of cotton cloth. Then final polishing is done using a velvet cloth. The velvet tends to absorb the oil that was applied earlier on to the mirror. Hence, further polishing is continued on another dry piece of velvet.

The velvet cloth is placed on the ground and the mirror along with wooden blank is moved in the desired direction. Once satisfactory finish is achieved the disk is just heated to separate it from the wooden blank and the mirror is mounted on a brass fame.

see the Aranmula Mirror Making Videos

Why the aranmula mirror is costly?

Yes, the original and traditional aranmula mirror is costly. because of the amount of effort which it requires to make a aranmula kannadi.Time and patience is very much needed in the making of kannadi.we are following the genuine and traditional special process in its manufacturing. which is found in centuries ago.All the works are done by humans only. No machines are using for making of aranmula mirror. every aranmula mirror is a unique one, because of no machines are using there.

It will take 4-5 days to complete a mirror. and the metal combination for the mirror is very important.and out of the 5 mirrors, we will get only one without any diffect, all other 4 will be damaged and cannot be used. so the cost is for its manufacuring method, the dedication and the human effort for its traditional processing.

“Aranmula Kannadi is as beautiful and attractive as the glittering gold purified in fire”

A huge amount of determination, perseverance and patience goes into the making of this enchanting mirror. Mud from the local paddy fields is used for the mould into which the molten alloy mix is poured to cast the mirror and the technique followed is the cire-perdue or the lost wax method of casting. Even with the utmost care, only about 60% of the cast metal mirrors can be salvaged, the rest get damaged in the process of manufacture. The metal mirror is then polished using well-ground, burnt clay powder mixed with special oil on a jute cloth. To achieve a highly reflective surface, polishing can go on from one to several days. When a satisfactory finish is achieved, the mirror is mounted on various models of artistic brass frames.

“The reflections of the mirror had enthralled all its beholders. It mesmerizes everyone and shall continue to do so.”

Aranmula Kannadi is not mass produced and is hand made with all its perfections as how one looks at it? While commercially available glass mirrors reflect an image, because of a silver coating at its rear, Aranmula Metal Mirror is the only mirror which reflects from the front plane. This had its popularity until the advent of the commercially manufactured glass mirrors which proved to be much cheaper. The demand of Aranmula Kannadi grew by bounds only a decade ago especially in foreign countries.

What are the different models and its pricing?

Various models are available, and they are showcased in our Aranmula Kannadi online shop. we are constanlty updating the new models according to its availability and arrival of new models. You can see all the available models and order it online.Our dedicated staffs are always there to help you. The pricing of the mirror is according to the size of the mirror, and the design works and the shape of the mirror. price will be vary according to the total surface area of the mirror

Can i get a custom model of my own?

What if you have any custom design in your mind? Aranmula kannadi is coming in various models, most of them are inherited from the olden ages, but still you can make a custom made aranmula kannadi.what you need to do is, just send us the design in your mind, providing some sketches or models would be helpful for our skilled artisans to understand your idea. but custom made aranmula mirrors will take one to three months to complete. And it would be more costlier also.

We did many custom made models in past. On eof the most recent one was according to the request of the King of Baharin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.we made the custom made aranmula kannadi for his palace. that took two and a half month to complete and weighed over 7Kg.

Aranmula mirror is suitable for...

• Corporate Gifts and gifts for important and special guests
• Wedding Gifts / Wedding anniversary gifts/ Birthday gifts etc...
• House warming gifts
• As an antique many people buying it to showcase it in their offices and houses
• As its history is related to the parthasarahi temple, many people buying it to place in their pooja rooms
• Aranmula Mirror / Aranmula Kannadi is one among 8 auspicious items included famous astamagalaya set ,which usually used for very auspicious function like marriage.
• Aranmula Mirror is a must for Vishukkani ( along with the fruits, jewels, new dress etc...)
• It believes that keeping an aranmula mirror in home will bring Good luck, fame and money in to your home

ARANMULA MIRROR - HALL OF FAME

Aranmula Kannadi is gifted to Various Eminent Personalities both International and domestic. here is a few names among them.

• Dr.APJ ABDUL KALAM(Hon. Former Indian Predisent)
• Mrs. Prathibha Patil (Hon.Indian President)
• MANOJ NIGHT SHYAMALAN(  Script Writer and Director)
• SABEER BHATIA( inventor of hotmail - Computer Wizard)
• KARNAM MALLESWARI( Weightlifter)
• AK Antony ( Indian Defense Minister )
• Amitabh Bachchan(IndianFilm Star)
• N.R. NARAYANA MURTHY( Chairman of Infosys Technologies)
• Mrs. MALLIKA SARABHAI( kuchupidi & bharatanatyam dancer )
• K.Karunakaran ( Ex Hon Cheif Minister Kerala )
• Bharat Mammooty( Actor )
• Padmasree Yesudas ( Malayalam Singer)
• Dr.BALAMURALIKRISHNA( Singer, Composer, Instrumentalist)
• Mrs Sonia Gandthi( UPA Chair person )
• Mohan Lal ( National Award winner Malayalam Super Star)
• L.K ADVANI( BJP Leader )
• Sushma Swaraj (Former Information and Broadcasting Minister)
• Sri Murali Manohar Joshi( Former Human Resource minister)
• Sonu Nigam( Famous singer)
• K.K ( Indian Pop Star & Singer)
• Kamala Das / Madhavikutty ( Writer )

..And many others.. we will update the entire list soon.

How can i order an aranmula mirror ?

How to Order Aranmula Kannadi
How To Make Payments
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