Metal casting is an art practiced by members of the Stapathy community in southern India . Swamimalai, in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, is the main center for this art. The mould is prepared in different sections by hand, using an equal mixture of wax and a resinous substance called kungli. It is then joined to form the desired figure while leaving an aperture under the base for the wax to be drained off during the casting.

An alloy of 83% copper, 15% brass, 2% lead and traces of gold and silver known as panchaloha is used for casting the figure. Tradition stipulates the head of the idol be revealed first, once the process of casting is over. The figure which emerges is rough and uneven and is painstakingly filed and polished to a perfect shine.