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Four armed Ganesa South India, c. 9th century
Bronze
Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection, 69.10
Ganesa, the popular elephant-headed Hindu deity, is the son of the Hindu god Siva and his
consort, Parvati. Ganesa is generally regarded as a mild and gentle deity, who is the
destroyer of obstacles and is worshipped as a deity of good fortune and auspicious
beginnings. He is shown in seated, standing, and dancing forms. While he always has an
elephant head, some attributes can vary from one image to another. His attributes visible
in this sculpture include a rosary, a snake serving as his sacred thread, a bowl of
sweetmeats, and his vehicle, the rat. The rat is a useful companion, as his small size
allows him to squeeze into tight spaces where Ganesa can’t go. Many images of Hindu
deities combine life forms, such as animal and human, male and female, even plant and
human. As worship of Hindu deities begins with Ganesa; you will find his image in many
temples devoted to another main deity. His image is also often found on doorways or gates,
as he is associated with crossing thresholds as well as with beginnings. |
