Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

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Figure of Ganesha

Glossary

Ganesha

  • Ganesha

    Chubby elephant-headed Hindu deity and son of Shiva and Parvati. He is the god of wisdom, bestower of wealth, and remover of obstacles who is invoked at the beginning of any enterprise.

Location

    • First floor | Room 32 | India from 600

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Publications online

  • Indian Art in the Ashmolean Museum by J. C. Harle and Andrew Topsfield

    Indian Art in the Ashmolean Museum

    Gaṇeśa, the elephant-headed god, is four armed and seated in a relaxed position (lalitāsana), one leg drawn up on his lotus pedestal, the other hanging down as much as the god’s excessive chubbiness will permit. His vehicle, variously described as a rat, mouse or shrew, near his right foot, gazes up at him. As in [EA1980.64], the god’s crown appears to be interwoven with his long locks of hair (?) into a jạtā-mukuṭa. In his lower right hand he holds the broken end of his right tusk, in his left is the bowl from which Gaṇeśa, as in almost all images of this god, is picking some little round cakes with his trunk. His left rear hand holds the axe (paraśu), the right what is probably a radish (mūlaka) with a little hooded serpent head beside it.

    Below the circular lotus pedestal is a stepped, four legged throne and there is a drop-shaped bezel for a jewel near the apex of the prabhāvali.
  • Indian Art in the Ashmolean Museum by J. C. Harle and Andrew Topsfield

    Indian Art in the Ashmolean Museum

    Gaṇeśa, the elephant-headed god, is four armed and seated in a relaxed position (lalitāsana), one leg drawn up on his lotus pedestal, the other hanging down as much as the god’s excessive chubbiness will permit. His vehicle, variously described as a rat, mouse or shrew, near his right foot, gazes up at him. As in [EA1980.64], the god’s crown appears to be interwoven with his long locks of hair (?) into a jạtā-mukuṭa. In his lower right hand he holds the broken end of his right tusk, in his left is the bowl from which Gaṇeśa, as in almost all images of this god, is picking some little round cakes with his trunk. His left rear hand holds the axe (paraśu), the right what is probably a radish (mūlaka) with a little hooded serpent head beside it.

    Below the circular lotus pedestal is a stepped, four legged throne and there is a drop-shaped bezel for a jewel near the apex of the prabhāvali.

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