Ganesha is one of the most widely known deities of the Indian cultural sphere. In tantric Buddhism, he is known under the name Vinayaka and is likewise revered as a guardian and remover of obstacles.
The statue depicts Ganesha seated in a relaxed posture, lalita asana, on a lotus pedestal. The upper body is upright and frontally oriented, the expression calm and composed. He wears a jewel-set crown, ratna mukuta, and a third eye is shown on his forehead. The figure is rendered with four arms. In the upper left hand, Ganesha holds an axe, a traditional attribute associated with the symbolic removal of obstacles. The lower left hand holds sweets (laddu), on which the trunk rests. On the right side, he carries a rosary as well as a radish, a motif commonly found in regional representations. Around his neck, Ganesha wears a mala rendered in the form of a snake; the head of the snake is visible at the level of the navel. Beside the left knee sits the rat, Ganesha’s mount.
The garment and the lotus pedestal are decorated with filigree work. Fine wires have been bent into spiral forms, filled with small arched elements, and assembled into continuous patterns. Coloured stones accentuate the ornament and form floral motifs. A Dzi bead is set at the left foot. Along the lower edge of the lotus pedestal runs a band of set stones. The statue is worked all around and is intended for freestanding presentation.
The depiction stands within the tradition of Buddhist and Hindu iconography.
Statue in copper, traditional lost-wax cast, decorated with fine filigree, gold- and silver-plated, set with colored stones. The figure is patinated. The face is set in gold. Handcrafted in Nepal.
NOTE
The face painting is a cold gold application and water-soluble.
Yala Craft by Shanta is an Asian company based in Germany. I sell my traditional Buddhist sculpture art, created in my own workshop in Nepal.