Ah
the glory and splendor of the dancing Ganesha! Ganesha the most widely worshipped
god in the Hindu pantheon, adored by Hindus, Buddhists and Jainists alike. The
elephant headed god appears in India before even Shiva, and is a bringer of good
fortune and wisdom, a remover of obstacles who is called upon at the beginning
of a journey or a new venture. He is also the protector of knowledge, books and
education. Ganesha is also deeply associated with the roots chakra our connection,
to Earth and vital sustenance in the material plane.
The
distinctive Chola style emerged during the reign of Aditya Chola (870-906 AD)
and is characterized by a sensuous beauty, geometrical perfection, powerful presence
and an intricacy of design. Originally statues such as this exquisite bronze were
created as ceremonial deities that were kept inside the inner sanctum of the temple
and only brought out for ceremony and festivals.
This
resplendent four-armed dancing Ganesha evokes the attributes of the god in dynamic
beauty and motion. Traditionally, Ganesha will hold different icons according
to the form he is assuming. Here the noose indicates his ability to draw close
those he loves most dearly and to encircle and save those who stray. The lotus
bud is a symbols of his deep spiritual knowledge, the conch his ability to immediately
clear the air of obstacles. The fine engraved detail on this statue is distinctive
to the Chola style. The statue is placed in the early 1900s, and uses the lost
wax process which retains the highly refined detailed of the Chola original, this
statue is in excellent condition, a dynamic beautiful example of wealth, prosperity
and spiritual insight in motion. (SD)
