Artists experiment with forms; in case of Lord Ganesha, it is him who experiments with the artists’ power to innovate challenging them to discover a form that the elephant headed god has not assumed before, and every time their imagination falls short and the forms of Ganesha outreach it. The artist of this cute tiny bronze statue has, however, baffled the Great God and arrested him into a form before he could take to it of his own and defeat his effort to innovate a new form. Not merely that the artist has discovered a new theme for his figure of Lord Ganesha, he has made a notable shift in his iconographic vision too. A pot-belly and elephant head apart, he has conceived his figure with normal two arms, not four or more with which his statues are usually conceived, nor various arms and attributes carried in them. Alike, his trunk is neither laid on his chest nor it is turned to left as it usually does. It is rather upwards raised. He is putting on his usual ornaments and a loincloth but the most essential of them all, his towering crown which is also his helmet, is missing.
For giving his figure the look of one toiling hard for pulling forward a cart the artist has completely revolutionized the form of Lord Ganesha. An ordinary being with his divinity shed, Lord Ganesha has been endowed with normal two arms, not four or more, and those too, not with any divine attributes in them. Turned to his back where they hold a chain these hands are dragging a cart on which his lavishly bejeweled mount mouse rides. With his left foot placed ahead of the right, his figure is making a forward thrust. His posture, especially the suppressed left knee, reveals strain of toiling hard. In the process both his belly and hips inflate and the stress reflects also on his face. This stress reflects also in the action of his trunk. Usually when enraged, sporting or toiling hard an elephant identically raises its trunk.
With its upwards raised muzzle the mouse is looking at its master, perhaps with indebtedness for his compassionate treatment of it. Symbolically, with his rare divinity Lord Ganesha leads even the most humble creature like a mouse to a divine destination redeeming it from every kind of bondage. The statue seems to relate to a lesser known myth according to which the mouse that served Ganesha as his mount was a demon by the name Musaka. While it was doing a mischief Lord Ganesha caught hold of it and subdued it. Redeemed of its evil nature Musaka prayed Lord Ganesha to take it into his service. Lord Ganesha granted his prayer and nominated it as his ‘vahana’ – vehicle. This origin of the mouse that Lord Ganesha rides gives it its tremendous might to carry over its tiny figure the massive form of Lord Ganesha. Symbolically the statue represents Lord Ganesha leading Musaka to his destination : his redemption.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.
Click Here to View the Reverse of this sculpture.
How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?
Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.
Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.
In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.
Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.
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