A posture, the one like ‘lalitasana’ revealing great aesthetic beauty, the lower part of his figure, except his left foot, sprawls in comfort and ease, and effortlessly, upon the chowki he is sitting on. Chowki is not however the limit to his massive form. His left foot, sash-end and a part of antariya – lower garments, extend beyond it and reach the ground. His upwards raised left leg with knee supporting on it one of his left arms and the foot coming down to the ground afford to his form rhythmic dimensions. Inner bliss reflecting on his face, contentment and absolute ease define the mood and demeanour of the great Lord. There reigns on his face benign sublimity and great composure. For depicting him in such absolutely relaxed mood and sublimity the artist has conceived his trunk as subdued giving greater prominence to the human dimensions of his face and figure which better reveal such aspects.
The style of turban that he is wearing along with a beautiful crest comprising laces of pearls, a large ruby and a couple of emeralds, tripunda mark and a bindi on his forehead, palms and feet dyed with henna, and the form of his eyes further enhance human dimensions of the iconography of the elephant-headed god. A normally conceived anatomy, neither an extra-protruded large belly nor a massively conceived trunk affects its proportion. Besides his pleasant body colour, his loosely worn yellow antariya, gold-bordered green waistband, not a snake comprising it, and gold-embroidered sash supported on his left arm and elegantly carried over his right shoulder, all add to the divine dimensions of the great Lord. A pair of simple cotton threads comprises his yajnopavit and, instead of carrying weapons of war, barring a battle-axe, his principal attribute, he is carrying a lotus revealing great beauty and symbolising accomplishment of all that is desired, besides abundance and prosperity. Though stylised and symmetrically raised, banana-plants on either side impart to the image further divinity.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.
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