Ganesha is popular as the son of the great goddess Parvati, the counterpart of the great Siva. But his claim to fame is his helpfulness in overcoming difficulties and his benevolence.
The iconographic treatise describes the Nrtya Ganapati as golden colored (pitaprabham). The artist follows this color symbolism here and shows Ganesha dancing on a round pedestal. He matches Shiva Nataraja in the most subtle postures of the dance. Ganesha is dressed in a loincloth whose festoons fall on his thighs. He has tied a serpent around his abdomen in the form of a belt. He wears a karandamukuta and bracelets & armlets in his arms. Strings of pearls adorn his neck & chest. In this dancing posture, he raises his left leg and bends it inwards. With the tip of his trunk, he holds a small vase filled with precious stones. This ratnapatra or manikumbha contains precious stones symbolizing Ganesha as the protector of wealth. The four-armed Ganesha holds a noose in his upper left hand. The noose helps us to control human passions. In the upper right hands he holds the elephant goad. The normal two hands hold a fruit and vegetable. The right hand holds a black radish & the left holds the citron.
On the deep red background with black crackle stands proudly this golden dancing Ganesha making the world dance to his tune.
This description by Kiranjyot
Of Related Interest:
How Ganesha Got a Snake Around his Body
The Story Behind Ganesha's Dance
Click Here to read the Article: Ganesha - the Elephant Headed God, Art and Mythology
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