The Dancing Prince Of Paraloka, Lord Ganesha

The sublime chhavi of the nrtya Ganesha. The son of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati dances in the heavens, the image of which is captured upon this elegant wooden pedestal. Upon the same rests the foot of a single leg, while the other is bent and raised mid-air in the middle of a step. He is ashtabhujadhari, the one possessed of (‘dhari’) eight (‘ashta’) arms (‘bhuja’); the stance and mudra of each as they flay about Him adding to His divine stance.

The characteristically chubby form of a child. A short dhoti held around the hips by a girdle, as is the norm with young Indian boys. The ends of the angavastram on either side of Him. Hints of shringar on the torso. The head of Lord Ganesha is the most striking aspect of His iconography, and the murti that you see on this page is no exception. In fact, from the eyes and the ears to the way the silhouette of the skull tapers down to a long, slender trunk, the same has been carved with a great deal of precision and lifelike detail.

Through the mossy, charmingly weatherbeaten finish, one could make out the symmetry of the engravings and the attention to detail stemming from superior workmanship. For example, note the serrations on the Lord’s trunk and the gentle grip of His hands on those weapons.