Goddess Ganga on Her Mount Crocodile

$1150
Item Code: XF04
Specifications:
White Marble Sculpture
Height: 15.2 inch
Width: 14.2 inch
Depth: 5 inch
Weight: 14 kg
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
This sublime figure commanding reverence, carved from a block of white marble endowed with moon-like lustre, represents the four-armed river goddess Ganga riding her mount crocodile. A blend of two techniques : sculpting and painting, the statue is unique in both, its finish – the work of chisel and hammer, and its brilliance and resplendence – the work of brush, revealing conjointly unearthly beauty and divine aura. In her upwards raised two hands, other than her normal two, the figure of the goddess is holding a pair of golden pots symbolic of both, abundant of life which the water contained in them symbolises, and abundant riches of which a gold pot is a universal symbol. But for its aesthetic aspect for the pots with lotuses and coconuts on them flanking her face on either side would have encumbered her personal appearance by their volume, the artist preferred carving simple ‘ghatas’ – pots, not ‘purna-ghatas’, pots with a lotuses and coconuts on their tops, the more usual attributes of the icons of the river goddess Ganga.

Relatively small these brilliant tiny pots on the right and left of her face, a lustrous crown on the upper side and a resplendent gold necklace and other jewels under it, framing her face from all four sides, add to her beautifully sculpted face greater beauty than it would have otherwise had. Goddess Ganga ensures absolute accomplishment of the desired; correspondingly, the images of the river goddess, exactly as this marble image, are conceived as bestowing every kind of bliss on her devotees. Accordingly, of her normal two hands the artist has carved her right, as held in ‘abhaya’, the gesture granting freedom from fear, and the left, in ‘varad’, assuring accomplishment. Under the most prevalent myth in regard to Ganga’s emergence on the earth, Ganga is believed to have been released by Brahma from his kamandala – a pot with a handle and spout. Thus, a symbol of her origin, far from an auspicious motif, the pot has a very special significance in the iconography of the river goddess.

Though a subordinate divinity, Ganga has been in wider worship in the Hindu pantheon across centuries than any other divinity for besides directly worshipped almost all major Hindu rituals were accomplished only after Ganga was commemorated and a little of her water purified the mind performing a rite, the ground and the entire ambience where it was performed and the material used in performing it by sprinkling a little of her water. Since times immemorial, Ganga, from Gangotri, its origin, to the Bay of Bengal where she merges into the sea, has been the seat of numerous sages and penance-doers who, irrespective of the divinity, or the sectarian line, they dedicated their penance to, began their morning by reciting a Ganga hymn or ‘mantra’ and taking a dip into her waters believing that Ganga is the most bounteous of all goddesses and would purify them, their body and mind, and help accomplish their austerities. It is not in view of her links with Vishnu as one of his wives, Ganga is the supreme goddess of fertility, giver of riches and prosperity, and the greatest of redeemers for, besides her spiritualism, Ganga also has a manifest presence as the great river performing a bounteous role in her physical form.

As regards the inclusion of ‘makara’ – crocodile, as her mount she is seated on, this sculpture of the goddess has reflection of medieval iconography where crocodile determines her identity as Ganga. However, this form of the goddess, abounding in great divinity and aura commanding great reverence, such as her figures in medieval sculptures did not have, is widely different from its medieval counterparts. In medieval temples she was in a widely different role. She often defined in medieval architecture a temple’s entrance as its guard or doorjamb-deity. She was often sculpted on the temple’s doorjamb as carrying a parasol and as standing on the figure of a crocodile with attendants around. The Puranas talk of Ganga’s unparalleled beauty as a celestial nymph of heaven that bewitches even Vishnu. It is this Puranic vision of her beauty that the sculptor of this statue seems to have packed into his image of the goddess. Sharp features, rounded face, highly balanced anatomy, large fingers, lustrous palms, usual ornaments : a dome-like moulded crown and heavy gold jewellery, besides her brilliant costume, all conform to the standard iconographic norms of the deity’s image. She is seated on her mount in ‘lalitasana’, a sitting posture revealing great beauty.

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.

How to clean and maintain marble statues?


Marble has been a preferred material for sculptors and artists for more than a thousand years. It is a rock that undergoes metamorphism which causes recrystallization of the original carbonate mineral grains. Marble comes in various colors, designs, and dimensions. Pure white marble is the most preferred type of marble for making sculptures and statues since time immemorial. White marble is especially used for sculpting stone monumental sculptures since ancient times. The natural shine and luster of the carbonate crystals of white marble give a lavish and beautiful appearance to the statue.

 

Marble stone statues are highly durable and can even withstand harsh weather conditions without getting corroded, therefore, they can be kept indoors or outdoors without getting damaged or weathered. Although these statues can last for many decades, their regular care and cleaning are essential to increase their longevity and beautiful appearance.


  • The simplest and basic way of cleaning a marble stone statue is to clear away dirt accumulated on the surface. Outdoor statues are especially prone to biological growth and dirt build-up that may take away their natural beauty. You may rinse the statue with warm water and mild soap to clean the dirt as much as possible. You can use a sponge or cotton cloth to scrape off dirt accumulated in crevices and cracks.

 

  • You must never allow water to stand on the surface of the statue for a long time. Standing water gets absorbed by the marble’s porous surface which results in its discoloration. Therefore, it is always recommended to dry-clean the statue with a towel or damp cloth.

 

  • Applying beeswax, a non-toxic product, on the surface of the marble statue offers protection against staining, dirt, and pollutants. It also polishes the surface and gives a natural shine to the statue.

 

Marble statues need periodical cleaning to maintain their flawless look. However, harsh and deep cleaning can result in making the statue look dull. If your marble statue is withering away, it is recommended to take the help of a professional cleaner. Marble is a delicate material and therefore needs proper care.

Marble Mastery Unveiled: The Artisan's Symphony in Sculpting Timeless Beauty

Marble is a soft and delicate metamorphic rock derived from limestone. It is composed mainly of recrystallized carbonate minerals. The appealing appearance of marble gives rise to the making of beautiful sculptures and statues. Jaipur city of Rajasthan, India, is considered the capital of marble carving where various marble idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are made. These magnificent statues are carved by skilled sculptors out of the purest white marble. The slight softness of white marble makes it easier to be carved and chiseled into any desirable form or shape. Another impressive feature of marble is that the calcite has a low refractive index that allows light to penetrate the stone before getting scattered out. This results in bringing a translucent appearance and luster to the marble sculpture. This is the reason why most sculptors prefer to work with marble for sculpting life-size statues that require intricate details, evoking a certain realism to the work.

There is a detailed or step-by-step process of developing the desired structure of a sculpture from marble stone. These steps are:

1. Clay mould

Most sculptors prefer to sculpt a preliminary model out of clay or wax to translate its complex and intricate details into the final stone sculpture with the use of calipers or a pointing machine. The plasticity of the clay mould helps sculptors capture the success of the final sculpture before carving the stone. The clay is moulded into the desired shape or form and this acts as a rough
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2. Roughing out

The second step of carving or sculpting is to remove large portions of unwanted marble stone. This task is done by using a special tool known as a point chisel. The pointed end of this tool is useful for splitting the large stone and removing big chunks that are not wanted. Usually, a mallet (a tool similar to a hammer) is used to transfer energy through the chisel to shatter the stone evenly and accurately.
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3. Refining the figure

Once the sculptors have determined the general shape of the sculpture, a toothed chisel or claw chisel is used to refine the stone. These tools create parallel lines in the stone to add texture to the figure. During this stage, the rough block of stone has now changed into the general shape of the sculpture.
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4. Adding the details

The sculptor is now ready to carry out detailed work to develop a more refined form of the sculpture. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are then used to enhance the shape into its final form. These tools finely create details such as frills or folds of clothing or locks of hair.
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5. Polishing

This is the last step in marble sculpting in which the sculptor uses materials such as sandpaper to bring out a natural sheen to the sculpture. The sandpaper is rubbed against the surface to make it smoother and flawless. Sometimes, tin oxide is also used to make the sculpture appear glossy and more translucent.
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Marble sculptures are highly durable and can last for many decades if maintained and taken care of properly. They are also extremely weather-resistant and therefore, can be kept outdoors or indoors. The exquisite beauty of marble statues elevates the aura of the space and emanates positivity all around.
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