Simha Ganesha

$2520
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12 to 16 weeks
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$504 (20%)
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$2016
Item Code: RE10
Specifications:
South Indian Temple Wood Carving
Height: 44 inch
Width: 22.5 inch
Depth: 8 inch
Weight: 28.60 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 six-armed standing image of Lord Ganesha installed on a lion is close to his form classified in Puranas, more particularly, the Maudagalya Purana, as Simha Ganapati. Carved out of fine Kala Korchi timber with subtle details, exceptional finish, and great magnificence and lustre the statue is an outstanding work of woodcraft. Its aesthetic merit and craftsmanship apart, the image is endowed with divine aura and is capable of charging the ambience with a sense of spirituality. Prabhavali – fire-arch, which houses the image, is symbolic of the ambience around. Consisting of stylised floral creeper it represents creation and perpetuation of life. The’kirtimukha’, which tops the fire-arch, stands for auspicious and good suggesting that good and auspicious shall prevail if Lord Ganesha pervades it. The fire-arch emerges from a lotus base, symbolic of purity, and rises through an architectural form looking like a shrine’s entrance, symbolic of devotion, that is, where there is purity and devotion, Lord Ganesha shall pervade and shall lead to good and auspiciousness, as also to success and victories.

Simha Ganapati, as the epithet means, is the form in which lion is essentially associated with the iconography of Lord Ganesha. The lion icon sometimes alternates mouse, the usual mount of Lord Ganesha, as his mount, though in some cases the lion’s presence is just symbolical. In such symbolic manifestations of Simha Ganapati the Great Lord is seen carrying just a mini lion icon in one of his his hands. Besides auspiciousness and supreme wisdom that Lord Ganesha represents in his all manifest forms, his Simha Ganapati form, strength, formidability and fearlessness being the attributes of lion, assures victories and success and generates a feeling of confidence in adversities of all kinds.

Symbolically as well as in theological tradition the lion’s links with Lord Ganrsh are inherent and quite intimate. Lion that stands for strength, formidability and fearlessness is the vehicle of Parvati, his mother, the primordial cosmic energy believed to have eliminated on one hand evil forces, and on the other, to have enlivened enertness and lifeless matter. Lion, her vehicle and thus her constant companion in her battles against evil, is the instrument of victories, perpetuation of good and elimination of evil. Not merely that the sportive Ganesha delighted in taking away and riding his parents’ mounts, Lord’s Shiva’s bull and Parvati’s lion, as is narrated in various myths, he also assimilated symbolically their attributes into his being, the lion’s strength, formidability and dauntlessness, and the bull’s inherent nature to always move ahead. Simha Ganapati is his manifestation in which the Great God synthesises with auspiciousness and supreme wisdom strength, formidability and fearlessness and emerges as the supreme divine tool to lead to victories and success in all walks of life.

In deviation from the usual Simha Ganapati form which perceives the deity as seated on the lion, more often in ’lalitasana’ – one leg laid horizontally on the lion’s back, and the other, suspending to the ground, and sometimes in semi-’yogasana’, this wood-statue represents him as standing on the lion’s back, perhaps for emphasising his readiness to charge on his devotees’ adversities and foes. Simha Ganapati is essentially multi-armed usually having eight arms, though in this statue the image is just six-armed, the form of Kshipra Prasad Ganapati. A pot of jewels and a 'Kalpavriksha' sprig, the more usual attributes of Simha Ganapati iconography, are missing or alternated with a beaded bracelet and banana bud and fruit in this representation. This statue carries instead in upper right and left hands lotus and noose, the symbols of purity and self restraint, in middle right and left hands, banana-bud and banana fruits, the symbol of auspicious beginning and perpetuation of auspiciousness, and in lower right and left hands, a beaded bracelet and a mace, the symbols of riches and might. The lower right hand also has a serpent rising from it. The serpent symbolises long life and life’s perpetuation. Pure wood colour of the statue corresponds to white body colour which texts prescribe as the body colour of Simha Ganapati.

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.


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Sculpting Serenity: Unveiling the Art of Crafting Wood Statues

Wood has been a preferred material for sculptures and statues since ancient times. It is easy to work with than most metals and stones and therefore requires less effort to shape it into any desired shape or form. The texture of the wood gives an element of realism to the sculpture. The selection of an appropriate wood type is necessary for carving. Woods that are too resinous or coniferous are not considered good for carving as their fiber is very soft and thus lacks strength. On the other hand, wood such as Mahogany, Oakwood, Walnut wood, Weet cherry wood, etc., are preferred by sculptors because their fiber is harder. A wood sculptor uses various tools such as a pointed chisel in one hand and a mallet in another to bring the wood to the desired measurement and to make intricate details on it. A carving knife is used to cut and smooth the wood. Other tools such as the gouge, V-tool, and coping saw also serve as important tools in wood carving. Although the wood carving technique is not as complex and tough as stone carving or metal sculpting, nonetheless, a wood carver requires a high level of skills and expertise to create a stunning sculpture.

1. Selecting the right wood

The process of wood carving begins with selecting a chunk of wood that is required according to the type and shape of the statue to be created by the sculptor. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for making artistic pieces, however, hardwoods are preferred more than softer woods because of their durability and longevity. But if heavy detailing is to be done on the statue, wood with fine grain would be needed as it would be difficult to work with hardwood.
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2. Shaping the wood

Once the wood type is selected, the wood carver begins the general shaping process using gouges of various sizes. A gouge is a tool having a curved cutting edge which is useful in removing large unwanted portions of wood easily without splitting the wood. The sculptor always carves the wood across the grain of the wood and not against it.
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3. Adding detailing

When a refined shape of the statue is obtained, it is time for making details on the statue using different tools. This is achieved by using tools such as a veiner to make and a V-tool to create decorative and sharp cuts.
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4. Surface finishing

Once finer details have been added, the sculptor is ready to smoothen the surface and give it a perfect finish. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are used to get a smooth surface. The finer polishing is obtained by rubbing the surface with sandpaper. If a textured surface is required, this step is skipped. Finally, to protect the statue from excessive dirt accumulation, the sculptor applies natural oils such as walnut or linseed oil all over it. This also brings a natural sheen to the statue.
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How to care for Wood Statues?


Wood is extensively used in sculpting especially in countries like China, Germany, and Japan. One feature that makes the wood extremely suitable for making statues and sculptures is that it is light and can take very fine detail. It is easier for artists to work with wood than with other materials such as metal or stone. Both hardwoods, as well as softwood, are used for making sculptures. Wood is mainly used for indoor sculptures because it is not as durable as stone. Changes in weather cause wooden sculptures to split or be attacked by insects or fungus. The principal woods for making sculptures and statues are cedar, pine, walnut, oak, and mahogany. The most common technique that sculptors use to make sculptures out of wood is carving with a chisel and a mallet. Since wooden statues are prone to damage, fire, and rot, they require proper care and maintenance.

 

  • Wood tends to expand and contract even after it has been processed, thus it is always recommended to keep the wooden sculptures in rooms with little humidity. Excess moisture can harm your masterpiece.

 

  • Periodical dusting of the finished piece is necessary to maintain its beauty as dust accumulation on the surface takes away the shine of the sculpture. You can use a clean and soft cloth or a hairbrush for this purpose.

 

  • You must avoid applying any chemical-based solutions that may damage the wood from the inside. Instead, you can apply lemon oil or coconut oil using a cotton rag to the sculpture to bring out its natural shine. Lemon oil also helps to clean any stains on the sculpture.

 

  • Applying a layer of beeswax protects the wood from sun damage and hides even the smallest imperfections on the wood.

 

It is extremely important to preserve and protect wooden sculptures with proper care. A little carelessness and negligence can lead to their decay, resulting in losing all their beauty and strength. Therefore, a regular clean-up of the sculptures is a must to prolong their age and to maintain their shine and luster. 

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