The Uttarakamikagama text provides sufficient details of the iconography of
Vinayaka. According to this text, Vinayaka, the chief of the ganas, has an
elephant face, a protruding belly, has four arms, single tusk and ears like
fans. He is seated over a lotus seat. He is holding an elephant goad and a
noose and his right hand is hold in the posture of granting boons.
In the cosmic milieu, lotus is considered sacred. Generally Goddess Lakshmi
is associated with the flower which is also the emblem of Brahma. Ganesha is
sometimes associated with Lakshmi, as he holds padma, the lotus in one hand
besides his other attributes. He is shown wearing rich ornaments on each
part of his body. With the passage of time, his terraced crown (karanda
mukuta) became extremely ornate leaving its original character. Resting
against a bolster, he looks at his devotees with benevolent eyes. His
forehead is decorated with the tilakam of Shiva, beneath which is the symbol
of Aum. His right hand raised in abhaya mudra depicts the swastika symbol,
which is a mystical mark to denote good luck.
His lotus seat floats in a lotus pond of buds and leaves and blue rippling
water. On one lotus leaf is seen the mushaka, his vehicle, holding a modaka
(sweet) for his master.
This description by Renu Rana.
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These unique artworks come along with a suitable gift box, and also
a wooden stand - as shown in the accompanying image on the left. |