Materials:

Gold-plated copper

Himalayan crystal

Coral

Lapis Lazuli

Turquoise

Dimensions & Weight:

Height: 4 inches

Width: 2.2 inches

Depth: 1.3 inches

Weight: 150 grams

Shipping Origin: Kathmandu, Nepal

Description:

Master Nepali craftsman created this exceptional gilt Ganesh statue with a hand-carved Himalayan crystal head and insets of coral, lapis lazuli, and turquoise in his crown.

Ganesh is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings he is honored at the start of rites and ceremonies. Ganesh is also invoked as patron of letters and learning during writing sessions.

Ganesh has twelve arms which each carry symbolic Hindu ornaments – discus, dorje, sword, ax, drum, fly whisk, bow, arrow, staff, and skull cap.

The most recurrent motif in these stories is that Ganesh was created by Parvati using clay to protect her, and Shiva beheaded his when Ganesh came between Shiva and Parvati. Shiva then replaced Ganesh’s original head with that of an elephant. Another story says that Ganesh was created directly by Shiva’s laughter. Because Shiva considered Ganesh too alluring, he gave him the head of an elephant and a protruding belly.

Ganesh is most often shown riding on or attended by a mouse, shrew or rat at his feet – his vahana (mount/vehicle) in his last incarnation.