Materials:
Coral
Turquoise
Seashell
Garnet
Copper

Dimensions & Weight:
Length: 8 inches
Width: 8 inches
Weight: 600 grams

Shipping Origin: Kathmandu, Nepal

Description:

Master Nepali craftsman created this exceptionally carved Ganesh metal hanging, intricately inlaid with coral, turquoise, and seashell.

Ganesh (expertly carved from turquoise) 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.

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.

In each upper corner of this hanging are Dankini (carved from seashell and adorned with garnets), muses for spiritual practice that carry the souls of the dead to the sky.

On the back is the symbol of Om. In Tibetan Buddhism, Om is often placed at the beginning of mantras. Probably the most well-known mantra is “Om mani padme hum,” the six syllable mantra of the Bodhisattva of compassion. Scholars interpret the first word of the mantra “Om mani padme hum” to be AUM – the totality of sound, existence, and consciousness. Om has been described by the 14th Dalai Lama as “composed of three pure letters: A, U, and M. These symbolize the impure body, speech, and mind of everyday unenlightened life of a practitioner; they also symbolize the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of an enlightened Buddha. Om is a part of many mantras in Tibetan Buddhism and is a symbol for wholeness, perfection and the infinite.

The detail and craftsmanship displayed in this unique Ganesh hanging is absolutely remarkable.