This five faced image of the elephant god
Lord Ganesh closely resembles one of his classical forms which scriptures designate as Heramba Ganapati, a form conceived with five heads and eight to ten arms. Keeping vigil of all four directions with his four heads, and of the worlds below and above, with his fifth, and protecting them from all adversities, the five-headed Heramba Ganapati is worshipped as the 'Protector of all’, man or animal, rich or poor, and as the deity who bestows bliss all over. Adhering to iconographic norms of Heramba Ganapati form the anatomy of the Great Lord in this
wood statue has been conceived with five heads and ten arms, and with a complexion having moon-like soothing effect and gold-like lustre.
As is this image, Heramba Ganapati is one-tusked and is elaborately bejeweled, especially the ornaments on the neck and the breast. In different texts and traditions hardly any unanimity prevails in regard to attributes carried in various hands in any of his classical forms, though strangely, the attributes – noose, rosary, mace, mango, serpent, bell, tusk, dagger, banana-bud etc. that this image carries are almost the same as various texts have prescribed. A Heramba Ganapati carries some auspicious symbol – a ‘laddu’, pot, coconut or banana in his all five trunks. Deviating from the usual norms this statue carries in two side trunks banana buds, and in the central one, a sugar ball – ‘laddu’ while the other two are empty.
However, in the choice of mount this form of Lord Ganesh deviates from the Heramba Ganapati model. While Heramba Ganapati prefers a lion for his mount, this form of Ganesh has preferred his routine vehicle mouse to support his figure. Here the Great God has not been represented as seated on his mount. Instead of, he has just his left foot fixed on the hind part of the animal’s back, while the rest of his left leg, and the right, are curved to reveal a posture of dance. Even his mount mouse, as it appears from its raised muzzle and legs gesticulated to a rhythmic move, seems to be accompanying its lord in his enthusiasm and jubilation.
The mouse supports the figure of Lord Ganesh more like a pedestal and not like a mount that he rides. Maybe, a detached and unsupported figure of the elephant god, with a difficult and disproportioned iconography consisting of five heads and ten arms, could not be conveniently installed on the mouse’s back. Or, perhaps, the artist has so conceived his form that it revealed further symbolic width. The centrally located mouse has behind it a devotee figure, and in front, a floral creeper, all three combined symbolising the worlds of man, animal and nature which Lord Ganesh pervades. Riding his mount the Great Lord could pervade just the animal world but while dancing his figure expanded farther than the width of his mount and thus pervaded not merely the worlds of man, animal and nature but also all spaces below and above.
The ornamental tree under which the image of the Great Lord has been installed comprising stylised branches, twigs, leaves, flowers and fruits as also monkeys and parrots is symbolic of the entire nature. With the blessings of the Great God and in tune with his mood it bursts into innumerable forms and colours.
Click here to view a high resolution image of the sculpture (2.3 MB).
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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.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.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.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.
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.