The triad of three great pillars of Hinduism, namely, Satgurus, Temples and Scriptures, together echo the greatness of the loving god Ganesha, the lord of dharma and the son of Siva. This wooden statue of Ganesha sits in utkutakasana on his sacred vehicle, rat (mooshak), standing on a curiously carved lotus pedestal. The black mouse carries him into the mind’s every nook and cranny, having laid a golden carved cloth on its back and a bell tied to the neck. The lord of happy manifestation is decked up with red poster color, symbolic of his youthfulness and activeness and wears an orange colored self patterned vestment with parsley patches all over. The lambodara carries an ankusa to goad forward the slowly moving souls in his left rear hand and parasvadha (battleaxe) as a mind force in his right rear hand; left front hand holds the laddoo and right is in vitarka mudra; bedecked in 24 karat gold foil work, wears attractive jewels and has flower motifs all over the body. The trunk in valampuri pose has a special wreathing of flowers and petals. The marvelous golden crown has a three layered circular top and a complementing halo with a flower pattern at the back. This supreme god is often worshipped with raktachandan (red sandalwood paste) or red flowers, because of his identification with red color.
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.
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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