Lord of Auspices Ganesha with Lakshmi and Saraswati

$5825
Item Code: EP80
Specifications:
South Indian Temple Wood Carving
Height: 84 inch
Width: 27.5 inch
Depth: 9 inch
Weight: 88 kg
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
This wood-statue, a work of art with great distinction: every detail carved with unique precision, minuteness and life-like vigour, represents Lord Ganesha along with Lakshmi and Saraswati. All three images, the larger one of Ganesha and the smaller subordinate icons of Lakshmi and Saraswati, enshrine two independent divisions of the Prabhavali, a temple’s manifestation. The six-armed Ganesha, carrying in them elephant goad, noose, broken tusk, mace, mango and serpent, occupies the Prabhavali’s centre : its focal point, and is obviously its presiding deity. Lakshmi and Saraswati, both four-armed and both seated in ‘lalitasana’, though the position of legs being diagonally opposite, occupy the Prabhavali’s bottom niche : ‘upa-vedika’, the sub-sanctum, under the main seat that Lord Ganesha enshrines. With his entire figure tossed into air, except his right foot which rests on the back of the tiny mouse, his mount, he is engaged in the vigorous dance. The figure of Lakshmi carved on the bottom’s right is bestowing ‘abhaya’ – fearlessness, and ‘varada’ – bliss, and Saraswati is playing on her ‘Vina’ : lyre. In other two hands Lakshmi is carrying two lotuses, one in each, while Saraswati, ‘japamala’ – rosary, and ‘pustaka’ – book.

This statue is one of the most accomplished examples of Ganesha’s image not merely formally because of its fine execution, technical maturity and sensitive treatment of the subject but also in its mysticism, benignity and power to effect greater good. Infusion of dance into his figure and inclusion of the images of Lakshmi and Saraswati impart to the image of Ganesha rare distinction. Dance is not a mere body posture and certainly not in relation to Ganesha’s images; dance, the essence of Lord Ganesha, infused into his being adds great dimensional breadth to his image not merely by dramatizing it but also by accelerating the pace of his benevolence and kindling his inherent energies to effect greater auspiciousness and benignity. Dance multiplies pace and movement and correspondingly multiplies the volume of Ganesha’s bliss and good that he imparts. He dances to pervade the entire cosmos and thus his benevolence reaches its every part.

The form of Lord Ganesha with Lakshmi is one of his early thirty-two classical forms identified as Lakshmi Ganapati. However, this classical form of Lakshmi Ganapati is a different manifestation of Lord Ganesha. In this classical form Lakshmi is symbolically represented by either, or by both, of Riddhi and Siddhi, and represented as seated on his thigh/thighs they appear as components of the iconography of Lord Ganesha, not independent of him as are the images of Lakshmi and Saraswati in this wood-piece. Assimilation of the images of Lakshmi, representing abundance, accomplishment, prosperity and fertility, and Saraswati, representing wisdom, literature, art, music, culture and creativity, carved independent of Ganapati though along him, not only makes this wood-statue of Lord Ganesha as his most accomplished form but has also dually mystic dimensions. The Ganapati cult, giving a little edge over Lakshmi, acclaims that Lakshmi better effects accomplishment and bestows prosperity and abundance when Ganesha keeps her path detriments-free, that is, she would not be so effective if Lord Ganesha did not exert his influence. Those on the other side say that with Lakshmi being with him Lord Ganesha’s benevolence, benignity and all his goodness are by themselves multiplied.

The classical tradition of Ganesha does not allude to a twin-form of Ganesha and Saraswati, though in recent days, say for about a century or two, this image-form emerged with same thrust as Lakshmi-Ganesha form, and as the images of Lakshmi and Ganesha are worshipped together on the festival of Diwali, the images of Ganesha and Saraswati are worshipped jointly on Vasanta-panchami. Those giving priority to Ganesha assert that Saraswati’s worship would not yield fruits if Ganesha is not worshipped before. Hence, a child’s first day of schooling begins with the worship of Ganesha, and Saraswati only follows. The significance of Ganesha in context to Saraswati is deeper other way also. She represents softer and more delicate aspects : art, literature, music, culture’s other avenues, and entire creativity. These aspects, delicate as they are, are hardly detriment-resistant. Even an ordinary disturbance or obstacle distracts the mind from it. Hence, unless Ganesha keeps obstacles away, Saraswati might hardly function.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.


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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. 

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