Mushaka vahana means "having a mouse or rat for a vehicle".
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Comic Book Art
Wanting a child and helper, the Goddess, Shri Parvati created a boy out of fragrant paste. Thus Shri Ganesha had a virgin birth, like Lord Jesus. Later His head was replaced with the head of an elephant, signifying wisdom and lack of ego.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
With Family
Miniature Painting
South Indian Painting
Shri Ganesha with his parents Shri Shiva Parvati and brother Shri Kartikeya.
These paintings also depict the respective animal vahanas (vehicles) of the Holy Family:
Shiva - Bull, Shakti - Tiger, Kartikeya - peacock, Ganesha - rat.
These paintings also depict the respective animal vahanas (vehicles) of the Holy Family:
Shiva - Bull, Shakti - Tiger, Kartikeya - peacock, Ganesha - rat.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Mushaka
Statue of the Mushaka (mouse or rat), vehicle of Shri Ganesha, before the Ganesha Swayambhu temple at Ganapatipule, on the coast of Maharashtra, India.
The Mouse Chief Reepicheep from CS Lewis' Prince Caspian.
Though apparently meek and insignificant, mice represent the power of Innocence and Humility to pervade - rodents are able to infiltrate places inaccessible to larger creatures. Walls are no obstacle to them. Mice are a recurring motif in children's stories.
Lamp with mushaka, used for performing Aarti (waving of lamp) to Shri Ganesha.
Eco-friendly Idol
Each year on Anant Chaturdashi, the last day of the Hindu festival of Ganeshotsav, countless idols of Lord Ganesha are submerged in the sea or a nearby body of water. This is called the Visarjan (sacrifice). Many of the modern mass-produced idols used for this purpose are made with materials and paints that are toxic to aquatic life, and sometimes decorated with plastic garlands. Here is an example of a traditional, eco-friendly statue, made from clay and painted with organic pigments such as turmeric. To be auspicious, an image of Ganesha should be made by an artisan with a connection to the Divine, out of an attitude of devotion rather than commercial motives.
Coral
Shri Ganesha statue in Jaipur(?), reputedly made from a single piece of red coral! I've never seen a piece of red coral anywhere near that big, so maybe it's really coral-coloured stone? In any case, red coral is the precious material associated with the Mooladhara Chakra.
Scribe of the Mahabharata
Still from the Peter Brook film of The Mahabharata.
According to Indian mythology, Shri Ganesha was the scribe who wrote down this immense epic - sacrificing His own tusk to use as a pen - as it was dictated by sage Vyasa.
Dancing
Shri Ganesha is known as Chaturbhuja (four-armed, four-handed) but is sometimes depicted with six or more.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Mooladhara Chakra
Shri Ganesha resides in the Mooladhara (or Muladhara) Chakra. It is the base centre of the subtle system. Mula means root or origin - a reference to the Kundalini, which is the Root of the Tree of Life, and the origin of the Creation. Dhara means support, thus Shri Ganesha is the supporter of the Kundalini, His Mother. This indicates that Innocence, the quality of Lord Ganesha, is necessary for spiritual ascent.
Mars
The red planet corresponds to the Mooladhara Chakra in the subtle system, wherein Shri Ganesha resides. Mars gets its reddish hue from iron oxide, a mineral associated with Ganesha Swyambhu sites around the world.
Astrologers often refer to Mars as a 'malefic' (unlucky) planet, because of the obstacles they have observed in connection with it, over the centuries. However, in India, Mars is given the name Mangala, which means 'auspicious'. The reason for this apparent contradiction is that Shri Ganesha is the Lord of Obstacles - He removes them for the Innocent, but lays them in the path of those whose motives are selfish or impure.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Ganapatipule
Shri Ganesha Swyambhu (self-created earth formation)
Ganapatipule, Coast of Maharashtra, India.
Reading a Book
Large stone statue (in Ireland!) of Shri Ganesha reading a book. As the Lord of Wisdom, He is invoked by students embarking on a course of study or facing exams.
The Trunk
When turned to His left side (as above), Shri Ganesha's trunk signifies blessing. When turned to His right, it represents destruction of negativity. It is usual for artists to depict the more benign turning of the trunk.
Book
Cover illustration, Tanjore (Tanjavur) painting.
In this book, Ganesha: The Auspicious The Beginning, Smt. Shakunthala Jagannathan and Dr. Nanditha Krishna, mother and daughter, have brought out the relevance and importance of Ganesha from ancient times to the present day.
They have covered historical and archaeological evidence, legends and parables, and Ganesha imagery in India and abroad to make a multi-dimensional study of this deity through the ages. The chapters on Symbolism and Worship of Ganesha explain his symbolic importance and modes of worship.
Copiously illustrated with a number of colour and black-and-white photographs (several of rare antiques) and with attractive line drawings, this comprehensive book covers all aspects of this greatly adored deity. The book would be of equal interest to the layman, the scholar and the devotee and a valuable addition to every home and library.(from a review of the book)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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