A supreme master of all knowledge, intelligence and wisdom, as can be analysed from his name Ganapati, where ‘Ga’ means buddhi (intelligence), ‘Na’ means vijnana (wisdom) and ‘Pati’ means master. His benevolence allows him to be honoured as the first among the celestials before the commencement of any auspicious ceremony for enlightening it to a successful finish without any obstru

A visual fusion of the twin aspects of Ganesha as dancer and warrior. The son of Shiva inherits not just the tandava of Nataraja, but also His all-annihilating aspect. In the pattachitra that you see on this page, the elephant-deity is possessed of eight arms (He is dashabhujadhari), wielding weapons and other Shaivite implements. The legs and torso, however, are in the dramatic tribhanga stance,

Lord Ganesha is a baal-deva, a child (baal) of the divine order of the devas. He is an integral part of Shiva-parivar and the Devi Durga offspring retinue in devotional art; and when portrayed alone, He is the scribe of the Mahabharata and/or the very picture of traditional opulence. The oil painting you see on this page is a singular depiction of the Lord. Quiet, gathered, solitary - such is His

Ganesha's timeless appeal has been captured to perfection in this watercolor by artist Tulsi Das Vimbark. From the chubby limbs in their usual stance to the characteristic pot-belly of the indulgent laddoo-lover, this painting inspires a world of affection in the heart of the devotee. Note the soft glow of the skin, the effulgence of the elephant countenance. The golden halo that graces the h

Perfect shades of vibrant colors and the sharp beauty of lord Ganesha, who stands in his nritya (dance) posture on a high pedestal decorated with lotus petals at the top and two multi-wick diyas of devotion on either side, majorly enhance picturesque aspects of this oil painting. The oval aureole bordered with full-grown multicolored flowers enhances the auspiciousness of this elephant god; garbed

Lord Ganesh is one of Hinduism’s most prominent deities. He is the god of new beginnings and the lord who removes obstacles. Because of these, he is often invoked at the beginning of prayers or rituals, or when believers are set to undergo a major milestone and before making life decisions. He is traditionally depicted with an elephant head, often large in the proportion which signifies knowledg

The ashtabhujadhari Lord Ganesha, the one possessed of (‘dhari’) eight (‘ashta’) arms (‘bhuja’), stands on His short, chubby child’s legs. His adorable elephant head is turned sideways, revealing the lateral profile of His face to view. But for the gold predominating this Tanjore painting, it is a bitone composition in pale pink (the complexion of His form) and scarlet (the solid-col

The image of the seated Lord Ganesha in the Tanjore idiom. The son of Shiva and Parvati, a widely adored baala-deva (boy-deity), is seated on a studded throne of solid gold. Behind the chaturbhujadhari deity rises the velvet-upholstered backrest hemmed in with gold. The same is studded with concentric rows of red and green stones which resemble rubies and emeralds, respectively. Ganesha is dressed