Indian Hindu Holy Figure: "Ganesha"

This is an Indian Hindu representation of the Hindu god Ganesha. Hindus hang representations of their gods in their homes. They often decorate the art as part of their religious devotions.

Ganesha is the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings and the remover of obstacles. Ganesha is traditionally worshipped before any major enterprise and is the patron of intellectuals, bankers, scribes, and authors. He is also known as “Lord of the People” and is also the god of wisdom.

Ganesha is represented as a potbellied boy with an elephant’s head with one tusk, four arms and yellow skin. He holds a conch shell, a discus, a club, and a lotus. His vehicle in the world is the large Indian bandicoot rat. Because the rat can gnaw through anything in the way, the rat is described as symbolizing Ganesha’s ability to overcome anything to get what he wants. The rat can also be said to signify the unity of the small with the large.

Ganesha is the most widely worshipped deity for Hindus. All ceremonies, religious or secular, begin with an invocation to Ganesha. His image is printed on cards sent out for any happy occasion, like for the announcement of birth in the family or a wedding. Most people begin work by invoking Ganesha, however briefly.

Many different stories explain the birth of Ganesha. One of the best-known myths begins with Parvati, the wife of Shiva, the god of destruction. Parvati wanted to take a bath and needed someone to guard the door while she bathed. To create someone for this task, she took dirt and soap suds and molded a boy. She told the boy not to allow anyone to enter. When Shiva tried to enter the bathroom, Ganesha. stoppedhim, Shiva cut off Ganesha's head. When Parvati discovered that Shiva had beheaded her son, she was inconsolable. Shiva was sorry, and ordered that the head of the first living being that was found should be brought to him. This happened to be the head of an elephant calf. When Shiva cut off the elephant’s head to bestow it on the headless Ganesha, one of the tusks is shattered, and Ganesha is depicted holding the broken-off piece in his hand.

Hinduism is the oldest living religion, about 4,000 – 5,000 years old. Hindu people believe that Brahman is the creator, preserver and transformer of existence. Gods that are part of Brahman include Vishnu, the preserver god, and Shiva, the god of destruction. Hinduism came from India. No one person founded the religion. There are many Hindu holy books. Hindus honor their deities through worship. Hindus tell stories of the ways that the gods interact with each other and with humans. Hindus believe in rebirth after death (reincarnation); their goal is to escape the movement of the soul into another body and to become one with Brahman.
 
Source:
http://www.gurjari.net/ico/Mystica/html/ganesha.htm
"Ganesha." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. .