Page 63 - Christies Alsdorf Collection Part 1 Sept 24 2020 NYC

GANESHA: 12TH CENTURY

DR. VIDYA DEHEJIA
Barbara Stoler Miller Professor of Indian and South Asian Art, Columbia University

This appealing childlike Ganesha, with full rounded of crucial significance that, according to a mid-twelfth
stomach, chubby thighs, and plump buttocks, sports a century ritual text, “Procedures for the Great Festival”
charming twinkle in his eyes. His trunk is already into [Mahotsava vidhi], should follow the Ganesha festival.
his favorite sweet, the modaka or laddu, held is in his The text addresses the chief priests of Shiva temples,
left hand, while his right hand holds his broken tusk. instructing them to bathe and honor Ganesha, present
Created during the twelfth century by a talented artist him with modaka sweets, fried edibles, and other good
who clearly related to child Ganesha in a special way, things to eat, and ask him to ensure that there be no
the image captures the essence and charm of an infant. obstructions to the Brahmotsavam festival.
This is not a solemn Ganesha whose image is seen in
Despite his importance, Ganesha’s origins are shrouded
many temples, but an enchanting, child-like figure who
in mystery. For many, he is the first son of Shiva and
continues to have appeal in Tamil Nadu. The imagery
Parvati. In explaining his elephant head, myths speak
appears to reflect a genre of literature unique to Tamil
of Shiva unknowingly beheading him, finding Parvati
Nadu, known as pillai-Tamil or “child-Tamil,” in which
inconsolable, and replacing the head with that of the
entire poems are addressed to king or god imagined as
first creature he saw – an elephant. Ganesha is also the
an infant. One among the early poems in this mode was
clever one, and an oft-told story narrates a competition
composed by Chola court poet, Ottakuttar, on emperor
between him and his younger brother, Skanda or
Kulottunga II [1133-1150] imagined as an infant.
Kartikkeya, in which Shiva and Parvati promised a prize
Much beloved by Indians of varied religious faiths, to the one who circled the world first. Skanda set out
Ganesha is the god of beginnings who removes all immediately on his peacock mount, while Ganesha
obstacles that might prevent smooth passage of your got onto his rat mount in leisurely fashion, circled his
undertaking, and blesses its successful completion. He parents, and claimed the prize because Shiva and Parvati
is invoked even today at the start of any new venture, constituted the whole world!
large or small, from constructing a new house to making
For many devotees, Ganesha stands alone with little
sweets for a festival, from undertaking a journey to
connection to Shiva and Parvati. His shrewd intellect
writing an exam paper, and especially on New Year’s
and talent for ingenuity were, for instance, responsible
Day, when new account books are commenced.
for sage Vyasa selecting Ganesha as the scribe to whom
In Chola times, a bronze of Ganesha was part of every he would dictate the Mahabharata epic. His worship
festival, usually preceding and heralding the main takes on a number of regional variations; for instance,
image of Shiva in one or other of his manifestations. in most of India, Ganesha is considered to be a bachelor,
One important moment of worship, directed solely at but in South India, Ganesha is visualized as having two
Ganesha, was a special festival dedicated to him as the wives, Siddhi and Buddhi. He may have entered the
remover of all obstructions. It was to precede the major pantheon late but Ganesha’s popularity, no doubt
ten-day annual festival at Chola temples, still celebrated due to such endearing images as this twelfth-century
today, and known as Brahmotsavam (Brahma-utsavam), bronze, spread rapidly and grew steadily throughout
that renews the entire temple’s sacredness. It is an event South Asia.

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