Lord Ganesh

Lord Ganesh

From Java, 10th Century AD

            Indian art is not just restricted to the sub - continent, but also spreads to other parts of Asia. The sea faerring kingdoms of India,  such as Kalinga ( Odisha ), the Pallavas, the Cholas carried Indian art via the sea routes to the south Asian countries and to the islands of East Indies. By land route, the Palas and the Sena dynasties influenced the arts of Tibet, China, Korea and Japan. Indian art is, thus, the foundation of the sacred art of the East.

           Here is a fine example of a Ganesh idol from Java. The huge bodied Ganesh sits quietly in meditation.  Like a Buddha figure, He turns inwards. He is neither  the playful Ganesh, nor the dancing Ganesh;  He is the wise one, deep in thought. 

          Wisdom is a priced quality amongst the human beings. According to the Greeks, Goddess Athena, their goddess of wisdom, was born from the head of Zeus. Being the wisest of the gods, only she is permitted to wield the thunderbolt of Zeus. In Greek art she is depicted in solemn terms. Unlike Ganesh, she is never caricatured. By caricaturing Lord Ganesh are we belittling wisdom or are we making it accessible to the common Man ? Think about it.