BRONZE 13IN VALLABA GANAPATHY

This Ganesh statue is known as Valabha Ganapathi. He is seated with a smaller version of the Hindu Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi on his left side. He is holding a variety of weapons and symbols associated with Ganesha.The statue is a highly polished gold color, which is preferred by Hindu temples for performing puja for Lord Ganesh.This style of Ganesh seated with multiple arms, in this case 10, is referred to as Vallaba Ganapati. In his 10 arms he holds a vessel, elephant goad, vel, trident, chakra, lotus, club, sprig of herbs, noose and the Hindu goddess of wealth, Sri Lakshmi. Ganesh and Lakshmi sit beneath a uniquely shaped prabhamandala that is cast separately from the statue.This Ganesh statue is a hand made, one of a kind, bronze sculpture cast by the artists of South India.The elephant-headed Lord Ganesha is one of the most prominent deities in Hinduism. He is often identified with knowledge and wisdom. Also known as Vighnaharta, he is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion so as to eradicate all the possible evils. Anyone who worships him with honesty and purity is blessed with a life free of obstacles and full of clarity. Lord Ganesha manifests himself in 32 different forms among which Vallabha Ganesha is one of his most divine forms. In Sanskrit, the word Vallabha means 'beloved above all'. In this form, the lord appears in his full glory with an aroma of bliss and divinity surrounded all over his magnificent manifestation.